Orcas are preying on and ramming boat rudders, scaring people—scientists have some mind-blowing suggestions

Orcas are considered one of the smartest creatures on Earth, with their own traditions. While some of them are bewildering, one such practice has caught the eye of experts. This practice is essentially ramming boats. An example of it was witnessed on August 30, 2025, off the coast of Galicia, Spain, according to National Geographic. In this case, the damage was so massive that officials rescued the crew from the site. However, it is not the first time such behavior has been observed in orcas, but considering its frequency and prevalence since 2020, researchers believe it has become a cultural experience for them. None of the attacks to date resulted in human deaths.

Why are Orcas doing this?

This behavior of hitting boats was observed in orcas (Orcinus orca), or killer whales, off the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe, according to Live Science. Researchers are still studying this behavior, but believe that the objective is not to bring harm, as it may be a part of their playtime. The population that exhibits this behavior has been identified as Iberian orcas, a critically endangered group. In these "encounters," young orcas head straight for the rudders at the underside of sailing boats. The orcas have come up with this kind of playtime because they are bored, according to scientists.

Their primary prey, Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus), has recovered in numbers. Their abundance implies that killer whales do not need to spend much time hunting, and their remaining energy is spent on this practice. Researchers do not believe that hurting humans is the aim of this unique practice. Though killer whales are known to hunt a variety of prey, each population has a distinct diet, none of which includes humans. There are only a handful of recorded instances in which orcas have attacked humans. Most of these circumstances came with unique conditions, like the orca mistaking humans for a seal. 

Attack on August 30

On August 30, two boats were attacked by the orcas in the span of just minutes, according to The Independent. The Spanish Maritime Rescue ship was called to handle the situation. The first one, named "San Pedro," was facilitated off the coast at O Grove by a pair of orcas. Its rudder was destroyed in the showdown. The skipper of the "San Pedro" boat claimed that the whole incident went down at quarter past six in the evening. Authorities had to tow the boat back into the dock. As the rescue ship was handling the towing, reports of another attack by the same pod of orcas arrived, and this time, they had supposedly caused a leak. 

The sailors were distressed as they were unprepared for the situation. "The truth is that we were very scared; we were actually really 'scared' when we realised that the killer whales were hitting the boat," a crew member shared. In July 2025, British sailors were warned about this "ramming" behavior when a British boat faced such an attack. Experts warned sailors of such incidents in the area. This "playtime" may have become a fad that has spread through populations in the area, according to Futurism. The game may have become popular in one pod, and slowly, the cultural beings may have transferred it to other pods. "It's a very dangerous game they're playing, obviously," Animal Welfare Institute senior scientist Naomi Rose shared. "But it's a game."

Strategies to Prevent these Attacks

Experts warned mariners to move away from orcas or, in extreme cases, use sounds to irritate the creatures, raising awareness, as these orcas have expanded their hunting ground from deep waters to shallow coastal estuaries. Officials from the Spanish Ministry of the Environment are suggesting enhancing the rudders with something that makes them rough and discourages the orcas. The one thing all experts agree on is that orcas should not be harmed in the process. "This is not a whale problem, it's a people problem," Rose shared. "They live there. That's their home 24/7. We just sail through it. We're in their living room. We are the guests. It is just the cost of doing business."