Killer whales attack boats off the coast of Spain and Portugal

The area where the attacks occurred is witnessing heavy boat traffic and excessive fishing, which has dwindled the food supply for orcas.

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A group of killer whales attacking boats off the coast of Spain and Portugal has baffled researchers.

The New York Daily News reported that whales appeared to have targeted sailboats traveling through the Strait of Gibraltar to Galicia (Galicia), in multiple accidents during the past two months, which resulted in damaging boats and injuring sailors.

Sailor Victoria Morris described one of the incidents to the "Guardian" newspaper, saying that she felt "completely managed", after a group of nine whales surrounded a boat and repeatedly rammed it for an hour.

"The noise was really scary," Morris said.

She was hitting the crossbar, there was a horrific echo, I thought it could tip the boat ... The noise was deafening, and the whistling was loud, which prompted us to scream.

It's unusual for orcas to become so aggressive, the researchers said, even though they are super intelligent and have been known to follow boats.

Marine biologist at the University of Seville, Rossio Espada, told the Observer:

"It is possible that the animals have been under stress, as the area where the attacks occurred is witnessing heavy boat traffic and overhunting, resulting in dwindling food supplies for orcas."

In a sign of abnormal behavior, Spanish authorities are warning boat owners not to approach flocks of killer whales.

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