Jessica Radcliffe, a SeaWorld trainer, has been making headlines after being killed by an orca. However, recent reports claimed that the viral video was fake, with no evidence of a trainer named Jessica. Orcas, a.k.a. killer whales, are highly intelligent and are not known for attacking humans. When the killer whales are captured or kept in smaller tanks, they become stressed and attack seafarers. So, whenever a killer whale gets captured, it becomes a threat to humans. However, looking at the recent trends, researchers are studying orcas that are purposefully attacking vessels, sailboats and sometimes ships as well.
Why did orcas purposefully attack a yacht?
On July 21, 2025, two French sailors were out on the ocean near Spain, when their yacht came under a sudden attack by a small group of killer whales. The attack happened about two miles from the town of Deba in the Basque Country, Spain. This was the first killer whale attack on a boat in that area this year in 2025. Usually, such encounters happen off the Iberian Coast, but this attack in Deba shows the orcas might be moving into new places where they don’t usually go.
As per Volker Deecke, who is a professor of wildlife conservation at the University of Cumbria, these killer whales don’t seem angry or aggressive, but are rather calm during these encounters and don’t splash or make loud noises. So it might just be a playful activity for them. The two French sailors weren’t hurt and made it back to port safely, though their boat was damaged.
Orcas are changing location to attack boats
Attacks by orcas on boats have become so common, with over 600 boats hit and six sunk, that the area where they usually have encounters is now nicknamed Orca Alley. It is along the coasts of Spain and Portugal. The prime location where the killer whales attack the boats is in the Strait of Gibraltar. However, the latest encounter was in a different location. It happened off the Basque coast, an offbeat location where attacks are usually not found.
But there was one thing in common between the latest attack and the other previous attacks on Orca Alley. According to a report by the International Whaling Commission, the whales involved in these attacks are Iberian orcas, an endangered type of killer whale. Not all Iberian orcas do this; just a small group is responsible. Now, some of these whales seem to be moving beyond their usual area, which makes sailors unsure how far the attacks might spread.
What type of killer whales are attacking the boats?
Orcas usually follow boats, but attacking the rudder has been a new concept. Only a certain group of killer whales does this, called GLADIS, which is a name for an Orca gladiator and is also used to identify the species of the orcas. The first rudder encounter began in 2020 in the Strait of Gibraltar, which was led by one female orca, White Gladis. She kept attacking even though she had a calf.
Scientists believe White Gladis may have had a traumatic experience in the past, such as being hit by a boat or entangled in fishing gear, which could have made her determined to attack boats. Other orcas in her group saw her breaking rudders and sometimes sinking boats, and they just started copying her. At least 15 now attack boats, and it’s often the same ones doing it again and again. But not all of them have been through trauma, so scientists have different opinions about why these attacks are happening.
What is the theory behind orcas attacking boats?
Scientists studying why orcas attack boat rudders say the killer whales aren’t being mean or trying to hurt humans. Instead, it seems to be like a fad, something that a few whales started doing and others just began copying. According to Alfredo López Fernández, an orca researcher, there might be two possible reasons behind it. Firstly, that can be just for fun. This is usually for younger whales who seemed to do it just for fun, like a game. Secondly, there might be any traumatic experience in the past. This one usually clicks for older whales. She shared that the killer whales don’t want to harm humans. Speaking to the BBC, López said:
“The orcas are not showing an aggressive attitude in all of this, even though they may break something. We don’t know which one of these is correct, and even if it’s the second one, we don’t know what might have been the triggering event.”
What are your thoughts on orcas attacking the boats? Let us know.
Also Read: Who Is Jessica Radcliffe? 23-Yr-Old Marine Trainer Killed By Orca The Killer Whale, Here’s The Truth