Killer Whale Attacks Yacht Off Deba Spain Prompt Rescue

In a rare and alarming incident, a French yacht was attacked by a pod of orcas, believed to be the notorious White Gladis group, off the coast of Deba, northern Spain, causing severe damage to the boat's rudder and prompting a three-hour rescue operation. The orcas surrounded the vessel and repeatedly rammed it, forcing the sailors to issue a mayday call before being rescued and towed to safety, with no injuries reported. Experts believe the aggressive behavior may stem from trauma experienced by a female orca named White Gladis, who appears to have influenced others in the pod to mimic this dangerous interaction with boats. This event has raised concerns for sailors in the region, including British mariners, who have been advised to follow strict safety protocols such as cutting engines and avoiding known hotspots when encountering orcas. The presence of Iberian orcas in UK waters further heightens the risk, prompting warnings and guidance from marine conservation specialists to prevent similar attacks. These incidents highlight a growing challenge in managing human interactions with increasingly bold orca pods in Atlantic waters.