Readers regularly contact the editorial team with questions or to point something out. We are very pleased about this. Just like the following lines that John F. wrote to us on the subject of orca attacks, which we would like to share with you:
Orcas as cocaine victims?
Time and again we hear of outright attacks by orcas on yachts. I have noticed that these occur in sea and coastal areas where the smuggling and landing of drugs, i.e. cocaine, has increased dramatically in recent years. As is well known, even large quantities of the hot commodity are stored in the sea, well packaged, and then picked up by other distributors with GPS support.
It probably cannot be ruled out that orcas come into contact with it in their play instinct and thus come into dubious enjoyment of it, possibly even becoming addicted and behaving strangely accordingly.
It could also be assumed that certain sailing yachts also belong to the collectors of the goods and that this is brought into the given context by the clever animals. This could then explain their behaviour.
Perhaps it would be useful to take a blood sample from the animals.
John F.'s lines may sound bizarre, but at first they made us laugh too. Orcas on steroids! But then we remembered an article in which the Tagesschau reported that there were sharks contaminated with cocaine off the coast of Rio de Janeiro/Brazil. The drug enters the bay with the sewage and is absorbed by the animals. How the cocaine affects their organism has not yet been researched.
In fact, the area of the most frequent orca interactions, roughly described as around the Strait of Gibraltar, is also one of the most frequent smuggling areas. When drugs are transported from South America to Europe, West Africa often acts as a stopover. The route from North Africa to Southern Europe is also used to transport drugs.
Read more about dramatic orca attacks:
Causes little researched
There are various theories about the causes of the orca attacks, but nothing has yet been proven, which is why researchers prefer to speak of interactions until clarification. These are the main theories:
- Play instinctOne of the most common explanations is that it could be a form of play behaviour. Orcas are intelligent and curious animals that sometimes explore and manipulate objects, similar to dolphins.
- ImitationIt is believed that some orcas, especially younger animals, mimic the behaviour of older whales or whales of the same age. If one whale starts attacking or interacting with yachts, others may follow this behaviour.
- Stress or aggressionSome experts suspect that the orcas could react aggressively to boats due to stress, for example as a result of human activities such as shipping or fishing.
- DefenceAnother theory is that the orcas may want to defend the area where they are foraging or resting. The presence of yachts could be perceived as a threat. This theory is also supported by the fact that the orcas leave the yachts as soon as they move into shallower waters. Perhaps their prey is no longer there?
- Injury or traumaAnother approach is that one or more orcas may have had negative experiences with yachts in the past, such as injuries from propellers or rudder blades, resulting in hostile behaviour.
- CommunicationOrcas may perceive the rudder as a means of communication or a kind of signal. The vibrations and noises caused by moving or damaging rudder blades could be interesting or attractive to them.
- Food sourceAlthough unlikely, it could be that orcas are looking for fish that gather around the boat. Nudging or attacking the rudder could be a way to startle or catch fish.
These explanations are often speculative. As orcas are highly complex and intelligent animals, the behaviour could be the result of a combination of several of these factors. Further research is needed to better understand the exact reasons for this behaviour.
As long as the behaviour of the orcas has not been clarified, the following behaviour is recommended:
Behaviour during orca interactions
- Prevent people on board from approaching the railing. Ensure that you are in places on the ship that offer the greatest possible protection from abrupt ship movements. These can also lead to injuries caused by loose objects or even falling overboard.
- In the event of an interaction, it is advisable to motor instead of sailing, not to stop the vessel and to head directly for shallow waters at the highest possible speed, as far as the wind and sea allow the vessel concerned, until the killer whales lose interest.
- For vessels under sail, attention must be paid to the integrity of the keel and anything that could affect the stability of the vessel. It is therefore recommended that in the event of an interaction, the sails should be recovered and lowered under engine power.
- It is recommended to sail as close to the coast as possible, as far as vessel safety and structural characteristics of the vehicle allow. This applies in particular off Barbate, where the probability of encountering groups of killer whales close to the coast is lower.
- The crew should remain calm and avoid hectic movements on the ship so as not to provoke the orcas any further.
- Throwing objects or hitting the water should be avoided as this could only make the animals more aggressive.
- Contact should be made with the authorities or the coastguard via marine radio to report the situation and possibly obtain assistance or advice.
- Try to observe the orcas to gain a better understanding of their behaviour and determine when or if they leave the area.
- In the event of damage, emergency equipment should be easily accessible in order to be able to react quickly if repairs are necessary or safety measures such as the donning of life jackets are required.
- After the incident, the rudder and other parts of the vessel should be checked for damage as soon as it is safe to do so.
