Iberian orca Toñi found with suspected shotgun wounds

Toñi, the matriarch of the Iberian orca pod known for ramming boats, has been spotted in the Strait of Gibraltar with up to ten marks on her dorsal fin and back, which researchers suspect were caused by a shotgun blast. The conservation group WeWhale raised the alarm after comparing recent photographs with earlier images, noting the wounds were not present weeks ago Source: Euronews. Spain's environment ministry has opened an investigation, and the vice-president, Sara Aagesen, confirmed the marks are "consistent with shots from a pellet gun" Source: The Guardian.

The injuries

According to the Atlantic Orca Working Group, the marks could correspond to lead pellets of around 9 millimetres, similar to buckshot used for wild boar, with a pattern of three rows of three Source: Euronews. A ministry source told El País that some projectiles may remain lodged in her fin, posing an infection risk Source: The Guardian. However, no authority has officially confirmed the cause, and CIRCE, which has monitored Toñi since 1999, urges a detailed review of images before concluding Source: Euronews.

The reaction

Janek Andre, co-founder of WeWhale and Iberian Orca Guardians, called the incident "devastating," stating that if someone deliberately fired at Toñi, it is "an attack on one of the last remaining members of a critically endangered population" Source: The Guardian. The population, reduced to 30–40 individuals, faces stressors like food scarcity and pollution Source: The Guardian. The ministry has opened preliminary proceedings, and harming a vulnerable species is a serious offence under Spanish law Source: Euronews.

What's next

Authorities are investigating, and officials are in contact with Portugal, as the wounds were detected after the orcas travelled from Faro Source: The Guardian. Researchers continue to monitor Toñi for signs of weakness Source: The Guardian.