A group of killer whales led by a matriarch known as White Gladis has been terrorizing boats for years—and scientists say the pod may have developed a unique way of communicating to coordinate their attacks. Researchers analyzing recordings of about 40 orcas living along the Strait of Gibraltar and the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula identified sounds that appear to function as communication between White Gladis and her group. Scientists believe roughly 15 orcas are core members of the pod involved in the incidents. According to the report, the whales’ vocalizations differ significantly from previously documented orca sounds. Dr. Renaud de Stephanis, president of the Conservation, Information and Research on Cetaceans, told The Times the group’s calls are “totally different to any others,” likening the variation to the difference between Arabic and Latin. Since 2020, the pod has been linked to more than 700 encounters with boats in the region, with multiple attacks caught on video showing vessels being sunken or damaged by the whales.
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