A recent study by marine researchers suggests that the killer whales that have been colliding with ships in the Strait of Gibraltar may just be juveniles engaging in playful behavior and following a trend. Since May 2020, over 690 incidents of killer whales striking boats have been recorded near the Iberian Peninsula, puzzling both sailors and scientists alike.
Leading marine biologist Alex Zerbini, head of the scientific council at the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and part of the research team appointed by the Spanish and Portuguese governments, believes that the behavior of these killer whales could be a new “cultural tradition” without a clear purpose. This suggests that they may simply be seeking temporary excitement rather than attacking ships intentionally.
In many recent incidents, it was found that juvenile killer whales were responsible for causing damage to ships. Their behavior was non-aggressive, with animals swimming slowly and lightly touching rudders with their snouts. According to Zerbini, these interactions are more playful in nature than intentional destruction. He notes that this new behavior may disappear and reappear in the future as juvenile killer whales tend to exhibit temporary behavioral trends without any adaptive purpose observed across different populations over time.
It is important to note that while these killer whales do not understand the consequences of their actions in terms of damaging ships and affecting people’s lives, they are still highly intelligent animals capable of learning from their experiences. Further research into this phenomenon will continue to provide insights into why this new behavior has emerged and what implications it may have for both marine life and human activity in the Strait of Gibraltar.
