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Scientific American Earth and Environment published a story about killer whale attacks in the Strait of Gibraltar, and mentioned a study published in June 2022 in Marine Mammal Science which “…cataloged 49 instances of orca-boat contact in 2020 alone. The vast majority of the attacks were on sailboats or catamarans, with a handful involving fishing boats and motorboats…The researchers found that the orcas preferentially attack the boats’ rudder, sometimes scraping the hull with their teeth. Such attacks often snap the rudder, leaving the boat unable to navigate. In three cases, the animals damaged a boat so badly that it sank: In July 2022 they sank a sailboat with five people onboard. In November 2022 they caused a sailboat carrying four to go down. And finally, in this month’s attack, the Swiss sailing yacht Champagne had to be abandoned, and the vessel sank while it was towed to shore.” They mention two theories for this behavior, which is unique to the region. First, it may just be a fad, citing an odd period of time when killer whales visiting Washington’s Puget Sound started wearing dead salmon on their heads and this persisted for a few months. Second, it may be learned behavior from having a reaction to a bad experience with boats. What is Creator’s perspective?
ClosedNicola asked 2 years ago • 
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