Killer whales wreck boat in latest attack
off Spain
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[May 27, 2023]
MADRID (Reuters) - Killer whales severely damaged a sailing boat
off the coast of southern Spain, the local maritime rescue service said
on Thursday, adding to dozens of orca attacks on vessels recorded so far
this year on Spanish and Portuguese coasts.
In the early hours of Thursday, a group of orcas broke the rudder and
pierced the hull after ramming into the Mustique on its way to
Gibraltar, prompting its crew of four to contact Spanish authorities for
help, a spokesman for the maritime rescue service said.
The service deployed a rapid-response vessel and a helicopter carrying a
bilge pump to assist the 20-metre (66 feet) vessel, which was sailing
under a British flag, he added. The Mustique was towed to the port of
Barbate, in the province of Cadiz, for repairs. |
![](../images/052723PIX/news_c5.jpg)
A whale swims next to a boat in the Strait
of Gibraltar, Spain May 24, 2023, in this still image obtained from a
social media video. April Boyes/Instagram @ april_georgina/via REUTERS
|
According to the research group GTOA, which tracks populations
of the Iberian orca sub-species, the incident follows at least
20 interactions this month alone in the Strait of Gibraltar
between small vessels and the highly social apex predators. In
2022, there were 207 reported interactions, GTOA data showed.
Earlier in May, the sailing yacht Alboran Champagne suffered a
similar impact from three orcas half a nautical mile off
Barbate. The ship could not be towed as it was completely
flooded and was left adrift to sink.
Guidelines issued by the Spanish Transport Ministry stipulate
that whenever ships observe any alteration in the behaviour of
orcas - such as sudden changes of direction or speed - they
should leave the area as soon as possible and avoid further
disturbance to the animals during the manoeuvres.
Every interaction between a ship and an orca must be reported to
authorities, the ministry added.
Although known as killer whales, endangered orcas are part of
the dolphin family. They can measure up to eight metres and
weigh up to six tonnes as adults.
(Reporting by David Latona; Editing by Charlie Devereux and
Barbara Lewis)
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