Violent interactions with humans off the Iberian coast have caused alarm but mystery still surrounds the apex predators
This past week’s new reports of orca interactions off the Iberian coast has cast new light on these apex predators. Are they annoyed with us? Or just playing? Whatever the truth, such interactions – a word most scientists prefer to the judgmental “attacks” – are nothing new.
Diving in the Indian Ocean in 2017 with underwater photographer Andrew Sutton, we watched two pods of orca preying on sperm whale calves. Their attempts were defeated by adult whales who had gathered around to defend their young. The orcas then turned their attention to our 6m fishing boat, circling us, before repeatedly ramming our prow. Five of the orcas swam directly at our side, creating a compression wave as if to tip us over.
