Killer whales are ‘extremely ferocious… and will attack human beings at every opportunity’. That’s according to a 1973 US Navy manual. Sure enough, the recent spate of attacks on small boats in south-western Europe seems to justify such fears.
If you were to believe the press and social media, we’re in the midst of a ‘killer whale uprising’. But claims about their murderous intent are blatantly untrue. The evidence doesn’t stand up. Killer whales do attack, and sometimes kill, trainers in captivity (not surprisingly) but, unlike polar bears, great white sharks and many other top predators, they have never killed a person in the wild.
This story is from the September 2023 edition of BBC Wildlife.
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This story is from the September 2023 edition of BBC Wildlife.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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