An investigation has been launched after a famed orca was found with bullet wounds in its fin in the Strait of Gibraltar.
Toñi, the oldest-known Iberian orca in the Strait, is feared to have been fired at with a shotgun.
The disturbing marks were spotted this week across the animal’s distinctive dorsal fin and back, prompting conservationists to alert the Ministry for Ecological Transition (MITECO).
Authorities have now opened an investigation to establish exactly what happened and potentially identify whoever was responsible.
The injuries have not yet been officially confirmed as gunshot wounds, but Spain’s Environment Minister Sara Aagesen said they were ‘marks compatible with pellet shots’.
Conservation groups WeWhale and Iberian Orca Guardians, which regularly monitor the animals, say the injuries are new.
‘We know Toñi. We were with her a few weeks ago and these injuries weren’t there,’ said Janek Andre, founder and president of the organisations.
‘Now we’re seeing multiple impact wounds on her dorsal fin and back which, in our assessment, are compatible with her having been shot with a shotgun.’
Investigation launched
The case is being investigated by MITECO’s Directorate General for Biodiversity, Forests and Desertification, which is responsible for the management and conservation of protected marine species.
Officials have stressed that the cause of the injuries still needs to be established before conclusions can be drawn.
But if investigators determine that somebody deliberately shot the animal, the consequences could be severe.
Aagesen pointed out that the Iberian orca is a protected and vulnerable species, describing deliberate harm against the animals as a serious offence.
Spanish legislation prohibits intentionally killing, capturing, pursuing or disturbing species included in the country’s Catalogue of Threatened Species.
Violations of the rules protecting cetaceans can potentially result in fines reaching €2million, while particularly serious conduct can also lead to criminal liability.
Years of tension over interactions with boats
The suspected shooting comes against the backdrop of an unusual phenomenon that has brought the Iberian orcas international attention.
Since 2020, there have been repeated interactions between the animals and sailing boats around the Strait of Gibraltar and Gulf of Cadiz.
In some encounters, orcas have repeatedly struck or pushed against rudders, occasionally causing serious damage and forcing vessels to request assistance.
The phenomenon has generated intense debate among sailors, scientists and conservationists, but Spanish authorities explicitly prohibit boat crews from deliberately harming the animals.
Government guidance recommends that sailors follow official navigation advice during the months when interactions are most frequent and, if an encounter occurs, head towards the coast where appropriate, keep people away from vulnerable areas of the vessel and notify the nearest Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre.
Above all, crews are instructed not to carry out actions capable of injuring the animals.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
