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Since 2020, orcas have inflicted damage upon sailboats near the Iberian Peninsula. This file photo displays an orca swimming in the Strait of Gibraltar, situated between the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa. (Image credit: Emmanuel Gaifami via Getty Images)ShareShare by:
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Orcas off the Spanish shoreline are once more assaulting vessels, leaving behind shattered steering mechanisms and beached crews.
A limited group of orcas (Orcinus orca), often called killer whales, has fostered an affinity for wrecking boats near the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe in recent times. Researchers are still scrutinizing this conduct, but they hypothesize that the orcas are probably engaging in playful behavior rather than showing aggression.
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Ataque de orcas en costa da vela a varios veleros produciendo daños en la pala del timón a uno. La patrullera de la #GC da protección hasta llegada embarcación Salvamento Maritimo que inicia remolque a puerto.Patrullera realiza protección y acerca proa, intentando alejarlas. pic.twitter.com/u9KAyXbUF2August 21, 2025
The Pontevedra Civil Guard, a Spanish law enforcement body, disseminated a video of the sailing vessel rescue on the social media platform X, mentioning that the orcas had set upon numerous sailboats. It remains unclear precisely the count of vessels impacted prior to this posting, though further events have transpired since.
As an illustration, on Saturday (Aug. 30), Faro de Vigo communicated that orcas eradicated the rudder of a customary wooden sailing ship off O Grove within the Arousa estuary, in addition to causing a breach in another sailing vessel off Ons within the Pontevedra estuary.
Valentín Otero, the proprietor of the ship targeted in O Grove, informed Faro de Vigo of hearing a pair of strikes against his watercraft ahead of spotting a couple of orcas. Otero and his team conveyed that there existed a larger orca approximately 23 feet (7 meters) in length, followed by a smaller orca swimming alongside it.
“The reality is we were remarkably frightened; indeed, we completely panicked upon realizing that the orcas were assaulting the vessel,” Otero stated in a translated remark.
The Iberian orcas constitute a critically endangered orca subpopulation, approximated to consist of fewer than 40 members. This grouping has been attacking watercraft off the coast of Spain and Portugal since 2020. Even though certain preliminary reports implied the potential for Iberian orcas seeking retribution against the vessels, such notions have been rejected by numerous orca specialists.
The happenings frequently entail youthful orcas aiming directly for the rudders situated beneath the sailing vessels. Scientists have put forth the suggestion that the orcas are plausibly just unengaged adolescents possessing surplus leisure time ever since Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) populations — their preferred nourishment in the locale — recuperated, signifying a reduced requirement for extensive hunting endeavors.
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Orca behavior showcases diversity and intricacy. Researchers have noticed the species participating in elaborate social observances, ranging from gently grazing upon one another’s tongues to cascading alongside each other as if present within an aquatic mosh pit. Separate orca populations likewise retain their individual dialects, echoing human communication, and are capable of cultivating distinctive “crazes,” such as navigating their surroundings adorned with deceased salmon atop their heads.
No justification exists for suspecting that the Iberian orcas are aiming for the individuals on board the vessels. Orcas stand as fierce predators recognized for preying upon an array of divergent quarry, spanning from tuna to seals, sharks, and even whales. However, each population adheres to a particular dietary regimen, and none integrate human consumption. A mere handful of chronicled occurrences detail wild orcas attacking individuals, with all such reported affairs accompanied by notable disclaimers, like an orca possibly misidentifying a person for a seal.
Patrick PesterSocial Links NavigationTrending News Writer
Patrick Pester serves as the trending news writer at Live Science. His work has manifested across alternative science websites, such as BBC Science Focus and Scientific American. Patrick retrained to become a journalist in the wake of dedicating his earlier professional life to engaging with zoos and wildlife protection. He received the Master’s Excellence Scholarship to pursue his academic endeavors at Cardiff University, where he finalized a master’s degree in international journalism. He also possesses a second master’s degree in biodiversity, evolution, and conservation in action from Middlesex University London. Outside the realm of news composition, Patrick delves into investigations pertaining to the trading of human remains.
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