Killer Whales Attack British Couple's Yacht Off Morocco Coast

Killer whales attacked the yacht of a British couple during a boating trip off the coast of Morocco, it was reported on Wednesday, May 17. The orcas kept bumping their vessel several times for more than an hour.

The cause behind the marine mammals remains unclear, relative to the context that no fatal orca attacks on humans have been reported yet in the wild yet.

The incident came after another pod of killer whales in different parts of the world, including Europe, attacked small vessels like boats due to unknown reasons.

Potential theories involved the sea creatures, like dolphins, show their tendency to be playful, while others suggest they have mistaken small watercraft as their prey, including seals.

Morocco Killer Whale Attack

This pictures taken on January 27, 2023 shows Orcas (Killer Whales) in the Artic ocean in the Spildra Island northern Arctic Circle. - Arctic Atlantic ocean is at +3C as the air temperature is -4C at this time of the year during the polar nights. Photo by OLIVIER MORIN/AFP via Getty Images

British couple Janet Morris and Stephen Bidwell from Cambridge, United Kingdom, were reportedly preparing and napping for their night watch when the sudden orca attack occurred.

The attack involved at least six members of the pod, according to the vessel's crew, who said the animals seem to be chasing pieces of debris that resembles a sponge in the water, the Mirror U.K. reported.

The couple aboard the vessel felt they were like "sitting ducks" when they encountered the pod of orcas, which left them alone after the crew managed to return to calmer waters.

Also Read: Killer Whales Have Been Starving for Several Years Due to Declining Salmon Population: New Study

Killer Whale Attacks in the Wild

The Morocco killer whale attack could only be the tip of the iceberg, as similar incidents have been reported in recent months and years.

In March 2023, it was reported that orcas attacked and disabled a sailboat in the Strait of Gibraltar, a narrow waterway passage between southern Spain and northwestern Africa.

The situation was confirmed when the crew members of the sailboat Larios made a distress call to authorities and reported that their sailboat was damaged when they encountered three orcas, The Maritime Executive reported.

In August 2022, multiple reports indicate that killer whales are attacking sailboats in the waters near the European coast, including those of France and Portugal.

For this reason, scientists are uncertain what triggers the creatures to attack vessels. However, they suspect those involved in the attacks belong to the same pod, according to Renaud de Stephanis, from the Spain-based research foundation CIRCE, as cited by the National Public Radio.

Notable Killer Whale Attack in Captivity

Despite the track record of orcas having no record of killing humans in the wild, they have already done so while in captivity. Experts warn the animals are still dangerous, especially while they are not in their natural habitats. Such captivity can suppress the animals' natural behavior and emotions which can take years before they burst out, based on observations.

In February 2010, a killer whale by the name of 'Tilikum' killed its SeaWorld trainer, Dawn Brancheau, during one of their entertainment shows. The animal bit and dragged Brancheau by her hair into the water where she was repeatedly struck. Tilikum was still 2 years old in 1983 when he was first captured from the ocean, according to PETA.