Home / Environment / Orcas Violently Attack Dutch Yacht Off Portugal Coast
Orcas Violently Attack Dutch Yacht Off Portugal Coast
2 Dec
Summary
- A Dutch family's yacht was violently attacked by killer whales near Nazare.
- The vessel sustained damage and took on water but reached shore safely.
- Orca attacks on boats are frequent in the region, with similar incidents reported.
A Dutch family experienced a violent encounter with killer whales off the coast of Nazare, Portugal, during a nighttime sailing trip from Lisbon to Porto. The yacht was aggressively rocked and rammed by orcas, causing significant damage and leading to the vessel taking on water. Despite the terrifying ordeal, the family managed to safely guide the damaged boat to shore, where it later capsized on the sand. Fortunately, no injuries were reported during the incident.
This attack highlights a concerning pattern of orca interactions with vessels in the region. Similar rammings and attacks have been reported in recent months, including an incident in November where a French family was rescued from a sinking sailboat targeted by orcas. In September, another crew survived a terrifying encounter before the same pod sank a tourist vessel nearby.
Experts suggest these coordinated attacks, which disable boats by targeting the rudder, may be learned behaviors, possibly stemming from a single orca's traumatic experience. The sociable and intelligent nature of orcas allows them to share such behaviors, leading to over 500 interactions with vessels since 2020, with at least three boats sunk.
