Orcas - What would you do if this happened to you?

[flpaoli]

I think, from watching BBC Antarctic documentaries, and others, that this idea that Orcas don't attack humans, must be very romantic.

In said documentary they "attacked" a boat with 2 humans (cameramen) by producing a wave exactly like they use to attack seals on top of ice floes. Of course, it didn't work, no human "seals" slid into the water, rather it produced great images, but I'm pretty sure their intention wasn't to come out looking good on a BBC documentary. It must have been to make the creatures on top of the strange floe fall in the water so they could eat them.

Those of us who grew up in the late 20th century have very romantic thoughts about wildlife. If you read Shackleton's stranded in the Antarctic ice story (great read!!!), you'll read about sea lions jumping out of the water to attack humans (and getting shot and becoming the party's food, a blessing).

Same if you read Amundsen's story of conquering the south pole (another great read!!!) where if my memory doesn't fail me it was killer whales that scared them when they were disembarking.

As I've grown older I've learned to respect nature and shed these romantic notions that some of these beautiful animals wouldn't eat me because I'm not their normal prey.

I'm skinny, hope that makes me a less attractive meal, though :-D

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by flpaoli

I'm skinny, hope that makes me a less attractive meal, though :-D

Well.. when a pod of Orca came up and circled my boat mid Atlantic I stood up on the stern in my Speedo's and yelled "Food in plastic wrap is bad for you.."
They must have thought I was nice to warn them coz they escorted me for the next 5 days.. bar going off to hunt from time to time..

[ozolli]

Originally Posted by flpaoli

I think, from watching BBC Antarctic documentaries, and others, that this idea that Orcas don't attack humans, must be very romantic.

So find a proof that orcas attacked humans and share it here.

[Alistair242]

It’s not worth the energy to get into a back and forth about orca attacking/killing humans in the wild with anyone who has not taken the time to actually educate themselves about these animals. It has not happened and if the orca were so inclined it would happen a lot. This is not a romantic notion or whimsical fantasy. Its fact.
Read some studies, watch some documentaries and learn about the interactions between orca and humans throughout recorded history. It is truly disturbing, purely because we have hunted and killed or captured them for most of that time. They in turn have pretty much ignored our transgressions and the destruction we reap on their environment.

That is all I have to contribute here.

[capn ken]

Originally Posted by Sail Sail

We've just been hit by a huge orca off the coast of Portugal:

What would you do if this happened to you?

Hard aport and put her in reverse ! They will get bored and leave ?

[boatman61]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bTIcQM...IHN3aW1tZXI%3D

And.. the swimmers reactions..

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RqcOak...IHN3aW1tZXI%3D

[LakeSuperior]

Originally Posted by ozolli

So find a proof that orcas attacked humans and share it here.

After a 1 second search on the internet I found this orca attack article...

[SeanPatrick]

Originally Posted by boatman61

There is a difference.. a bear/lion/tiger would attack you as a food source.. either you as protein or the goodies you carry because someone in the past left garbage that they found and discovered it tasted nice and they are drawn by the smell.
The Orca doing the 'attacking' are not adults but juveniles who are likely bored and curious not intentionally malicious.

IMHO, the reason for the attack is completely irrelevant. If a whale is threatening to disable and/or sink your boat, that is a direct threat to your safety. What the whale is "thinking" at the time doesn't really matter.

Originally Posted by boatman61

What would be the result if the OP had done something to drive the youngster off that injured it or maybe killed it.. would the pod flee in terror or, would they gather for a full on assault of the offender and from then on try to destroy every other boat that came near them.

Maybe, IDK. But the immediate result would be that the OP would not have to continue to deal with a whale attacking his boat.

Originally Posted by boatman61

If you hit a container and damaged your boat would you start trying to sink, shoot at every container ship that crossed your path [...]

No, that's a terrible analogy and would be ridiculous. Which is why I didn't even imply that one should hunt down whales that aren't a problem. I think I actually said the opposite when I wrote:

Originally Posted by SeanPatrick

I understand that we, being able to impact our environment in much greater ways than any other species, have a responsibility to try and protect everything else from ourselves. And I abhor the thought of killing any living thing.

Originally Posted by Alistair242

Yes, we are able to impact our environment and this species. Unfortunately we have done so by killing hundreds of them, kidnapping hundreds of other juveniles from their family units and enslaved those juveniles in small tanks shortening their then miserable lives. We have also decimated their various food sources around the globe etc etc etc.

I never did any of those things.

Originally Posted by Alistair242

Killing or harming juvenile orcas playing is akin to you shooting at a couple of 10 year old kids who decide to climb an easily accessible tree in your yard.

Wow. So ... in your mind, a couple of ten year olds playing in a tree is equivalent to an 8,000 pound whale ramming into the only thing keeping you alive? I've gotta say, that's an even worse analogy than boatman's.

Originally Posted by Alistair242

Shooting at or attempting to harm them is illegal and most likely will end up with you locked up in Portugal or Spain.

Don't care. At least I and my family would still be alive. I'd serve my time and walk out with a clean conscience.

Originally Posted by Alistair242

This sub species are now critically endangered and rightfully protected.
They are majestic apex predators in their environment and are critical to the survival of it.
It is really easy to just follow the advice from those who have taken the time to study and understand these animals. Animals that possess an intellect and family ethos equal to or most likely superior than those of humans.
Take some time to learn about them. Make the effort to avoid them in this area and support efforts to conserve them. Anything else is just non sensical.

I absolutely agree with this.

[JPA Cate]

Originally Posted by ozolli

So find a proof that orcas attacked humans and share it here.

Here is a discussion about one whale who is credited with the deaths by drowning of two women and one man. It includes explanatory history of the whale, Tilikum. The article contains a number of references: the Bracheau killing was witnessed.

Wikipedia.org/wiki/Tilikum_(orca)#:~:text=On%20February%2024%2C%20201 0%2C%20Tilikum,pulled%20her%20into%20the%20water.

Also, in Eden, NSW, Australia, at the Whale Museum, there is a copy of a report by European settlers that the orcas would come in and snatch First Nations children who were playing on the beaches of Twofold Bay. You could Google it for more, if you are interested. What's different about that report is that those whales were in the wild, not one raised in captivity. While orca vs. human attacks may be rare, they have happened, and been fatal to the humans.

It is possible that the excitement they see in people on the boats acts as a reinforcer for their rudder chasing activities, but honestly, how can one tell for sure? "Nature, red in tooth and claw," and all that.

One may romanticize them; or hate how humans have treated whales historically, but imho, they're just as dangerous to us as polar or grizzly bears, and we should respect that, not delude ourselves.



Ann

[Don C L]

Considering the rarity of Orca encounters let alone human deaths, I don't think anyone needs to ramp up their fear of Orcas. As near as we can tell they were not attacking people, they were "attacking" the boat rudders for whatever reason. Now if you could prove the Orcas damaged the boats in order to get the folks off of them so they could be eaten, that would be something more concerning, of course. But that is not shown yet.

And BTW it sure wasn't much of an "attack!" (and they sure added nice music playing during the attack) I really think using the word "attack" mischaracterizes what we see in that video. They took two, apparently non violent bites out of a spade rudder. If a dog chases a car and bites the tire, do we call that an attack? The only difference here is that a severe enough blow to a spade rudder could cause the boat to take on water. But do the Orcas know that?

I for one see no reason to be thinking of shooting an Orca who bites a rudder.

And Orcas or no Orcas, I can't imagine building a boat with a rudder post assembly like that.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by LakeSuperior

After a 1 second search on the internet I found this orca attack article...

I would categorise that as mistaken identity.. as he says there were seals around and dangling legs proved tempting (think of the silhouete from below) but if it was a serious attack methinks he'd have lost his leg or more.. the Orca let go as soon as it realised its mistake.
If it was a serious attack I doubt he'd have made it ashore.

[LakeSuperior]

Originally Posted by boatman61

I would categorise that as mistaken identity.. as he says there were seals around and dangling legs proved tempting (think of the silhouete from below) but if it was a serious attack methinks he'd have lost his leg or more.. the Orca let go as soon as it realised its mistake.
If it was a serious attack I doubt he'd have made it ashore.

I tend to agree with the above. However, the challenge from Ozolli was to find proof that an orcas attacked a human. I think the point Ozolli was making was that an Orca attack on a human has never happened.

So, historically there have been very few attacks on humans making an attack a truly rare event.

[boatman61]

When one considers what Great Whites do to surfers, getting away from an animal that takes out Great Whites if it really wanted you is extremely unlikely..

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3DkEeP...BzaGFyaw%3D%3D

[ozolli]

Originally Posted by LakeSuperior

After a 1 second search on the internet I found this orca attack article...

It was a surfer on his board. The orca confused him with something else. When it found out the mistake it did not continue to attack the surfer.

It's the same with sharks and surfers.

[ozolli]

Originally Posted by LakeSuperior

I tend to agree with the above. However, the challenge from Ozolli was to find proof that an orcas attacked a human. I think the point Ozolli was making was that an Orca attack on a human has never happened.

So, historically there have been very few attacks on humans making an attack a truly rare event.

English is not my native language, so excuse me if I lack subtlety in my posts.
My point is, orcas don't attack humans directly as food. Humans are no food for orcas. Sure, accidents may happen. Sure, orcas in captivity take revenge.
But equally sure that orcas don't attack boats for food. They play with a toy.