Playful or murderous? Orca behavior puzzles experts as more boat ramming incidents reported off Iberian Peninsula
Iberian Peninsula, a peculiar phenomenon has puzzled experts and captivated social media audiences alike as orcas have been repeatedly ramming boats. However, a growing consensus among researchers on the other side of the world suggests that aggression may not be the driving force behind these unusual interactions. Experts based in Washington state's Salish Sea and Puget Sound, home to renowned orca pods and top researchers, believe that the playful and social nature of killer whales could be the reason behind these boat encounters.
Dr. Deborah Giles, a resident scientist at the University of Washington’s Friday Harbor Laboratories and director of the Wild Orca conservation research organization, explains that orcas are naturally inquisitive creatures, and the vibrations or currents from boats might be attracting them, prompting them to «go for a ride.» Despite the seemingly playful intentions, these interactions have resulted in real damage to boats. Spanish and Portuguese coasts have witnessed numerous incidents this year, including a sailing boat that suffered a broken rudder and hull damage, necessitating a rescue.
Amid the intriguing interactions, a lighthearted social media trend has emerged, humorously suggesting that killer whales are staging an uprising against wealthy yacht owners. While this may provide amusement, experts stress that the behavior is likely not fueled by aggression. In report by Reuters, Dr.
Michael Weiss, research director of the Center for Whale Research, said that this behavior could be more of a fad among orcas. The highly social apex predators are known to transmit behaviors and strategies culturally. In 1987, Washington’s Southern Resident orcas exhibited a strange trend of wearing dead
. Read more on economictimes.indiatimes.com
