An unknown number of orcas have sunk a sailing yacht after ramming it in Moroccan waters in the Strait of Gibraltar, Spain’s maritime rescue service said on Monday, a new attack in what has become a trend in the past four years.

Archived version: https://archive.ph/PSmqu

  • aeronmelon@lemmy.world
    16·
    2 months ago

    Orcas are normally docile towards humans. They felt like they had a reason to sink that ship.

    The world could do with fewer yachts anyways.

    • Apytele@sh.itjust.works
      13·
      2 months ago

      I’ve heard of a couple sinkings lately. Not that that contradicts your statement about docility, in fact I intend to add to it. Multiple little pods / small groups of species with similar cognition / intelligences (especially elephants, but also whales and often corvids) have been known to get fed up with humans’ shit and go on targeted rampages. They don’t think too dissimilarly from us, and revenge is certainly a pretty big human motivator.

      • livus@kbin.social
        4·
        2 months ago

        The way elephants traditionally landscape the savannah, using long-term planning, makes me think attempting to weed out rogue humans might also be a pretty rational decision for high cognition animals.

    • Rediphile@lemmy.ca
      82·
      2 months ago

      This is a sailboat though isn’t it? It’s not like a billionaire mega yacht (unfortunately).

    • Mycatiskai@lemmy.ca
      22·
      2 months ago

      Scuba divers in the West Coast of BC are trained to be aware of sharks in the water but if an orca is spotted you get the fuck out of the water.

        • Mycatiskai@lemmy.ca
          1·
          1 month ago

          I think it is that when you are diving you could be mistaken for a slow awkward seal.

          Killer whales don’t attack humans in swimming settings because we are obviously not their food but when divers are underwater mistakes could happen and if you are not close to the surface anything that happens that messes with your regulator or tanks means death.

          • Rediphile@lemmy.ca
            1·
            1 month ago

            Mistakes literally never have happened so far though.

            But yeah, I’d probably get out of the water myself. Or just do something really dumb looking so it was clear I was human.

          • awwwyissss@lemm.ee
            11·
            1 month ago

            Interesting. I know I’d be terrified, those things truly are apex predators.

            • Mycatiskai@lemmy.ca
              11·
              1 month ago

              Giant pacific octopus would be the worry I would have.

              Octopus are strong and curious, if they lived longer than a few years they would be next to us or higher on the intelligence scale. They can pull off your regulator or mask just out of curiosity.