Imagine you are sailing the Strait of Gibraltar when an orca suddenly slams into your boat. Since 2020, these apex predators have been biting rudders, ramming and tipping boats and, in some shocking cases, sinking vessels. For sailors here, it is a terrifying experience. And it is happening with increasing frequency.
A quick internet search suggests an almost Hollywood-worthy revenge flick: a boat-scarred, vengeful orca is meting out attacks on fishers and the super-rich. It is a compelling narrative, but scientists aren’t convinced. For them, the real explanation is even stranger.
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