Scientists claim spate of orca attacks on European boats are the whales’ way of playing: report

While orca pods have been terrorizing ships along Europe’s western coast and inside the Mediterranean — with a recent incident reported in Portugal over the weekend — Renaud de Stephanis, president of Spain’s Conservation, Information and Research on Cetaceans (CIRCE) said this behavior is part of the whales’ “playful” nature. The expert surmised that since the orcas are specifically aiming for the ships’ rudders, they enjoy the rocking of the ship and the resistance, treating it as a toy that stimulates them. Dr. Clare Andvik, a marine mammal expert at the University of Oslo, said the stimulation is ramped up for the whale if the humans onboard the ship try to steer away, creating greater resistance for the orcas to test their might against.

Author: Ronny Reyes

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