About a month ago, sailors off the Portuguese coast had a surprising encounter: a group of Iberian killer whales surrounded and repeatedly collided with two sailboats near Lisbon. One ship lost its rudder and had to be towed to shore, while the other suffered serious damage before eventually sinking. Fortunately, all crew members were rescued safely.
These incidents are part of an ongoing pattern. Since 2020, scientists have recorded this hundreds of interactions between orcas and boats in the waters between Portugal and Spain. Most encounters involve orcas approaching and nudging sailboats, often focusing on the rudder.
Experts still don’t know why this happens. Some believe the whales are just curious or playing, while others think a few young orcas have learned this behavior and passed it on to others in their group.
Although killer whale attacks sound alarming, researchers emphasize that these animals are not aggressive towards humans: they are intelligent and social creatures, who may experiment or express curiosity.
Sailors in the region are advised to remain alert, slow down if killer whales appear and avoid sudden maneuvers. Portuguese maritime authorities continue to monitor the situation closely while working with marine biologists to better understand the phenomenon.
