Alert for orcas off the Portuguese coast – Society
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The Cruising Association has issued a preventative warning for orcas, whose attacks on boats are at their peak between April and September. The Portuguese coast deserves attention. The objective is to minimize the risk of encountering a group of 50 specimens, between the Bay of Biscay and the Strait of Gibraltar, of which 15 exhibit unique behavior. Since 2020, they have attacked 456 sailboats (four sunk), a third of which (142) off the Portuguese coast, causing damage to the vessels.This year, there are already four records – the most recent was on the 22nd of this month, off Figueira da Foz. The lifeboat ‘Patrão Moisés Macatrão’ was called to provide assistance to a trimaran sailboat, with two people on board , which became out of control (broken rudder) after an orca attack. The damaged sailboat was towed to the Port of Figueira da Foz.
Scientists still don’t know for sure why orcas behave this way, suspecting that it could be a form of play, which is why they talk about interactions instead of attacks. It is known, however, that the initial interactions, conducted by a small group of juvenile orcas, are currently carried out by a larger group of animals.For marine biologist Élio Vicente, the incidents “are not about predation behavior”, especially because the orcas’ “biosonar” “allows them to know perfectly well that the object is not food”. The possibility of this being “a negative reaction”, as some of these animals may have been “rammed by vessels”, “is unlikely”, he highlights. Élio Vicente emphasizes that the attack by the orcas “is always directed at the rudder” of the vessels, with which they then play. And they have already discovered “that toy is easy to take away”.
Scientists still don’t know for sure why orcas behave this way, suspecting that it could be a form of play, which is why they talk about interactions instead of attacks. It is known, however, that the initial interactions, conducted by a small group of juvenile orcas, are currently carried out by a larger group of animals.For marine biologist Élio Vicente, the incidents “are not about predation behavior”, especially because the orcas’ “biosonar” “allows them to know perfectly well that the object is not food”. The possibility of this being “a negative reaction”, as some of these animals may have been “rammed by vessels”, “is unlikely”, he highlights. Élio Vicente emphasizes that the attack by the orcas “is always directed at the rudder” of the vessels, with which they then play. And they have already discovered “that toy is easy to take away”.
Mammal in all oceans
The orca is the second mammal with the largest geographic distribution area on the planet, right after humans.
The Iberian orca subpopulation migrates from the Strait of Gibraltar to the North during the summer, in search of tuna.
Tags: Alert orcas Portuguese coast Society
