Is it safe ?

South Pacific Familyadventure 2008
Claes Brodin
Sat 5 Dec 2020 11:20
Along with the humpback whales are many pods of killerwhales.
When the herringtrawlers bring up their catch the orcas gather in large numbers for feeding. This could also be a good opportunity to snorkel with the whales allthough it´s important not to come to close to the fishingboats.
Since killerwhales are large predators the question is of course if joining them in their own element could be dangerous.Since their prey can consist of seals,sometimes big white sharks and even swimming moose the question is more than appropriate.
Going to statistics there are no fatal attacks on humans from free living orcas allthough some attacks in captivity have led to fatal outcome.
1972 the wooden schooner Lucette was attacked by killerwhales outside Galapagos and sank. The crew managed to survive on a liferaft. Also 1972 a Californian surfer was attacked and badly bitten in the leg but survived.
This year there are 40 attacks on sailboats on the record outside Spain and Portugal. The attacks have focused on the rudder of the sailboats and it seems to have been the same pod of orcas responsible for the attacks.
3 of them have been regularly identified as young killerwhales and named Black Gladis, White Gladis,and Grey Gladis. The reason for the attacks remains a mystery.
Up here in Arctic Norway there are no attacks on humans ever recorded.

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