Humpback Whales Breach Near Kayakers in Costa Rica

Kayakers in Costa Rica experienced a remarkable encounter with a humpback whale and its calf breaching very close to their kayaks while they were at Playa Escondido, capturing the event on video. The whales, part of a species that migrates from the Antarctic Peninsula and southern Chile to Costa Rica's warm waters for breeding between July and mid-November, put on a spectacular show by repeatedly leaping out of the water and creating waves that reached the kayakers. Members of the Mamawata Surf Retreat group expressed their excitement, having hoped to spot whales and witnessing the close proximity of the breaching whales. The whales eventually swam away after multiple breaches, leaving the kayakers with an unforgettable experience. Meanwhile, off the coast of Portugal, a pod of Iberian orcas attacked a yacht and a tourist boat, damaging both vessels and sinking the latter, although all people aboard were safely rescued. These orca attacks, which have damaged over 250 boats since 2020, are believed to be a form of play, prompting safety guidelines for sailors to avoid orca hotspots and shallow waters.