Orcas attack another sailing yacht in Strait of Gibraltar

In the latest incident in a series of recurring killer whale attacks, a pod of orcas attacked a sailing yacht in the Moroccan waters near the Strait of Gibraltar, leaving it to sink in the sea, NBC reported.

The Alboran Cognac boat, which measured 15 metres in length, had two people on board when the social apex predators attacked.

According to the passenger, they felt sudden blows to the hull and rudder before water began seeping in. They immediately alerted the rescue services; luckily, an oil tanker was passing by, which immediately took them on board and transported them to Gibraltar.

The yacht eventually sank.

The Gibraltar Strait connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and separates Europe from Africa. It is one of the busiest waterways in the world.

Marine experts believe a subpopulation of about 15 orcas, known as "Gladis," is behind these attacks.

As per reports by research group GT Atlantic Orca, since 2020, nearly 700 such incidents have been documented.

Researchers are unsure about the reason behind these attacks; however, several theories have surfaced, ranging from playful manifestations and mammals's curiosity to intentional targeting.

Known as killer whales, these endangered orcas are part of the dolphin family. They can measure up to eight metres and weigh up to six tonnes as adults.