Open letter warns ascribing aggression to rammings puts animals at risk of human violence
Orcas are not “attacking” boats, leading scientists have said, warning that this false narrative is putting the animals at risk of retribution attacks by humans.
Iberian orcas started ramming into vessels along the Spanish and Portuguese coast in July 2020, with at least 11 juveniles and four adult females getting involved. Some boats had teeth marks on them, others appeared to have been rammed with the head or body multiple times, leading them to being towed into port. Since spring 2021, at least five boats have sunk as a result of damage.
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