Orcas Continue to Target and Sink Yachts in Strait of Gibraltar, Polish Touring Company Latest Victim

Increasing trend of orcas targeting boats, particularly yachts, in the Strait of Gibraltar since 2020 baffles scientists; frequency and intensity of these incidents escalating while orcas' motivations remain unclear.

A yacht operated by Polish touring company Morskie Mile was targeted and sunk by a pod of orca whales in the Strait of Gibraltar; the crew were safely evacuated, leaving the yacht irreparable and later sinking near the Moroccan port Tanger Med.
The attack duration lasted for 45 minutes during which the orcas hit the vessel's rudder, causing major damage; such incidents have been increasingly reported since 2020, leaving scientists puzzled at the orcas' motivations.
Orcas are highly intelligent marine animals, often showcasing learned behaviors; however, it remains unknown whether these boat 'attacks' result from playful actions, past traumas, or other reasons.
Data from the research group GTOA reveals that incidents involving orcas have tripled over the last two years; recorded incidents ranged from 52 in 2020, to 197 in 2021, and 207 in 2022, primarily affecting sailboats.
One theory suggests the orca called White Gladis and her pod, known to have caused over 60% of reported incidents in 2020, might be teaching younger whales to ram boats, though this idea remains speculation.