An adult orca measuring around 7 metres was spotted on Friday, the 22nd, south of Bugio, in Oeiras.

The crew of the vessel that spotted the Orca alerted navigation via VHF radio to the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests (ICNF) and the Lisbon Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC).

Although this orca has not yet been identified, this is of enormous importance for marine biologists and marine biodiversity research groups, according to Sidónio Pais, a marine biologist, who was speaking to Notícias ao Minuto.

This species has had interactions with vessels, "mainly sailboats, causing very high damage and putting the lives of sailors at risk."

Despite being a top predator species, it is also highly threatened and at risk of extinction. The biologist, owner of SeaEO Tours - Sea & Estuary Odyssey, warns that the biggest cause of death for Orcas is undoubtedly the presence of humans, "since the Iberian population feeds mainly on tuna, a species that is the target of fishing especially in the south of Portugal and at the entrance to the Mediterranean".