Gibraltar orca Toñi found with 10 holes in fin: suspected shotgun blast

Senior Orca Toñi Bears Marks Suggestive of Pellet Wounds

Poinews.com – Researchers monitoring the orca population that migrates between the Strait of Gibraltar and the Gulf of Cádiz have identified unusual injuries on Toñi, a matriarch estimated to be approximately sixty years of age. The animal, frequently referred to as the “grandmother” of this group, was observed this week displaying roughly a dozen fresh marks across her dorsal fin and back. These lesions were absent in photographic documentation captured just weeks prior, according to conservation organizations tracking her movements.

WeWhale, a conservation group dedicated to cetacean protection, initiated an investigation after contrasting the current appearance of the orca with its established visual record. Janek Andre, who established both WeWhale and Iberian Orca Guardians, expressed the opinion that the visible damage aligns with the effects of a shotgun discharge. The Atlantic Orca Working Group provided additional technical analysis, suggesting the wounds may have been inflicted by lead pellets measuring approximately nine millimeters in diameter. Such ammunition, commonly utilized for hunting wild boar, typically disperses nine projectiles arranged in three rows of three—a configuration that closely mirrors the pattern observed on Toñi’s body.

Official Response and Investigation

Spanish authorities became aware of the incident on the afternoon of August 11, following a report submitted by WeWhale, an entity permitted to conduct operations within the region. By the subsequent day, the Directorate-General for Biodiversity, Forests and Desertification had initiated preliminary proceedings to determine the circumstances and potentially impose sanctions on those responsible. Sara Aagesen, serving as vice-president and minister for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, communicated through the social media platform Bluesky that the marks on the orca are consistent with pellet impacts. She emphasized that because this species is classified as vulnerable, any injury inflicted upon it represents a significant legal violation.

La orca más longeva del Estrecho de Gibraltar ha aparecido esta semana con marcas compatibles con disparos de perdigones. Es una especie vulnerable y cualquier daño contra ella es un delito grave. ? Desde el MITECO hemos abierto ya actuaciones de investigación para esclarecer lo ocurrido.

Scientific Monitoring and Legal Framework

CIRCE, which has conducted scientific oversight of Iberian orcas since 1999 and maintains a photographic collection extending over twenty years, has contributed to the ongoing examination. The organization indicated that before establishing the precise cause of the injuries, experts must thoroughly review existing imagery, cross-reference it with historical records, and perform new direct observations of the animal alongside her pod. While no authority has yet issued formal confirmation that the wounds resulted from a projectile, this remains the leading theory under consideration.

The orca population inhabiting the Strait of Gibraltar and the Gulf of Cádiz holds vulnerable status within the Spanish Catalogue of Endangered Species. Under Article 57 of Law 42/2007 concerning Natural Heritage and Biodiversity, any activity intended to kill, capture, pursue, or harass catalogued specimens is prohibited. Additional regulations specific to cetaceans impose further constraints: vessels must maintain a distance of at least five hundred meters, refrain from physical contact, swimming alongside, feeding, obstructing movement, separating groups, or generating loud noises to attract or frighten the animals. In the sensitive zones encompassing Ensenada de Barbate, Conil, and Banco Majuán, orca watching is prohibited from March 1 through August 31. Violations can result in penalties reaching two million euros alongside criminal responsibility, as stated by MITECO.

Navigation Guidelines and Future Protection

Interactions between these orcas and maritime traffic have risen since 2020 within the Strait and the Gulf of Cádiz. Consequently, the Ministry of Transport and MITECO advise minimizing navigation in the region during the months of April through August. Should an encounter occur, vessels should proceed toward the shoreline, execute maneuvers that minimize potential harm, ensure passengers remain away from the gunwale, and notify the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre promptly. The situation involving Toñi has once again directed attention toward this protected population, with organizations operating in the area advocating for enhanced protection rather than punitive measures against the animals.