Orca wounded by gunfire in the Strait of Gibraltar

Her name is “La Nonna” and she has been swimming near the Strait of Gibraltar for 60 years. Now ten holes have appeared on the dorsal fin of the oldest orca in the area: bullet wounds consistent with a hunting rifle, according to ecologists from the WeWhale association who follow its movements.

Relations between humans and Iberian killer whales, a threatened subspecies with fewer than 40 recorded individuals that swim on the Atlantic side of the Strait, have deteriorated in recent years. The orcas are accused of deliberately attacking sailboats sailing in the area, especially hitting the rudders, biting them and causing the hulls to roll.

They often attacked in groups, even for a couple of hours at a time. In 2022 they sank two sailboats, one in July and one in November. A third was towed into port the following year, after losing its rudder.

Since 2020, 250 contacts have occurred between cetaceans and pleasure boats. An orca that attacks a ship is called Gladis: the name has the same origin as the word gladiator. According to WeWhale there are 14 Gladis orcas, but the one injured today is not among them.

Legend has it that a female called Gladis Bianca, granddaughter of "La Nonna", was attacked by man while she was pregnant and has since become the most avid orca in ramming boats. She also shows several scars on her back

The photos – writes WeWhale on Instagram – show that at least two or three bullets have passed through the fin, while the others may have remained inside. We know these injuries are recent. We had photographed the orca a few weeks ago and the fin was intact."

Toñi, another nickname of “La Nonna” now risks an infection. The Ministry of the Environment has launched an investigation to identify those responsible. This was announced by Spanish Deputy Minister Sara Aagesen. “It is a vulnerable species and harming it is a serious crime.”

Despite the name "killer whales", these cetaceans are actually part of the dolphin family. They can reach 8 meters in length and weigh 6 tons. "The dorsal fin – explains WeWhale – is very vascularized and is important for thermoregulation. Wounds of this type can cause inflammation and infection."

“Whatever you may think of interactions between orcas and boats, shooting these animals can never be an acceptable response.”