Humans have always been in conflict with other animals over food sources and territorial rights. Take for example the constant attacks on villages in Africa and India by herds of elephants. The increased numbers of shark attacks in Australia probably has a slightly different root cause. And in North America grizzly and black bear attacks are becoming more common. But what makes the current Orca situation off the coast of Spain so different is the complete lack of factually based evidence for a motive.

More recently, official guidance has diverged on what to do in the event of an interaction. Portuguese authorities advise skippers to 'play dead' or reverse if conditions permit. Whereas the Spanish authorities advise motoring away as fast as possible towards shallower water.

For four years now, orcas have been ramming and sinking yachts in European waters, and scientists have struggled to work out just why these smart, social animals had learnt this destructive new trick. But it's not due to some anticapitalist 'eat the rich' agenda, nor is it to do with territory and aggression. The truth is, well, it's child's play.