# This year has reportedly seen a spate of attacks by orcas ("killer whales") against boats in the Strait of Gibraltar **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 14, 2020, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-year-has-reportedly-seen-a-spate-of-attacks-by-orcas-killer-whales-against-boats-in-the-strait-of-gibraltar/920611 "2020-09-14T21:57:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2020, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-year-has-reportedly-seen-a-spate-of-attacks-by-orcas-killer-whales-against-boats-in-the-strait-of-gibraltar/920611/1 "2020-09-14T21:57:26Z")
Well, _this_ can’t be good: [‘I’ve never seen or heard of attacks’: scientists baffled by orcas harassing boats](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/sep/13/the-tale-of-the-killer-whales). (From _The Guardian_, not _The Weekly World News_.) > [@](#): > > When nine killer whales surrounded the 46ft boat that Victoria Morris was crewing in Spain on the afternoon of 29 July, she was elated. The biology graduate taught sailing in New Zealand and is used to friendly orca encounters. But the atmosphere quickly changed when they started ramming the hull, spinning the boat 180 degrees, disabling the autohelm and engine… > > The boat was towed to Barbate, where it was lifted to reveal the rudder missing its bottom third and outer layer, and teeth marks along the underside… > > But Morris’s was only one of several encounters between late July and August. The article does also say that “The encounters described around Barbate were certainly frightening for the crew, who understandably felt targeted, but it’s unlikely they were meant as aggressive attacks” and “In these and all other known cases, the mammals ignored the humans who took to life rafts; it was the boats that attracted their ire”. There are also quotes from marine biologists saying–in so many words–that the orcas may be “pissed off” by various human-caused stresses (competition between the whales and human fishermen is apparently pretty intense, and orcas have definitely not always been the only aggressors: “Stories persist of fishermen stunning orca with electric prods, throwing lit petrol cans, cutting dorsal fins.”) So, it may just be payback time for the big black-and-white dolphins. Presumably their next step will be to [evolve opposable thumbs](https://www.theonion.com/dolphins-evolve-opposable-thumbs-1819565718). Anyway, yet more evidence that 2020 is just awful and we’re all doomed. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2020, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-year-has-reportedly-seen-a-spate-of-attacks-by-orcas-killer-whales-against-boats-in-the-strait-of-gibraltar/920611/2 "2020-09-15T12:53:33Z")
Orcas are fierce. And, unlike sharks, smart & socially communicative. This can’t be good news. At least they don’t (yet) have worldwide communications. So it’ll take a few years for the news to migrate to the pods everywhere else on Earth. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2020, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-year-has-reportedly-seen-a-spate-of-attacks-by-orcas-killer-whales-against-boats-in-the-strait-of-gibraltar/920611/3 "2020-09-15T13:01:07Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > Presumably their next step will be to [evolve opposable thumbs](https://www.theonion.com/dolphins-evolve-opposable-thumbs-1819565718). Will lathes be far behind? > Thus far, all the opposable digits encountered appear to be fully functional, making it possible for dolphins–believed to be capable of faster and more complex cogitation than man–to manipulate objects, fashion tools, and **construct rudimentary pulley and lever systems.** ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2020, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-year-has-reportedly-seen-a-spate-of-attacks-by-orcas-killer-whales-against-boats-in-the-strait-of-gibraltar/920611/4 "2020-09-15T14:00:19Z")
Has [Bo Derek been warned?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TTnmGeMczQ) ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2020, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-year-has-reportedly-seen-a-spate-of-attacks-by-orcas-killer-whales-against-boats-in-the-strait-of-gibraltar/920611/5 "2020-09-15T20:17:22Z")
I would like a cite on dolphins using pulleys and levers. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-year-has-reportedly-seen-a-spate-of-attacks-by-orcas-killer-whales-against-boats-in-the-strait-of-gibraltar/920611/6 "2020-09-17T21:50:31Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I would like a cite on dolphins using pulleys and levers. It’s right there in that article linked by MEBuckner several posts above. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-year-has-reportedly-seen-a-spate-of-attacks-by-orcas-killer-whales-against-boats-in-the-strait-of-gibraltar/920611/7 "2020-09-17T21:53:42Z")
Douglas Adams has pointed out, as evidence of dolphins’ intelligence, that they never invented atomic weapons or New York City. It may become necessary to re-evaluate that opinion soon. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2020, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-year-has-reportedly-seen-a-spate-of-attacks-by-orcas-killer-whales-against-boats-in-the-strait-of-gibraltar/920611/8 "2020-09-17T23:53:20Z")
Reading that article, I admit the phrase “you’re gonna need a bigger boat” did cross my mind. And what was the name of the boat that they needed a bigger one than? The _Orca_! ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2020, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-year-has-reportedly-seen-a-spate-of-attacks-by-orcas-killer-whales-against-boats-in-the-strait-of-gibraltar/920611/9 "2020-09-18T00:33:51Z")
First they called Moby Dick a terrorist. Then they called him a founding father. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2020, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-year-has-reportedly-seen-a-spate-of-attacks-by-orcas-killer-whales-against-boats-in-the-strait-of-gibraltar/920611/10 "2020-09-18T01:23:54Z")
_You know they call them killer whales_ _But you seem surprised_ _When it pinned you down to the bottom of the tank_ _Where you can’t turn around_ _It took half your leg and both your lungs…_ – People Got a Lotta Nerve by Neko Case ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2020, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-year-has-reportedly-seen-a-spate-of-attacks-by-orcas-killer-whales-against-boats-in-the-strait-of-gibraltar/920611/11 "2020-09-18T01:24:15Z")
Thanks, Senegoid. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2020, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-year-has-reportedly-seen-a-spate-of-attacks-by-orcas-killer-whales-against-boats-in-the-strait-of-gibraltar/920611/12 "2020-09-18T01:25:08Z")
On the other hand, they did not win World War II. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2020, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-year-has-reportedly-seen-a-spate-of-attacks-by-orcas-killer-whales-against-boats-in-the-strait-of-gibraltar/920611/13 "2020-09-18T01:41:35Z")
Do you speak of his link to an onion post? ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2020, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-year-has-reportedly-seen-a-spate-of-attacks-by-orcas-killer-whales-against-boats-in-the-strait-of-gibraltar/920611/14 "2020-09-18T01:51:16Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Do you speak of his link to an onion post? - ¡Sí! . ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2023, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-year-has-reportedly-seen-a-spate-of-attacks-by-orcas-killer-whales-against-boats-in-the-strait-of-gibraltar/920611/15 "2023-05-20T00:40:05Z")
Update: boats are sinking! > **[Orcas have sunk 3 boats in Europe and appear to be teaching others to do the...](https://www.livescience.com/animals/orcas/orcas-have-sunk-3-boats-in-europe-and-appear-to-be-teaching-others-to-do-the-same-but-why)** > > 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. My favorite comment from the reportage: > We estimate that killer whales only touch one ship out of every hundred that sail through a location. Only? ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2023, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-year-has-reportedly-seen-a-spate-of-attacks-by-orcas-killer-whales-against-boats-in-the-strait-of-gibraltar/920611/16 "2023-05-20T01:49:41Z")
We boat in the Puget Sound. Hopefully the Super Killer Whales of Europe aren’t communicating with their more Docile Whales over here. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2023, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-year-has-reportedly-seen-a-spate-of-attacks-by-orcas-killer-whales-against-boats-in-the-strait-of-gibraltar/920611/17 "2023-05-20T02:36:40Z")
Maybe they’re just pissed about the name we’ve given them. > **[Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal - 2010-04-06](https://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/2010-04-06)** > > Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal - 2010-04-06 ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2023, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-year-has-reportedly-seen-a-spate-of-attacks-by-orcas-killer-whales-against-boats-in-the-strait-of-gibraltar/920611/18 "2023-05-20T09:10:22Z")
I told you all that freeing Willy was just going to end badly. ---
**Author:** ![alovem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@alovem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alovem)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2023, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-year-has-reportedly-seen-a-spate-of-attacks-by-orcas-killer-whales-against-boats-in-the-strait-of-gibraltar/920611/20 "2023-05-20T09:37:00Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > _“In these and all other known cases, the mammals ignored the **humans who took to life rafts** ; it was the boats that attracted their ire”_. My bolding. 😬 Thanks for the nightmares… ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2023, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-year-has-reportedly-seen-a-spate-of-attacks-by-orcas-killer-whales-against-boats-in-the-strait-of-gibraltar/920611/21 "2023-05-21T15:02:40Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > My favorite comment from the reportage: > > > We estimate that killer whales only touch one ship out of every hundred that sail through a location. > > Only? Have they considered instituting a convoy system, like they had in WWII to combat the U-boat menace? A hundred ships could elude the orca wolfpack as easily as one. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-year-has-reportedly-seen-a-spate-of-attacks-by-orcas-killer-whales-against-boats-in-the-strait-of-gibraltar/920611.md?page=2)