Researchers from the Association for Marine Environment Research (AIMM), a Portuguese environmental non-governmental organization based in the Algarve, documented a physical contact of orcas with their vessel in 2018, two years before these interactions began to be widely reported. The record is part of a study published in the scientific journal Marine Mammal Science, which analyses seven contact episodes with the association's boat between 2018 and 2025.
In the encounters analysed, the team identified 26 orcas, of which eight established direct contact with the vessel. Among the animals that touched the boat, juveniles predominated. The observed behaviours ranged from gentle touches to more intense pushes, showing differences in how the animals interacted with the vessel.
The study also presents evidence of social learning, pointing to the possibility that these behaviours are learned between individuals. This indication does not, however, allow for determining the reasons why orcas approach and establish contact with boats. AIMM emphasizes that the motivations behind these interactions remain unclear.
The work also received extensive coverage from the magazine Science, which interviewed Joana Castro, president and researcher at AIMM, and Guilherme Estrela, a researcher at the association, along with other specialists. AIMM combines scientific research and environmental education to promote knowledge and protection of the marine environment, with special focus on the southern coast of Portugal.
