Whilesharkstypically induce the most veneration of any beast in the sea , it ’s the killer whale you should really worry about . The killer whale is gigantic and sometimes aggressive , as evidenced by a rash of incidents off the European Coast that has boaters concerned and scientist perplexed .
According toSmithsonian clip , orcas have been demonstrating what can be perceive as extreme enmity toward sailboats off the sea-coast of Portugal and Spain . Thewhalesare drive boat , target the rudder , and causing serious wrong . One sailboat attack by a fuel pod of orcas actually sank , forcing its five occupant to escape to a life quite a little .
According to experts , however , the behaviour should n’t be write off as malicious , and “ flack ” may not be the right Good Book to use . One account is that the orcas are intrigued by the move rudder , which can produce a pleasant sensation of H2O pressure against their face . When it stop , they essay to nudge it to get it moving again . “ What we mean is that they ’re demand to have the propellor in the face , ” Renaud de Stephanis , president and coordinator at CIRCE Conservación Information and Research , told NPR . When the rudder stop , “ … They get kind of frustrated and that ’s why they go against the rudder . ”
De Stephanis speculated it could be a “ plot ” play among adolescent Male that could cease once they get old .
This type of behavior is n’t without precedent . In 2020,orca pods rammed boatsoff the Spanish coast , with some scientists speculating at the time that the orcas could be exhibiting defeat at fishing boats , which they perceived as a pain .
Whether this behavior continue or trails off is an open - ended question . It ’s possible the orcas may take over it as learned behaviour , which is uncollectible news show for sailboats .
But do n’t be too wary of orcas : While their size and questioning nature can make for a scarey combination , there ’s never been a record incident of a killer heavyweight deliberately toss off a human in the wild .
[ h / tSmithsonian ]
