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Orcas Have Social Trends Like Us, And This One Could Get Dangerous For Boats

Killer whales are ramming into boats off coast of Europe, and scientists don’t understand why.

By Sean Mowbray
Oct 11, 2022 1:00 PMOct 11, 2022 7:55 PM
Killer whales
(Credit: Tory Kallman/Shutterstock)

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Off the western coast of Europe – running from Portugal, Spain and France – orcas are ramming into boats. Over the past few years, this activity has led to temporary bans on small boating activities in some areas. But scientists are puzzled as to why the killer whales are doing this in the first place.

According to reports, the orcas ram small boats repeatedly, and almost always go for the rudder – snapping, cracking or otherwise breaking it. Some have to tow the ships into the harbor because the damage is so severe, and a few ships have even sunk.

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