Posted on 05/18/2023 12:55:18 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Scientists think a traumatized orca initiated the assault on boats after a "critical moment of agony" and that the behavior is spreading among the population through social learning.
Orcas have mainly directed their efforts at sailboats, making a beeline for the rudder. (Image credit: Shutterstock) Orcas have attacked and sunk a third boat off the Iberian coast of Europe, and experts now believe the behavior is being copied by the rest of the population.
Three orcas (Orcinus orca), also known as killer whales, struck the yacht on the night of May 4 in the Strait of Gibraltar, off the coast of Spain, and pierced the rudder. "There were two smaller and one larger orca," skipper Werner Schaufelberger told the German publication Yacht(opens in new tab). "The little ones shook the rudder at the back while the big one repeatedly backed up and rammed the ship with full force from the side."
Schaufelberger said he saw the smaller orcas imitate the larger one. "The two little orcas observed the bigger one's technique and, with a slight run-up, they too slammed into the boat." Spanish coast guards rescued the crew and towed the boat to Barbate, but it sank at the port entrance.
(Excerpt) Read more at livescience.com ...
Not so cute now are they?
One terrifying account!
https://www.newsweek.com/orca-attack-sink-sailboat-killer-whale-five-board-miles-coast-1730438
because its fun!!
Never thought it that way until I seen a video of them beating on dolhpins! they were chasing the dolpins out of the water one way, and from another direction an orca would come up out of the water, perfectly timed and bat the dolphin with its tail 100 feet or so. seen the same with seals!! truly amazing Fish!!
And sorry, I tried for a half hour to find the vid I speak of but couldnt find it!!
Better than having an orca wandering around Redding.
That’s the Kamala Whale ...?
I C W U D T
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So if these Orca’s are teaching each other to ram boats and then if you shot one with an RPG and blew it to smithereens, would the others learn anything from that?
Yes, they’re cetaceans. But then again so are whales. So the name whales is as apt as dolphins would be.
CC
I think I know what’s going on here.
When it started, it was the orca equivalent of cow-tipping. They would sneak up on an unsuspecting sailboat and try to knock it over. Fun times.
But the fad soon evolved into something more serious: this is the orca’s Knock Out Club. They tease each other underwater until one orca gets angry enough to say, “I’m gonna knock that suckah out in one punch!” and the game is on!
The next step: Orca Fight Club.
Species: Cetaceans, Family: Delphinidae
Largest member ofvthe dolphin family.
Killer dolphins
You know what this means, a name change to
the Pillars of Orcules
This has been going on for a couple of years. There’s a bunch of YouTube videos of the attacks. They destroy the rudders.
Smarty pants.
Orcas are dog-like in their intelligence. They like to play rough with toys. Usually other sea animals they have caught.
My guess is they see boats as toys.
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