Over the past four years, incidents of orcas attacking boats have surged, resulting in vessels being sunk and endangering the lives of those on board.
Research has shed light on the motivation behind these attacks, which posed a significant threat to those navigating the coasts of Portugal and Spain.
A report by the International Whaling Commission revealed that orcas target vessels because they enjoy playing with the rudders.
“The sea can be a very monotonous place for an animal,” explained Renaud de Stephanis, president of Spain’s Conservación, Información y Estudio sobre Cetáceos, to USA Today. “Imagine if you’re a dog or another mammal; you can interact with objects around you. But in the sea, there’s not much for orcas to interact with, so they play with the boat rudders.”
Expert Alexandre Zerbini noted: “Young regional marine mammals have a lot of free time, and they’ve turned loosening rudder pieces into an aquatic sport.”
“We believe the orcas are getting enjoyment out of it. They’re playing,” Zerbini said. “Obviously, they don’t understand that this play can cause damage to the boats.”
According to Naomi Rose of the Animal Welfare Institute, the increase in incidents is due to orcas imitating each other’s behavior.
