Killer whales strike: 50-foot yacht sunk by orcas near Morocco

A group of orcas, also known as killer whales, assaulted and sank a sailing yacht in the Strait of Gibraltar, situated between Spain and Morocco, according to a report from ABC News. The incident involved two people on board, who were later rescued by a Spanish rescue team. The yacht, named Alboran Cognac and measuring 50 feet, was approximately 15 miles (24 km) away from Cabo Espartel in Morocco when it was rammed by a pack of orcas. Although the crew members were safely rescued, authorities were unable to save he sinking vessel. Spanish officials have issued advisories for sailors to avoid specific areas while navigating through the region. The Strait of Gibraltar serves as a crucial passage connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea, acting as a natural boundary between Europe and Africa. Also read | AI deciphers sperm whale clicks, unravels underwater conversations According to GT Orca Atlantica, a conservation organisation, there have been over 700 documented killer whale attacks since 2020. The group also noted the presence of more than 37 orcas in the Strait of Gibraltar. "During the summer and autumn of 2020, interaction events began to occur between several specimens of this species and vessels, mainly sailboats, both in the Strait of Gibraltar and in the waters of the Galician coast," according to Spanish government officials. "These interactions have ranged from persistent approaches to ships, to ramming the hull and rudder, causing various types of damage, which continue today." Also read | Whales are struggling to communicate due to human noise pollution, says study

Deciphering Orca behaviour

Even experts are puzzled by why orcas sometimes attack boats. Some think they might see them as toys or threats. For example, in October 2023, a yacht owned by a Polish tour company got hit by orcas for 45 minutes, causing big damage and sinking it. In another case, during a sailing race last year, a boat from the Netherlands to Italy had a 15-minute standoff with orcas. The crew had to make noise to scare them off. (With inputs from agencies)