Reported 5 months ago
A multinational group of orca experts sponsored by the governments of Spain and Portugal released a report outlining that killer whales have been ramming and sinking boats off the coast of Spain, Portugal, France, and Morocco for the past five years. The incidents seem to be the result of bored juvenile orcas looking for something to do, specifically playing with boat rudders as a fad. The orcas are engaging in this behavior due to increased free time resulting from the recovery of their primary prey, bluefin tuna. Scientists are testing methods to deter the orcas from interacting with boat rudders, such as altering the rudder's surface appearance and using hanging lines with weights. Following the implementation of these recommendations, vessel rescues have declined by 80% and interactions with orcas have decreased by 70% from May 2023 through May 2024.
Source: YAHOO