Shock pics show killer whale blasted by shotgun in Strait of Gibraltar after spate of terrifying orca attacks on boats

A RARE “Grandmother” killer whale appears to have been blasted with a shotgun in the Strait of Gibraltar. A shocking photo shows the Iberian orca known as Toñi as she was found with eight suspected gunshot wounds on her dorsal fin. An Iberian orca matriarch was pictured with what appear to be gunshot wounds Credit: Paco Gil/ Facebook Orca swimming in the Strait of Gibraltar, where they are designated as a endangered Credit: Alamy It comes after a terrifying spate of attacks by the animals on boats in the area, with five clashes in just 48 hours in July. Toñi is the oldest known killer whale in her pack and is known as “la Abuela” – “the Grandmother” in English. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Whale watcher Paco Gil shared a photo showing the holes on the endangered animal. The concerning wounds appeared suddenly on the matriarch on August 12, leading conservationists to suspect a violent attack on the orca. Conservation group Orca Iberica said the injuries were likely caused by a “shotgun blast”. The group said the predator was likely fired on with a gun normally used for hunting wild boars. They wrote on Facebook: “Toñi arrived at the Strait with marks consistent with ulcerations caused by a shotgun blast, possibly from 9mm diameter lead shot intended for wild boar. “Each cartridge contains nine pellets in three layers (buckshot), which are the marks on the fin. Most read in The Sun “This type of ammunition is fired from a 12/70 gauge shotgun at a distance of less than 15 meters, as it spreads 25 cm every 10 meters.” Orcas are legally protected in Spain, listing Toñi’s population who swim around the Strait of Gibraltar and the Gulf of Cádiz as endangered. Pursuing, killing, capturing or disturbing the animals is illegal. It comes as incidents of orcas attacking boats have increased in recent years. The huge animals have been spotted making contact with rudders, in some cases causing serious damage. In 2022, an orca called Gladis was thought to be teaching gangs to attack yachts, sinking at least three boats. But Spanish authorities and scientists have repeatedly said that these clashes are not attacks. Instead, orca specialists say the interactions are the animals playing with the ships, rather than acts of aggression. The suspected killer whale shooting has been reported to the Spanish authorities. Whale watcher Janek Andre told The Telegraph that the injured orca was found between Tarifa in Spain and Tangiers in Morocco in the Strait of Gibraltar. He said: “We recognise it is the same orca as we have been studying their dorsals for three years. “We noticed what looked like shotgun pellet wounds and checked this with people in the ministry who know about shotguns, [and they] said it looked like pellet wounds.” Andre added: “It is another dimension of human aggression towards the orca. Who the hell would shoot a critically endangered species?” Comment now