Posted on 05/30/2024 8:15:10 AM PDT by Red Badger
This orca gave a team competing in The Ocean Race a scare The Ocean Race VIEW 2 IMAGES
For four years now, orcas have been ramming and sinking luxury yachts in European waters, and scientists have struggled to work out just why these smart, social animals had learnt this destructive new trick. But it's not due to some anticapitalist 'eat the rich' agenda, nor is it to do with territory and aggression. The truth is, well, it's child's play.
Following years of research, a team of biologists, government officials and marine industry representatives have released their findings on just why one particular Orcinus orca group has developed this destructive streak. And it turns out, orcas – especially the kids and teens – just want to have fun. The report reveals that a combination of free time, curiosity and natural playfulness has led to young orcas adopting this 'trend' of boat-bumping, which is not at all surprising for a species that has been known to adopt odd, isolated behaviors from time to time.
In recent years, a dramatic recovery in the population of bluefin tuna in the region has been a win for a group of about 40 critically endangered Iberian killer whales that feed exclusively on the large fish. This has meant they've cut down their time spent foraging, leaving space for other 'hobbies.'
"In addition, climate change could be playing a role, leading to these tuna being in the Gulf of Cádiz continuously rather than seasonally," the scientists noted. "This year-round abundance means that there appears to no longer be a need for the whales to pursue every fish encountered."
(Excerpt) Read more at newatlas.com ...
Because they can!
Maybe the probe from outer space 🌌🌌🌌 couldn’t hear them either.
We’ve got to go back to the twentieth century and bring back two...
Well, there’s that rascal, climate change, bringing in more food fish than the killer whales can eat. So, of course, with too much time on their flippers, well, ya know, teen killers gonna be up to some mischief. It’s the same all over.
They are largely democrats?
Because they have free time? Bwahaha!
Clueless scientists haven’t a clue.
Orcas taking the TikTok 'boat-bump' challenge?
Just bored teenagers. Science in the age of Biden.
climate change could be playing a role
Stopped reading right there.
climate change is responsible for everything from acne to zits..................
No matter what, it’s ALWAYS due to climate change. Morons.
climate change is responsible for everything from acne to zits..................
Aren’t those the same?
Could be their way of practicing their hu ting techniques- orcas will dive and swim up under smaller whales and sharks, a d ram them, causing massive internal Injuries and death.
There may be other valid reasons too, and one could very well be territorial protection. Another could be that they see the boats as threats or efen rivals in their pursuits of mating.
“Being bored” is just a hypothesis at this point, as are the other possible reasons mentioned.
Every writer knows that if you want your story published it must include this line.
They demand to see a Taylor Swift concert! Or at least an autographed t-shirt!
Spielberg took their name without permission in Jaws.
Yes..............🙄
Those crazy killer dolphins.
Orcas these days!
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