Killer whale gang terrorising boats off Spain strikes again as pod of beasts sinks yacht after ramming 3 in same area

A KILLER whale gang terrorising boats off the coast of Spain have sunk another yacht after ramming three others in the same area. Two people on board the luxury boat had to be saved after the orcas destroyed the rudder, causing the vessel to founder. Killer whales have sunk another yacht off the coast of Spain Credit: Solarpix The pleasure boat sunk just over a mile off the coast of northeastern Spain Credit: Solarpix The latest killer whale ambush happened just over a mile off Estaca de Bares, the northernmost cape of the Iberian Peninsula, and follows a spate of attacks. A private boat rushed to the sailors’ aid and tried to tow the yacht back, but were unable to prevent it from being pulled into the depths. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! The rescued pair were unharmed and taken to a nearby town while a helicopter scoured the area for signs of pollution. Three other boats reported seeing the pod of beasts on the same day as the incident. A gang of orcas terrorising boats off the coast of Spain may have developed their own language, scientists claim Credit: SEA SHEPHERD FRANCE An orca approaching a British sailboat off the coast of Morocco last year Credit: SWNS The vessels’ rudders were also targeted but the damage done did not prevent them reaching shore in two cases, although the other yacht was also crippled. Spanish coastguards said overnight: “A yacht has sunk 1.3 miles from Estaca de Bares as a result of taking on water after an interaction with orcas. “Its two crew members were picked up by a nearby motorboat and are safe.” In a second message they said: “This is the fourth orca interaction that occurred in the area yesterday. Most read in The Sun “While assisting the yacht Idem, it emerged another sailing vessel had also experienced an interaction with these marine mammals, but the damage to its rudder was minimal and it continued sailing to Viveiro. “At midday yesterday, the sailing yacht Glatisant was left adrift in the Viveiro estuary with its rudder inoperable. “Coastguard rescue vessel Alioth reached its position and escorted the yacht to port. “Likewise, another sailing yacht, Kador, with one crew member and three cats on board, also encountered orcas at around 2.30pm yesterday. “In that case, although the Coastguard rescue vessel Shaula was dispatched, it ultimately did not require assistance and was able to sail to Viveiro unaided.” Are orcas violent? MANY people see footage of the orcas ramming boats, the screams of those on board and the vessels slowly sinking and think the attacks have a sinister meaning. But most scientists and marine biologists are in agreement that the orcas are not acting with any aggression when they crash into boats. Instead, the reason behind these near fatal encounters is often attributed to the killer whales simply playing with the boat’s rudders. Orca tracker Rui Alves told The Sun: “Scientists will always explain that if an orca is busy or if they’re hunting or something they will not care about the sailing boat “But if there is no activity, the orca will see a sailing boat passing and will approach it and try to force the rudder from one side to the other side. “They play with the rudder because it’s a moving part of the boat. “They approach the boat to play with the rudder but they are very heavy – sometimes six tonnes – so they break it.” Bernardo Queiroz, a dolphin tour guide who helps photograph orcas, added: “I’ve been with orcas on the water just 10cm away from their mouth, and they just come and watch you eye-to-eye. “They are very curious and are not pretending to harm any person. “Even if you fell on the water with them they will not touch you.” And Thomas Le Coz, the captain of the Sea Shepherd France, explained killer whales are misunderstood and often aren’t aware of their sheer size. “We have been working on the ground with scientists that have been studying orca for 30 plus years and the entire attitude of the orca during an interaction is a play attitude. “The only difference with some orcas is that they push the game a bit too far and they are pushing to the point where they break the boat. “They do it with our boat quite often but they are quite gentle. They come, they touch, and they blow bubbles. “So it is definitely playing but obviously it’s causing all these problems with the sailboats.” More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online Thesun.co.uk is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thesun and follow us on TikTok @TheSun. Comment now