In a shocking incident, a pod of killer whales has attacked and sunk a nearly 50-foot yacht in the Strait of Gibraltar, between Spain and Morocco. Officials have confirmed the incident, which took place on Sunday at 9 a.m. local time, involving a yacht named The Alboran Cognac.

According to Spain's maritime authority, there were two people on board the vessel when the attack occurred. The yacht was approximately 15 miles from Cabo Espartel in Morocco when an unknown number of orcas began ramming it. The couple immediately alerted Spanish authorities, leading to a timely rescue operation.

A rescue team arrived on the scene an hour after the attack to extricate the stranded couple. However, their efforts to salvage the sinking boat were unsuccessful. The incident has shed light on the growing issue of orca attacks, with approximately 700 such incidents reported since 2020, according to GT Orca Atlantica, a conservation group.

Experts believe that more than 37 orcas currently inhabit the Strait of Gibraltar. Spanish government officials have noted that these interactions between orcas and vessels, particularly sailboats, have been occurring since the summer and autumn of 2020. These interactions range from persistent approaches to ships to ramming the hull and rudder, causing various forms of damage.

The exact motives behind these attacks remain unclear, although experts have put forth two plausible hypotheses. It is speculated that the orcas may be targeting vessels for sport or acting out of a perceived threat. According to a study published in Biological Conservation, orcas have demonstrated "sophisticated learning abilities," which may offer insights into their behavior.

This is not the first incident involving orcas in the Strait of Gibraltar. In June 2023, racing yachts participating in The Ocean Race reported a similar encounter with a pod of killer whales as they approached the strait. Fortunately, no casualties were reported during that incident.

The mystifying behavior of orcas attacking boats continues to raise concerns among maritime authorities and conservation groups. Efforts are underway to better understand and mitigate these interactions to ensure the safety of both humans and marine wildlife in the Strait of Gibraltar.