Killer whales launch ‘orchestrated’ attacks on sailing boats

[sepharad]

https://www.portugalresident.com/orc...s-explanation/

Not only organized, but it may be the result of a trauma to a specific Orca, named White Gladys.

1 in 100 boats is attacked when passing through the area.

3 sinkings in 500 interactions. Somebody messed with Gladys and people are paying for it.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by sepharad

https://www.portugalresident.com/orc...s-explanation/

Not only organized, but it may be the result of a trauma to a specific Orca, named White Gladys.

1 in 100 boats is attacked when passing through the area.

3 sinkings in 500 interactions. Somebody messed with Gladys and people are paying for it.

hmm... 1 in 100 attacked, and 500 interactions implies that there have been 50,000 boats pass through the area. Do they have traffic lights?

Jim

[NaClyDog]

Originally Posted by Scorpius

Exactly my point. Maybe I was being too subtle.

You weren't being too subtle... I was trying to reinforce your point.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

hmm... 1 in 100 attacked, and 500 interactions implies that there have been 50,000 boats pass through the area. Do they have traffic lights?

Jim

That's includes local boats going out for a trip up or down the coast.. I've gone through the Strait in company with 5 or 6 other boats.. I can remember one time there were over 20 of us but then we had been holed up in Barbate for a few days waiting for a F 8/9 from the East to die down.. its a bytch to enter in strong E'lies even if at the other end its only maybe a F4..
Also.. those encounters are from the Biscay down to the Gibraltar Strait.

[Chotu]

A video with more. 3 sunk boats. And some hypothetical ideas about why

Whoops. A duplicate post of this video. It appears up thread

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NcLzjlzKZX0

[Tupaia]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...er-whales.html


Maybe it is time cull White Gladys

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Tupaia

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...er-whales.html
Maybe it is time cull White Gladys

It's probably too late, for that "solution".

[AKA-None]

Maybe the orca’s were doing the equivalent of protecting themselves like some are suggesting here

Ever think maybe we started this?

[dannc]

Originally Posted by Scorpius

I think you will find that most of these sinkings were the result of boats running into sleeping whales - which then instinctively dove - which involves much thrashing of very large tails. Tristan Jones recounts one such occurrence. The vast majority were NOT whales deliberately "attacking" boats.

I never said that the boats were attacked and then sunk in the study. I just said there was a study of boat/whale collisions.

Later,
Dan

[CaptTom]

I wonder whether there's some way to "help" the whales un-learn this behavior. I'm thinking maybe a mild electric shock (not sure on the physics of that one) or a loud underwater sound / concussive shock. Something inexpensive to install, but unpleasant to the whales.

I imagine researchers and trainers have some ideas as to what these animals don't like.

[noelex 77]

Originally Posted by AKA-None

Ever think maybe we started this?

Maybe. There are lots of theories why this behaviour started, but it needs to end.

Orcas are magnificent and intelligent animals. We need to find a solution that causes the minimum damage to the 15 or so rogue orcas that are involved, before the behaviour is spread. At the same time we need to protect the humans that are being attacked. Three sailboats sunk and at least 100 damaged is a serious problem.

Unfortunately, some of the methods that may be effective while causing minimal problems to the animals concerned are not being evaluated because they have been made illegal.

[BAD ORCA]

I wonder if It might be prudent to start building/filling a mini water tight bulkhead area around the interior of the boats rudder stock? Extra expense and PITA for sure but maybe save a few boats that have to frequent these areas.

[Supercat568]

The more time I spend on the water, the more ticked off I get at fishermen. Their trash causes so many problems. Nets, line, you see them reeling in a fish and they drop their pole and laugh...well that poor fish is going to die a horrible death dragging around a fishing pole. It's absolutely disgusting. Regarding the orca issue, I wonder if illegal fishing caught some members of this pod and killed them? When they catch sharks, they slice of their fins and throw them back in, alive. Ya, if I was an orca I'd be seeking revenge, if not for a specific incident then for humans depleting their food source. We're the most invasive species this planet has ever seen.

[GordMay]

A sailboat off the coast of southern Spain was attacked, Wednesday, by a group of orcas, that repeatedly rammed the vessel, breaking its rudder and rupturing the hull. The crew called for help from Spanish authorities, who sent a rapid-response boat, and a helicopter with a bilge pump, to help them bail water.
Spain's Maritime Rescue service said that orcas repeatedly ran into the “Mustique”, a 20-metre vessel, sailing under a U.K. flag, late on Wednesday, rendering its rudder inoperative and cracking its hull. Rescuers needed to pump out seawater before towing her to dock, in Barbate.

This was the 24th such incident, registered by the service this year.

In 2020, the Atlantic Orca Working Group, a team of Spanish and Portuguese marine life researchers, who study orcas near the Iberian Peninsula, registered 52 such events, some of which resulted in damaged rudders. That increased to 197 in 2021, and to 207 in 2022.

Video ➥ http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2214195267975

[longjonsilver]

https://t.me/redicetv/7036