Not violent or murderous: science explains why killer whales don't attack humans

When orcas, also known as killer whales, interact with a boat, they generally do not display aggressive behavior or any intention of attacking humans. Instead, experts believe these interactions are driven by curiosity, play, and enjoyment. At least that appears to be the case for the orcas found near the Strait of Gibraltar, according to experts from Wewhale in comments to La Voz Digital.

However, following a series of incidents involving orcas and sailboats off the coast of Cádiz, a new research project has been launched with authorization from Spain’s Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO). The initiative aims to protect the Iberian orca population, with fieldwork taking place in the Strait of Gibraltar and the Bay of Cádiz.

According to the publication, the study will rely on photo identification, acoustic monitoring, and behavioral research to better understand the animals. Wewhale explains that the project seeks to promote coexistence between sailors and orcas through patrols, monitoring efforts, outreach to the maritime community, scientific documentation, and public awareness programs.

“Complex behaviors”

“Orcas should not be viewed as aggressive animals,” Wewhale explains. “Rather, they are a species with complex behaviors whose coexistence with human activity requires knowledge and proper management.”

In general, interactions involving orcas are directed toward vessels rather than people and do not appear to be attempts to harm humans. So why do they sometimes make contact with sailboats in the Bay of Cádiz? Researchers hope this new study will help answer that question. In 2021, a group of Spanish scientists proposed one possible explanation: the behavior may be a form of play.

And why don’t orcas attack humans?

Research into cetacean evolution shows that orcas are extremely conservative when it comes to their diet. They do not simply bite anything that moves. Each orca population around the world tends to specialize in a specific type of prey and passes that knowledge from one generation to the next through learned cultural behaviors.

For example, the orcas that inhabit the Strait of Gibraltar feed almost exclusively on Atlantic bluefin tuna. Resident Antarctic orcas may specialize in hunting only penguins or specific species of seals. Humans simply are not part of their cultural menu. To an orca, we are an unfamiliar and unusual presence rather than prey.

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