Orcas are sinking ships off the Iberian coast, perhaps out of revenge

He jaws series not exactly realistic. Sharks do not tend to gobble up humans near beaches. Let’s not even start with the fourth, in which it is implied that an offspring of the original tiger shark followed the heroes all the way to the Bahamas. Or perhaps, considering a recent series of whale attacks, it’s more real than previously thought.

according to the washington post, recent years have witnessed a series of orca attacks on ships off the Iberian coast, near Spain and Portugal. Three have ended with the ships sinking. That includes an incident this month, in which an orca took out a yacht.

These attacks may just be nature taking its course. One report argues that killer whales only express “natural curiosity.”

But the leading theory is that a female orca suffered a “critical moment of agony” involving a boat. Not only did she begin to attack boats, but she taught the aggressive behavior to other adult orcas. Meanwhile, her children may simply be imitating her behavior. It’s not far-fetched: killer whales are extremely intelligent and can instruct others on certain behaviors.

Orcas are also endangered in the region, which could have caused friction between them and humans.

(Through the washington post)