INVESTIGATORS are continuing to hunt for clues after Spain’s oldest known orca was found with suspected gunshot wounds in her dorsal fin and back earlier this summer.
Conservationists from the charities WeWhale and Iberian Orca Guardians discovered the alarming injuries during routine field observations in August, identifying several marks they believe are consistent with shotgun pellet wounds.
The animal, known as Toñi or La Abuela (‘the grandmother’) is estimated to be between 58 and 60 years old and is believed to be the oldest member of the Iberian orca population.
“We know her. We were with her a few weeks ago and these wounds were not there,” said Janek Andre, founder and CEO of WeWhale.
READ MORE: Critically endangered Iberian orca’s dorsal fin wounds ‘consistent with shotgun blast’
“Now we are seeing multiple impact wounds across her dorsal fin and back which, in our assessment, are consistent with her having been shot with a shotgun.”
Toñi’s wounds were first recorded on August 11 in the Strait of Gibraltar.
She was most recently seen last week off Galicia and appeared to be ‘fine so far’, Andre told the Olive Press.
Her wounds appear to be healing although the pellets remain lodged in her fin, raising concerns over infection and potentially fatal sepsis.
The case has now escalated into a criminal investigation, with Spain’s Environmental Prosecution Service and the Guardia Civil examining the shooting as a possible crime against an endangered species.
The Guardia Civil is understood to be examining a Spanish-flagged vessel allegedly seen firing shots at Toñi in Portuguese waters.
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Authorities are also expected to carry out a ballistic forensic examination to establish more about the weapon used and the circumstances leading up to the shooting.
Whoever is found responsible for the crime could be whacked with a staggering fine of up to €2 million, as per Spanish law.
The ministry will continue working…to ensure that this damage to the environment does not go unpunished,” said Sara Aagesen, the ministry for ecological transition and deputy prime minister.
The investigation is now focused on establishing exactly what happened – and why anyone would have opened fire on a critically endangered species.
Fewer than 40 individuals are thought to live in the waters around the Iberian Peninsula, while WeWhale’s own observations suggest the true population could now be as low as 27.
Andre believes there are several possible explanations, the most likely being that Toñi approached a vessel and someone on board fired at her in retaliation or in an attempt to scare her away.
A second possibility is that she was shot by fishermen after taking tuna from a fishing line, while the least likely explanation is that she was targeted simply for sport.
Toñi is not a member of the ‘Gladis’ orca group that have made headlines for interacting with boats around the coasts of Spain and Portugal, sometimes damaging rudders and leaving vessels requiring assistance.
Her survival is considered particularly important for the Iberian population, with Toñi thought to be one of just a handful of elderly matriarchs remaining who play a crucial role in guiding the pod and passing knowledge down to younger generations.
She has an adopted son, Pingu, and is currently believed to be teaching a younger orca, Scartlett, how to raise a calf.
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