Categories: World News

Sailing yacht off Gibraltar coast rammed and sunk by killer whales | World News

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In a shocking incident off the coast of Gibraltar, a yacht named the Alboran Cognac was attacked and sunk by a group of orcas on Sunday morning. The Spanish maritime rescue service reported that the vessel was rammed by an unknown number of killer whales in the Strait of Gibraltar, causing it to take on water.

Two individuals were on board the yacht at the time of the attack and had to be rescued by a nearby oil tanker after radioing the coastguard for help. The pair were safely taken to Gibraltar, while the yacht was left adrift and eventually sank.

This is not the first time such an incident has occurred in the area, with approximately 700 interactions between orcas and ships reported since the trend began in May 2020. Experts believe that the orcas may be acting out of playful curiosity or confusion, mistaking boats for competitors in the hunt for bluefin tuna.

The attacks have been attributed to a sub-population of around 15 orcas that inhabit the strait between Spain, Portugal, and Africa. Guidelines issued by the Spanish Transport Ministry advise ships to leave the area if they notice any changes in the behavior of the orcas to avoid further disturbances.

Despite their name, killer whales are actually part of the dolphin family and are endangered species. They can grow up to eight meters in length and weigh up to six tonnes as adults. Authorities urge all interactions between ships and orcas to be reported for further investigation.

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