Starting in May 2020, sailors near Spain and Portugal began reporting unusual encounters with killer whales targeting their rudders.

Between 2020 and 2023, encounters surged. While most ended peacefully, structural damage caused several yachts to sink.

These are Iberian orcas, a genetically distinct subpopulation. Today, fewer than 40 of these apex predators remain.

Early theories suggested a matriarch named White Gladis began attacking boats after a traumatic collision or net entanglement.

Marine biologists now strongly lean toward play. Young orcas mimic peers, spreading temporary behavioral fads through the pod.

Like humans, orcas pass down cultural knowledge. This rudder-bumping trend highlights their remarkable intelligence and social bonds.

Even if the whales are just playing, broken steering systems mean expensive rescues and real danger in open waters.

These events reveal systemic marine friction. Expanding maritime traffic continually overlaps with the habitats of fragile species.

Conservationists are developing non-lethal acoustic deterrents and route management apps to protect both sailors and the whales.