Editing Orca (section)

=== Orca attacks on sailboats and small vessels ===
{{main|Iberian orca attacks}}
Beginning around 2020, one or more pods of orcas began to attack sailing vessels off the southern tip of Europe, and a few were sunk. At least 15 interactions between orcas and boats off the Iberian coast were reported in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-23 |title=Scientists are puzzled by Orcas sinking boats in a string of abnormal attacks |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/orcas-sank-three-boats-coast-portugal-dont-call-killer-just-yet-rcna85678 |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=NBC News |language=en |archive-date=July 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704125250/https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/orcas-sank-three-boats-coast-portugal-dont-call-killer-just-yet-rcna85678 |url-status=live }}</ref> According to the Atlantic Orca Working Group (GTOA) as many as 500 vessels have been damaged between 2020 and 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-29 |title=Gladis the killer whale and her gang of orcas out for revenge |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/gladis-whale-orca-boat-attacks-gibraltar-b2347572.html |access-date=2023-07-05 |website=The Independent |language=en |archive-date=June 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620095318/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/gladis-whale-orca-boat-attacks-gibraltar-b2347572.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In one video, an orca can be seen biting on one of the two rudders ripped from a catamaran near [[Gibraltar]]. The captain of the vessel reported this was the second attack on a vessel under his command and the orcas focused on the rudders. "Looks like they knew exactly what they are doing. They didn't touch anything else."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dewan |first=Pandora |date=2023-06-09 |title=Orcas filmed destroying ship's rudder in shocking clip: "Surrounded" |url=https://www.newsweek.com/orcas-filmed-destroying-ship-rudder-shocking-clip-surrounded-1805644 |access-date=2023-07-05 |website=Newsweek |language=en |archive-date=July 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705133639/https://www.newsweek.com/orcas-filmed-destroying-ship-rudder-shocking-clip-surrounded-1805644 |url-status=live }}</ref> After an orca repeatedly rammed a vessel off the coast of Norway in 2023, there is a concern the behavior is spreading to other areas.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Hoare |first1=Philip |last2=Hoekendijk |first2=Jeroen |date=2023-06-21 |title=Orca rams into yacht off Shetland in first such incident in northern waters |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jun/21/orca-rams-yacht-off-shetland-first-such-incident-northern-waters |access-date=2023-07-04 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> This has led to recommendations that sailors now carry bags of sand.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-19 |title=Sprinkling sand 'deters orcas' according to Cruising Association |url=https://www.pbo.co.uk/news/orca-sand-deterrence-77513 |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=Practical Boat Owner |language=en-US |archive-date=July 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704125251/https://www.pbo.co.uk/news/orca-sand-deterrence-77513 |url-status=live }}</ref> Dropping sand into the water near the rudder is thought to confuse the sonar signal.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Crisp |first=James |date=2023-05-27 |title=Sailors have a new way to stop killer whale attacks |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/05/27/orcas-killer-whales-attacking-boats-strait-gibraltar-sand/ |access-date=2023-07-04 |issn=0307-1235 |archive-date=July 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704125250/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/05/27/orcas-killer-whales-attacking-boats-strait-gibraltar-sand/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Experts were divided as to whether the behavior was some sort of revenge or protection response to a previous traumatic incident, or playful or frustrated attempts to get a boat's propeller to emit a stream of high-speed water.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/06/13/1181693759/orcas-killer-whales-boat-attacks |title=Orcas sank a yacht off Spain — the latest in a slew of such 'attacks' in recent years |date=May 15, 2024 |author=Scott Neuman |website=[[NPR]] |access-date=May 16, 2024 |archive-date=July 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708083723/https://www.npr.org/2023/06/13/1181693759/orcas-killer-whales-boat-attacks |url-status=live }}</ref>