Why Do Orcas Keep Attacking Boats?

Orcas have been attacking sailboats off the coast of Spain and Portugal. This is a new behaviour that was first described in 2020 but has spread across different orca groups. But why are they doing it?

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SOCIAL MEDIA

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CREDITS
Animalogic Created by Dylan Dubeau and Andrew Strapp
Executive Producer, Director, and Director of Photography: Dylan Dubeau
Host: Danielle Dufault
Editors: Jim Pitts and Cat Senior
Producer, Writer, Researcher, Camera Operator: Andres Salazar

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Examining the nature of the beast.

[KainTheDamned]

I must say I love the idea that the popular girl at the Orca High school had some beef with a boat and now every teen Orca is trying to get in on it to show that they're cool. That would make for an awesome cartoon.

[JurassicLion]

My dad worked at SeaWorld San Diego for 32 years and he worked on many animal enclosures. One of which was for the orcas. Now, he told the handlers he wouldn’t work on the tank’s water guns (that shoot at the audience so he’s standing where its dry) unless the orcas are in another tank. Its a gate system that seperates the arena from the whales’ back area.

Dad is working and told “Oh yeah shamu is on the other side of the gate, you’re okay!”. They didnt put a handler to be his spotter. So dad is working fixing the nozzles when he sees freaking Shamu LEAP THE GATE. Freaking did a Free Willy. Why? Cause he was wondering what my dad was doing to his enclosure. But dad saw the orca be line, so he noped out of there to go get the handlers.

Keep in mind this is before Blackfish. Dad is telling the trainers that the orca leaped the gate. They don’t believe him and think he let the orca over. Dad doesn’t know how to open the gate not to mention, while he likes animals, he hates people & animals bothering him while he works. We all know the orca was smart and really just wanted to mess with dad / learn who this random Mexican was fiddling with his domain.

[treetheoak]

Honestly, seeing orcas in the wild really does hit different. I can 100% see why many first nations people saw them as spiritual animals. Beautiful creatures.

[DanGamingFan]

One of the greatest recent mysteries in the animal kingdom. I'd love it of you did more animal news stories like this.

[shlingusdingus]

I'm really glad that you came out with this to clear up this supposive 'mystery'. The dangerous interactions between fishermen, their vessels, and these pods of whales and their competition with the tuna stocks resulting in physical injuries and even killed calves, from what we can gather, has spurred this reaction. Its strongly believed that this is just a defensive behavior, given that Glaudus herself has several injuries, and that these injuries from these ships would be traumatizing to the animal.

[adpirtle]

The intelligence and creativity that Orcas show when hunting makes me glad they don't seem to enjoy eating people.

[rodchallis]

The video doesn't lie-- those attacks were well orca-strated.

[terramater]

That's really an important topic to think about, considering how intelligent orcas are! Our crew registered how orcas are changing wildlife in the Arctic. Orcas were rarely seen there. But now, because the ice is melting, they found a way to get there, and our team caught on camera these dolphins taking it over and hunting animals that were unaware of their existence. It's a question mark what changes will happen with the presence of orcas there, since they are always the main predator wherever they are.

[letolethe]

Actually, a weekly news report about animals in the wild (beyond domestic pets) would be great.

[scout]

Danielle: "dont let media panic scare you into fearing orcas"
Sailor: "holy fkck it hit the boat!"

[akhasshativeritsol]

They terrify me. I am absolutely amazed that there are no recorded instances of orcas hunting humans, given that they hunt seals, sea lions, dolphins, and even moose (if they can catch them swimming). Their hunting is a learned behavior, so all it will take is one desperate orca to snatch a swimmer and tell all its friends that we're easy prey...

[spooks]

I heard salmon hats are coming back in fashion

[mrpeddlethesealion]

as an Spanish i m soo proud you cover this on these channel i have seen orca myself in the Iberian peninsula before the incidents happened
orcas are probably the most respected predator by man kind in existence
no predator gets the level of respect and admiration as killer whales do

[TheHighlander]

Danielle, you should be on TV with your own weekly series. I'd certainly watch! 😎👏🏿🙌🏿 Your illustrations and your presentation are both top-notch! No Cap! 👍🏿💪🏿 Keep up the great work and continued success to you.

[shanefiddle]

EXCELLENT video topic! Absolutely fascinating, I'd love to see more of this content unwrapping behavior "mysteries" we are seeing in life around us.

[mencken]

What if it’s as simple as they’re doing it just for fun? That it’s play, which all higher animals engage in. The fact that it damages boats and inconveniences people doesn’t necessarily enter into it. Don’t violate Occam’s Razor and overcomplicate it.

[faerybree]

Go a bit more south in the Salish Sea around the San Juan Islands to see the Southern Resident Orcas and the Biggs Orcas. Beautiful creatures

[DruNature]

Imagine if there were only 40 left of anything anywhere, I know it's just one pod and there are more, but still heartbreaking.

[degreeskelvin]

Orcs are also my single favorite animal. They are both dangerous and intelligent. But at the same time, theyve signed a no killing humans treaty and i love them

Edit: i also love the fact that your journalism was honest and informative. The media has made it seem like they are malicious and all attacking just for sensationalism smh.

[otakuusaanimenerd]

The dude in the beginning saying orcas are body slamming boats makes me imagine an orca in the WWF actually body slamming a boat from the apron to John Cena's music. Sensational.