About a month ago, sailors off the Portuguese coast had a surprising encounter — a pod of Iberian orcas surrounded and repeatedly bumped into two sailboats near Lisbon. One vessel lost its rudder and had to be towed to shore, while the other sustained serious damage before eventually sinking. Thankfully, all crew members were rescued safely.
These incidents are part of an ongoing pattern. Since 2020, scientists have recorded hundreds of interactions between orcas and boats in the waters between Portugal and Spain. Most of the encounters involve orcas approaching and nudging sailboats, often focusing on the rudder.
Experts still aren’t sure why this is happening. Some believe the whales are simply curious or playing, while others think a few young orcas may have learned this behavior and passed it along to others in their pod.
While orca attacks sound alarming, researchers emphasize that these animals are not aggressive toward humans — they’re intelligent and social creatures, possibly experimenting or expressing curiosity.
Sailors in the region are being advised to stay alert, slow down if orcas appear, and avoid sudden maneuvers. The Portuguese maritime authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as they work with marine biologists to understand the phenomenon better.