Scientists specialized in animal behavior and cetaceans continue to prefer the word "interactions" to refer to the already long list of encounters between orcas and boats off the coast of Spain and Portugal in the last three years, because "only a small part of the incidents they end with blows, attacks and sinking", reiterates Alfredo López, member of the Coordinator of Studies of Marine Mammals (CEMMA) and researcher at the University of Aveiro-Centro de Estudios del Mar (Portugal).
In many other of the documented cases, the orcas limit themselves to observing the boats and approaching them in a non-violent way, reaffirms Mónica González, a CEMMA biologist who has also been following the issue closely for months.
Mónica González will speak this Sunday, June 11, in a scientific session organized by the Orca Behavior Institute (Canada) to explain the state of research on the behavior of this group of orcas "that interact" with boats and that scientists generically call Gladis , in reference to one of the historical names attributed to this species, Orca gladiator.
"We are constantly responding to requests for information from around the world and we are aware that the subject has also aroused great popular interest, partly thanks to its dissemination on social networks," acknowledges this CEMMA expert, making room for her on her agenda. to attend La Vanguardia. The interest has spread to the point of becoming a viral phenomenon on the internet and the reason for numerous memes and allegorical jokes.
The behavior of the Gladis orcas, of which 15 specimens have been cataloged so far (see list and images below), surprises scientists and neophytes, and for the moment there is still no explanation other than the one already proposed as a hypothesis. three years ago (see in La Vanguardia).
"We believe that the hypothesis that was already presented in 2020, in which we stated that the Gladys orcas may be acting with an aversive response after some of them were hit and injured by boats, can continue to be considered very probable," he explains. Alfredo Lopez.
"This spring, the Gladys orcas have returned to the area of the Strait coinciding, as is normal, with the presence of tuna, part of their diet", details this expert from CEMMA and the University of Aveiro.
In April and May, more than a dozen interactions were reported in the area of the Strait of Gibraltar and some of the most violent encounters included damage to boats and the sinking of a sailboat. "In recent weeks, the situation seems calmer and no serious incidents have been reported, although the issue seems to be very active because many publications appear on social networks," says Mónica González.
Scientists, in any case, continue to collect and analyze data with the aim of better understanding the orca population and the reasons for their interactions with boats. Among the outstanding objectives is also maritime information to prevent damage to boats and people, as well as to guarantee the protection of cetaceans.
Parallel to the work of CEMMA and the Atlantic Orca Working Group, the Ministry of Ecological Transition announced on May 30 that it is promoting the satellite tagging of six orca specimens, in collaboration with the entity CIRCE – Conservation, Information and Study on cetaceans.
One of the factors that has facilitated the viralization on the internet and on its social networks of the issue of orcas attacking boats is the fact that they have been assigned a proper name, Gladis. It must be insisted, however, as has been repeatedly indicated since 2020, that Gladis is the common name assigned to orcas (15 identified so far) that "interact" with boats, and that not all of them have attacked. The experts in monitoring this population have created a catalog with data and images of each of its members, many of whom have known family relationships. Experts know each specimen with the generic name Gladis accompanied by a proper name, and for short, the initials of both words. These are some of the data collected:
Gladis Estrela - GE. She was born in 2016 and has been seen accompanied by her cousins Gladis Isa (2020) and Gladis Matteo (2014). She is a member of the juvenile specimens of the Gladis group, which in this case has only been seen interacting with small motor boats, but not with sailboats. They are related to each other, but when they interact they have not been seen with adults around.
Gladys Matteo. GM. Specimen born probably in 2014. Daughter of Gladis Córsica and sister of Gladis Isa.
Gladys Isa. GI. Born in 2020, sister of Gladis Matteo (2014), daughter of Gladis Córsica, she has sometimes been seen with her cousin Gladis Estrela, born in 2016.
Gladys Herbille. GH. Adult female, mother of Gladis Negra and Gladis Peque.
Black Gladys. GN. Sister of Gladis Peque and daughter of Gladis Herbille. In 2020 she suffered a head injury, and in 2021 she sustained an injury behind her dorsal fin. The causes of such damage are unknown.
Gladys Gray. gg. Relatively juvenile specimen (probably born in 2014) of a genus not yet known to scientists. It is estimated that 2020 participates in interactions in the company of Gladis Negra and Gladis Peque, although in 2021 he was also observed interacting with Gladis Albarracín.
Gladys Little. GP. Juvenile female, sister of Gladis Negra and daughter of Gladis Herbille.
Gladis Albarracin. GA. Juvenile specimen of a genus not known at the moment. He has only been seen interacting since 2021. His parentage and association with the main group could not be determined.
Gladys Lamari. GL. Adult female, she is the matriarch of Gladis Clara, Gladis Dalila and Gladis Blanca, acting as an observer in the interactions, but always at a distance. In turn, she is the grandmother of Gladis Tarik and Gladis Filambres, these two being sisters and daughters of Gladis Blanca. This group constitutes a complete matrilineal line related to interactions.
Gladys Blanca. GB. She is one of the most active orcas in the group. She is an adult female, mother of Gladis Filabres (possibly born in 2015) and Gladis Tarik (2021), both also observed interacting with boats. Gladis Blanca is the daughter of the matriarch Gladis Lamari and sister of Gladis Clara and Gladis Dalila. This group constitutes a complete matrilineal line related to interactions. Gladis Blanca's relationship with her sisters and daughters is what gave rise to the hypothesis that the interactions began due to aversive motivation.
Gladys Delilah. G.D. Juvenile specimen (possibly born in 2017) of a genus not yet identified by researchers. She is the daughter of the matriarch Gladis Lamaru and sister of Gladis Clara and Gladis Blanca. In many cases she is observant of the interactions of other members of the group or matrilineal line to which she belongs.
Gladys Clare. GC. Born around 2011 she is a juvenile of unknown sex. She is the daughter of the matriarch Gladis Lamari and sister of Gladis Dalila and Gladis Blanca. They are observers in interactions. This group constitutes a complete matrilineal line related to interactions.
Gladys Filambres. GF. Juvenile specimen, probably born in 2015, gender unidentified at the moment. She is the sister of Gladis Tarik, daughter of Gladis Blanca and granddaughter of Gladis Lamari.
Gladys Tarik. GT. Born in 2021, gender unknown at the moment. She is the daughter of Gladis Blanca and granddaughter of Gladis Lamari. What is surprising is that despite Gladis Blanca's role as her mother, she involves him in the interactions, so the motivation that leads them to this attitude is very strong.
Scheme of family relationships of the group of orcas known as Gladis
The experts explain that based on the first information on the interactions of killer whales with boats on the coasts of Spain and Portugal, a collection of graphic information was launched and three specimens were immediately recognized as recurring in the events with the boats.
"The killer whales that interacted the most in 2020 were GN, GB and GC and were previously observed in the Strait, being GN and GG juveniles and GB adult female. In addition to these, in 2020 a total of nine specimens were identified as participating in the interactions : GLADIS DALILA-GD, G. LAMARI-GL, G. CLARA-GC, G. HERBILLE-GH, G. FILABRES-GF and G. PEQUE-GP Although they participated in the interactions, they did not play such a direct role and were mere companions or observers.
Subsequently, in 2021, five more orcas were identified: GLADIS ISA-GI, G. ESTRELA-GE and G. MATTEO-GM that interact with other types of boats. Also G. ALBARRACÍN-GA and G. TARIK-GT, participating in interactions with sailboats, making a total of fourteen specimens. In 2022 G. ESTRELA-GE is identified, joining the killer whales that interact with sailboats and a orca plus: GLADIS OLVERA-GO, making a total of fifteen specimens. The last member of the family was incorporated in 2022, the experts from the CEMMA Atlantic Orca Working Group explain in detail.
