2 yacht passengers rescued after whales sank their boat – a growing trend that has scientists divided

Reports of aggressive encounters between orcas and sailboats on the Iberian coast off Europe began in 2020 and have increased sharply since then

Orcas have sunk another yacht off the Strait of Gibraltar, the latest incident in a growing trend that first began in 2020.

A sailing yacht in Moroccan waters sank in the Strait of Gibraltar after an unknown number of orcas repeatedly rammed it, according to the BBC, NBC News and Fox News.

At around 9 a.m. local time on Sunday, May 12, two crew members aboard the Alboran Cognac vessel reported that orcas had damaged their yacht, which was about 14 miles (22 kilometers) off Cape Spartel in Morocco at the time, Fox News reported.

Spain's maritime rescue service told the BBC that the two passengers called for help after they felt something hit the hull and rudder, causing the yacht to take on water.

Related: Killer whales sink boat off Morocco in 45-minute attack: 'Love for the sea always wins'

To rescue the crew members, a helicopter was sent to the scene by the Spanish maritime rescue service and a nearby oil tanker was also diverted there to provide assistance. The oil tanker was able to respond quickly and the two crew members were taken on board and transported safely to Gibraltar, outlets said.

Meanwhile, the crew members' sailing yacht was left adrift and eventually sank into the sea.

Reports of aggressive encounters between orcas and sailboats on the Iberian coast off Europe began in 2020, according to Maritime Executive, and incidents have increased since then.

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The reason for the increasing number of boat attacks by orcas in the area is a mystery to researchers, although some theorize that the killer whales were taught this behavior by other members of their species.

Alfredo López Fernandez, a marine biologist at the University of Aveiro in Portugal, told Live Science he believes the interactions began after an orca named “White Gladis” was “traumatized” by an incident with a ship and “this behavior had demonstrated.” of physical contact” with boats. He said other killer whales then copied it.

See also: Orcas pushed yacht around like 'rag dolls' after taking oars off – but sailor said they seemed 'playful'

Scientists at the CIRCE research center found that a group of three orcas from the same pod engaged in multiple interactions with the boat's rudder, but added that they believed the orcas “interacted with sailboats as a form of entertainment” rather than as used a form of hunting.

The marine biologist Dr. Renaud de Stephanis told the BBC: “From what I see it’s mainly two of these guys [the Gladises] They in particular are just going crazy. They just play, play and play. . . . It just seems like something they really like and that’s all.”

“I saw them hunting,” the biologist added. “When they hunt, you can’t hear or see them. They are stealthy and sneak up on their prey. I’ve seen them attack sperm whales – it’s aggressive… but these guys are playing.”

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