Holiday warning as dramatic videos show pods of raging orcas attacking and trying to capsize boats in Brit hotspots
SAILORS in popular Brit holiday spots have been warned to stay in port at night after shocking videos showed raging orcas trying to capsize boats.
There has been increased reports of killer whales attacking boats off the coasts of Spain and Portugal.
More than 230 orca interactions have been reported in the last two years, ranging from the massive animals approaching boats to attacking them.
The creatures are regularly spotted in the area as they migrate to feed on tuna living around the Straits of Gibraltar.
However, boat attacks are unusual and they rarely attack humans.
The Coordinator for the Study of Marine Mammals (CEMMA), which studies marine mammals in northern Spain, issued the warning on Facebook.
The statement said: “Orcas have been traveling north in Galicia, and there have been several interactions with sailboats, both during at day and night.
“So, we’d like to recommend you to be careful in this area (between Sisargas islands and Estaca de Bares Cape) and, if possible, to spend the night in port to reduce the additional risks associated with a night rescue and tow at sea.”
They also said they will try to visit affected boats and that footage or photos of interactions could help their study of changing orca behaviour.
The warning comes after an orca pod sank a tourist boat off the Portuguese coast earlier this month.
The 20-foot beasts smashed a hole in the side of the ship, which was sailing just of Sines, forcing holidaymakers to abandon the vessel.
Marine expert Victor Hernandez has suggested that these may be ‘revenge attacks’ by a rogue orca pod for illegal poaching.
He believes the attacks are being carried out by a pod of between nine and thirteen orcas, led by a male called Pingu.
Hernandez said: “Sailors in the area who know Pingu’s pod very well due to their markings have claimed that they were attacked with harpoons in July.
“The crew of the illegal fishing boat was probably scared when they saw them approaching so close.”
