Academic Edi o s: Chia-Hsuan Hsu
and Jie eng Kang
Recei ed: 19 Augus 2025
Re ised: 18 Sep embe 2025
Accep ed: 22 Sep embe 2025
Published: 2 Oc obe 2025
Ci a ion: Villa oel, J.D.; Vi o ino, J.;
An ón, A. Media Na a i es o
Human-Wildli e Con lic : Ibe ian
O cas and Boa s in he Spanish P ess.
Conse a ion 2025,5, 54.
h ps://doi.o g/10.3390/
conse a ion5040054
Copy igh : © 2025 by he au ho s.
Licensee MDPI, Basel, Swi ze land.
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A ibu ion (CC BY) license
(h ps://c ea i ecommons.o g/
licenses/by/4.0/).
A icle
Media Na a i es o Human-Wildli e Con lic : Ibe ian O cas and
Boa s in he Spanish P ess
José Domingo Villa oel 1,* , Joyse Vi o ino 2,3 and Al a o An ón 1
1Depa men o Didac ics o Ma hema ics, Expe imen al and Social Sciences, Uni e si y o he Basque
Coun y (EHU), 48940 Leioa, Spain; [email p o ec ed]
2Depa men o De elopmen al Psychology and Educa ion, Uni e si y o he Basque Coun y (EHU),
20018 Donos ia-San Sebas ián, Spain; joyseashley[email p o ec ed]
3Depa men o Didac ics o Ma hema ics and Expe imen al Sciences, Uni e sidad In e nacional de La
Rioja (UNIR), 26006 Log oño, Spain
*Co espondence: xomin. illa [email p o ec ed]; Tel.: +34-94-6017521
Abs ac
The kille whale (O cinus o ca) is a c ucial p eda o in ma ine ecosys ems, a ec ing p ey
popula ions and o e all ecosys em heal h. Since May 2020, Ibe ian kille whales in he
S ai o Gib al a ha e in e ac ed unusually wi h pleasu e boa s, posing signi ican ma -
i ime sa e y challenges. Recognized as c i ically endange ed by he IUCN, a conse a ion
plan o hese whales has been app o ed in Spain. This s udy analyzes media co e age
o hese in e ac ions, as media can shape public opinion and in luence policies ega ding
human–wildli e con lic s. A o al o 107 news a icles published be ween June 2022 and
Sep embe 2024 in Spanish media we e examined, ocusing on he in e ac ions be ween
Ibe ian kille whales and boa s. The esea ch included six a iables om p io s udies o
enhance unde s anding o media ep esen a ion and i s e ec s on conse a ion manage-
men . Findings sugges ha media co e age o en limi s comp ehension o o ca beha io
and hei ulne able s a us.
Keywo ds: media; news; ma ine ecosys em; ce aceans; Ibe ian kille whale; in o ma ion
1. In oduc ion
In he An h opocene e a, in e ac ions be ween humans and wildli e a e inc easingly
ine i able [
1
] as a esul o a ious ac o s, such as he ans o ma ion and agmen a ion
o na u al habi a s [
2
], popula ion g ow h and echnological ad ancemen s [
3
], clima e
change, he eco e y and ein oduc ion o species [
4
], and he inc easing demand o
na u e ou ism [
5
]. As a esul , he li e a u e on human–wildli e con lic , in e ac ion, and
coexis ence has expanded apidly, e lec ing he g owing impo ance o unde s anding
hese dynamics in con empo a y conse a ion e o s [6].
This phenomenon has also been obse ed in he ma ine en i onmen . Ma ine indus i-
aliza ion p ocesses, which include ma i ime anspo , seismic su eys, he ins alla ion o
o sho e wind a ms, ou ism, aquacul u e, ec ea ional ishing and o he ishing ac i i ies,
inc ease human ac i i y a sea and hus also inc ease he numbe o in e ac ions ha occu
wi h ocean auna [
7
,
8
]. S udies ha ha e in es iga ed his opic ha e epo ed an inc ease in
in e ac ions be ween humans and a ious species o ma ine animals, such as pinnipeds [
9
],
ce aceans [10], sha ks [11] and u les [12].
In ecen yea s, in e ac ions in ol ing a small g oup o o cas (O cinus o ca) ha e e-
cei ed conside able in e es om he public. O cas, commonly known as o cas o kille
Conse a ion 2025,5, 54 h ps://doi.o g/10.3390/conse a ion5040054
Conse a ion 2025,5, 54 2 o 14
whales, is a cosmopoli an apex p eda o belonging o he amily Delphinidae. As he
la ges oceanic dolphins, hese ma ine mammals a e dis ibu ed h oughou all he wo ld’s
oceans [
13
]. They display a ied social beha io s, om b eaches and spy-hops o play-
ing wi h objec s and engaging in socio-sexual displays. Thei communica ion combines
echoloca ion and pod-speci ic calls, wi h some sha ed epe oi es ha main ain cohesion
and educe inb eeding isk [14].
The g oup o o cas in ol ed in he in e ac ions consis s o ewe han 50 indi iduals,
which exhibi dis inc cha ac e is ics compa ed o o he g oups o kille whales in he
No heas A lan ic [
15
]. This popula ion is commonly loca ed in he S ai o Gib al a and
he Gul o Cádiz, al hough hey mo e along he A lan ic coas o he Ibe ian Peninsula
ollowing he mig a ions o hei main sou ce o ood, i.e., blue in una [
16
]. The s udy o
molecula ma ke s, ecological indica o s, and pho o-iden i ica ion da a indica es ha hese
whales a e a dis inc g oup wi hin he same species, sepa a e om o he popula ions in he
No heas A lan ic [15].
S a ing in 2020, some indi iduals o his g oup o Ibe ian kille whales began o
app oach boa s while hey we e sailing and o am hem on he hull o a he helm [
17
].
These e en s ha e aken place in he S ai o Gib al a and, subsequen ly, along he
Po uguese coas and in Galicia. These in e ac ions ha e been epea ed, and he numbe o
encoun e s be ween kille whales and sailboa s o small pleasu e boa s has come o exceed
hal a housand. Some o hese e en s ha e caused signi ican damage o such essels,
mainly due o b eakage and disablemen o he udde ; howe e , on a e y small numbe
o occasions, such inciden s ha e caused hese essels o sink [18].
This beha io is unp eceden ed among o cas, and he scien i ic communi y has no
p o ided a de ini i e explana ion o he ac o s ha mo i a e hese mammals o in e ac
wi h boa s. Th ee main hypo heses ha e been p oposed in his con ex . On he one hand,
he o igin o his beha io may be ela ed o ce aceans’ pas auma ic expe iences, such as
being s uck by a boa o seeing he hi agains ano he animal [
19
]. A second explana ion
posi s ha he boa s could ac as play s imuli ha o cas use o de elop he mo o , cogni i e
and coope a i e skills ha hey use in hei hun ing ac i i ies [
20
]. A hi d hypo hesis
p oposes ha he eme gence o his beha io among kille whales could be he esul o a
combina ion o a ious ac o s, such as he s ess gene a ed by inc eased ma i ime a ic
in hei habi a , he compe i ion wi h he ishe ies o una and he educed a ailabili y o
p ey. Finally, he ac ha o cas a e animals ha ha e he abili y o lea n and ep oduce
beha io s based on he expe iences o o he s canno be o e looked; hus, mu ual in luence
and lea ning due o social in e ac ion a e ele an elemen s o o cas’ beha io ha should
also be aken in o conside a ion in his con ex [15].
In es iga ions o he ac o s ha d i e Ibe ian kille whales o in e ac wi h essels
e eal ha his si ua ion en ails a po en ial dange o na iga ion in he S ai o Gib al a
and he A lan ic coas o he Ibe ian Peninsula, e en hough he e is no eco d o humans
being a acked by o cas in hei na u al habi a . This conce n is u he highligh ed in
Ma el’s esea ch, which includes su eys and in e iews wi h sailo s and o he s akehold-
e s ha e ealed sha p con as s in pe cep ions and esponses o he Ibe ian o ca– essel
in e ac ions [
21
]. Sailo s o e whelmingly amed he encoun e s as p oblema ic, wi h 38%
desc ibing hem as “a acks,” and mos exp essed nega i e emo ions such as ea o anxie y.
Sa e y was hei dominan conce n (87%), bu many also wo ied abou o ca wel a e (85%).
Nea ly all epo ed beha io al changes, including al e ed na iga ion ou es, a oidance
o a ec ed wa e s, o he use o de e en s. By con as , o he s akeholde s—such as e-
sea che s, ishe s, whale-wa ch ope a o s, and ma ina s a —mo e o en cha ac e ized he
issue as mino o “no a conce n”. This di e gence unde sco es ha he phenomenon is no
Conse a ion 2025,5, 54 3 o 14
only ecological bu also a social con lic , d i en by misma ched isk pe cep ions, emo ional
esponses, and di e ing p io i ies among use g oups.
In his con ex , i is impo an o highligh he ac ha he news conce ning en i on-
men al issues dissemina ed by media ou le s has a signi ican in luence on public’s opinion
ega ding such in e ac ions be ween humans and wildli e [
22
]. In his way, media co e age
ha emphasizes he anecdo al and pa icula aspec s o hese in e ac ions can help sp ead
a educ ionis ision o he a ious ela ionships o mu ual dependence among di e en
species ha coexis wi hin an ecosys em [
23
]; u he mo e, his in e p e a ion can in luence
en i onmen al policies pe aining o he species in ol ed [
24
]. Simila ly, he disp opo iona e
in o ma ional a en ion ha nega i e inciden s in ol ing wild animals ecei e (in compa ison
wi h encoun e s ha do no lead o such consequences) can dis o people’s pe cep ions o
he eal equency o ha m ul in e ac ions be ween humans and wildli e [
17
]. In addi ion,
when in o ma ion ega ding such con lic ing in e ac ions be ween humans and animals is
de icien o incomple e, his si ua ion can acili a e he sp ead o eelings o ea and miscon-
cep ions ega ding he species in ol ed in hese in e ac ions, hus helping uel he con lic
i sel [
25
]. Howe e , he media can also help p omo e posi i e iews o he ela ionship
be ween humans and wildli e, pa icula ly by highligh ing he oles ha such species play
in he p ocess o shaping people’s well-being on he basis o he se ices ha hey p o ide
wi hin he ecosys em and disclosing esponsible coexis ence p ac ices [26,27].
The e o e, he ask o analyzing he in o ma ion ha he media dissemina es ega ding
he unusual beha io on he pa o Ibe ian kille whales is ele an since i allows us o
in es iga e he p ocesses by which public opinion is o med. This aspec in luences he
managemen e o s made by adminis a ions esponsible o he conse a ion o his species,
which is included in he Red Lis o Th ea ened Species o he In e na ional Union o
Conse a ion o Na u e and Na u al Resou ces and is classi ied as ulne able in he Spanish
Ca alogue o Th ea ened Species (CEEA) [
28
]. In acco dance wi h his gene al pu pose, he
speci ic objec i e o his s udy is o analyze he in o ma ion conce ning in e ac ions be ween
Ibe ian kille whales and ec ea ional essels. This analysis will ocus on news i ems a ailable
in he Spanish p ess and digi al media om June 2022 o Sep embe 2024.
2. Ma e ials and Me hods
2.1. Sample
The sea ch o news pe aining o he beha io o Ibe ian kille whales ook place
be ween 1 July 2022, and 30 Sep embe 2024, h ough he digi al newspape lib a y se ice
MyNews www.mynews.es (accessed on 23 Sep embe 2025).
MyNews [
29
] is a digi al p ess a chi e and media moni o ing pla o m ha ocuses
on Spanish news sou ces. I o e s ools o clipping, analyzing, and managing media
in o ma ion ac oss p in and digi al media o ma s. This newspape a chi e has been
e ec i ely used o examine he in o ma ion dissemina ed by Spanish media on impo an
social issues. These include clima e change [
30
], pallia i e ca e [
31
], accine hesi ancy [
32
],
ageism [33], and he pe cei ed sa e y o die a y supplemen s [34].
The sea ch o in o ma i e pieces was pe o med du ing he i s week o Oc obe 2024
by e e ence o a o al o 792 examples o digi al media, 537 publica ions in he p ess and
182 magazines and news agencies. News i ems we e selec ed by applying he ollowing
sea ch e ms and ope a o s: o ca OR (ballena asesina) OR (O cinus o ca). The e m ‘ballena
asesina’ is he Spanish ansla ion o he e m ‘kille whale’.
The ini ial collec ion o news i ems ha we e ob ained by he p ocedu e desc ibed
abo e consis ed o 980 in o ma i e pieces.
The ollowing exclusion c i e ia we e applied o his collec ion o news i ems:
Conse a ion 2025,5, 54 4 o 14
1.
News i ems ha did no speci ically add ess he beha io o Ibe ian kille whales
we e omi ed. Thus, epo s pe aining o he ollowing opics we e excluded:
•
News i ems ha o e ed only gene al in o ma ion ega ding he beha io o
kille whales o ha exclusi ely add essed aspec s pe aining o he su i al o
he species o in o ma ion ega ding he impo ance o he kille whales in he
ma ine ecosys em.
•
Kille whale sigh ings in o he geog aphic con ex s ha we e un ela ed o Ibe ian
kille whales.
•
Re e ences o encoun e s wi h di e s o people who we e swimming o paddling.
•In o ma ion ega ding o cas in cap i i y.
•
In o ma ion conce ning adema ks ha included he wo d o ca in he names o
hei p oduc s.
2.
Repea ed news i ems we e disca ded, and only he oldes i em was conside ed alid.
News pieces we e conside ed epe i ion i hey p esen ed he same headline and ex
in he body o he news.
3.
News i ems ha we e no published in Spanish o in any o he o icial au onomous
languages in Spain we e also omi ed om his esea ch.
Finally, each o he in o ma i e pieces o which inal sample is composed sa is y he
ollowing inclusion c i e ia:
1.
News i ems ha e e ed speci ically o he beha io o Ibe ian kille whales, e en i
his opic was no he cen al issue add essed by he news i ems in ques ion.
2. News i ems ha had no p e iously been published.
3.
News i ems ha we e published by a communica ion medium loca ed in Spain, in he
Spanish language o in one o he o he o icial s a e languages and mus be accessible
be ween 1 July 2022, and 30 Sep embe 2024.
The inal sample was educed o a o al o 107 in o ma i e pieces ha me he exclusion
and inclusion c i e ia desc ibed abo e. In he Supplemen a y Ma e ials, a comple e lis o
he news included in he analyzed sample is p esen ed (see File S1).
2.2. Va iables and Ca ego ies
To conduc a quan i a i e analysis o he news i ems included in he sample, six nominal
quali a i e a iables we e de ined in line wi h p e ious esea ch. Desc ip ions o hese
a iables, he ca ego ies associa ed wi h and he jus i ica ion o hese de ini ions based on
p e ious s udies a e p o ided below. In he Supplemen a y Ma e ials, a able ha summa izes
he desc ip ions o he ype o in o ma ion and he co esponding con en s o each ca ego y
is p esen ed (see Table S1 in File S2).
Va iable 1:E en De ails. This a iable ocuses on iden i ying he de ails o he in e -
ac ions ha occu ed be ween kille whales and boa s in his con ex . Six ca ego ies ha e
been iden i ied in his con ex based on he wo k o Es eban and collabo a o s [
15
]. The i s
ca ego y e e s o e e ences in hese news i ems o he ype o essel in ol ed in he o ca
e en s, such as sailboa s, ishing boa s, in la able boa s, mo o boa s o o he s. The second
ca ego y add esses e e ences o he loca ions a which such in e ac ions be ween o cas and
essels occu ed, such as he S ai o Gib al a , Peniche, Alga e, sou he n F ance and he
wa e s o Galicia. The hi d ca ego y ocuses on news i ems ha e e enced a ious o ms
o boa damage, such as udde p oblems, hull damage o sinking. The ou h ca ego y
e e s o in o ma ion pe aining o he beha io o kille whales, o example, how he
app oach o he boa occu ed, he way i was con ac ed o he conclusion o he in e ac ion.
The i h ca ego y add esses in o ma ion ega ding he speed o he in e ac ion. Finally, he
Conse a ion 2025,5, 54 5 o 14
six h ca ego y e e s o he inclusion o he numbe o in e ac ions ha had occu ed by he
ime o publica ion o he in o ma ion in ele an news i ems.
Va iable 2:Explana ions o Beha io . This a iable pe ains o he in o ma ion p o ided
in news i ems conce ning he possible ac o s ha , acco ding o he scien i ic li e a u e on
his opic, ha e led o cas o in e ac wi h essels. Fou ca ego ies we e de ined based on
he wo k o López and Me hion [
20
] and Es eban and collabo a o s [
15
]. The i s ca ego y
pe ains o explana ions ha sugges ha some ype o a e si e inciden o auma in he
pas could encou age he Ibe ian o ca o beha e in his manne owa ds boa s. The second
ca ego y add esses explana ions ela ed o he game, sugges ing ha he inciden s caused
by he kille whales’ in e ac ions wi h he boa s a e mani es a ions o hei play ul beha io ,
in which con ex he boa s se e as play s imuli o hese ce aceans. The hi d ca ego y
ocuses on explana ions ela ed o he cogni i e and social capaci ies o o cas, including by
highligh ing aspec s such as hei lea ning capaci y, communica ion among hese mammals,
he social bonds ha hey can o m o he possibili y ha his beha io is a mani es a ion
o he cu iosi y ha cha ac e izes hese animals. Finally, he ou h ca ego y ocuses on
he idea ha he beha io o kille whales owa ds boa s is he esul o a combina ion
o ac o s ha nega i ely a ec kille whales, such as p ey deple ion, boa in e e ence o
o cas’ in e ac ions wi h ishe ies.
Va iable 3:P e en a i e Ac ions. This a iable e e s o an analysis o he in o ma ion
p o ided by news i ems ega ding po en ially use ul s a egies o managing he in e -
ac ions be ween o cas and essels and mi iga ing he associa ed isks. The i s ca ego y
associa ed wi h his a iable e e s o he ecommenda ions ha a e men ioned in news
i ems conce ning indi idual ac ions ha he people wi h esponsibili y o he boa s should
ake o a oid isky si ua ions in ol ing kille whales. These ecommenda ions pe ain o
a ious aspec s, such as he ype o na iga ion, schedules, speed and ways o handling he
wheel. The de ini ions o he ollowing wo ca ego ies e e o he wo ks o Scude i [
35
] and
Es eban’s eam [
14
], who ocused on echnical solu ions (such as adio ale s o empo al
and spa ial managemen ools), and egula o y changes ( o example, an ex ension o he
c i ical na iga ion zone o ce aceans o he eas , he de elopmen o plans o a eas o
seasonal exclusion in he bay be ween Algeci as and Gib al a o he p ohibi ion o coas al
na iga ion o small sailing boa s du ing ce ain pe iods).
Rega ding he ou h ca ego y included in his a iable, Es eban and co-au ho s [
15
]
also highligh ed he need o p omo e scien i ic s udies ha can imp o e ou unde s anding
o he beha io o hese ce aceans and hus p omo e he implemen a ion o isk educ ion
plans. In his con ex , López and Me hion [
20
] highligh ed he need o ob ain de ailed
in o ma ion ega ding he mo emen pa e ns o kille whales in he con ex o e o s
o acili a e he e ec i e managemen o ma i ime a ic and ensu e he conse a ion
o his popula ion, which is in dange o ex inc ion. Finally, ano he ca ego y has been
iden i ied, in which o he ypes o possible solu ions ha can be e e enced in he news can
be included.
Va iable 4:Th ea s. This a iable is ela ed o an examina ion o he in o ma ion published
in news i ems ega ding he isks aced by o ca popula ions. Rele an ex s ha e indica ed
ha he mos ele an h ea s in his con ex include exposu e o pollu an s, he consequences
o clima e change, acous ic dis u bances, collisions wi h ships and a dec ease in e ili y
alongside he inc eased mo ali y obse ed among young indi iduals o his species [
36
,
37
].
Consequen ly, he in o ma ion p esen ed by he news a icles included in he cu en sample
ega ding he h ea s aced by o ca popula ions is ca ego ized in o he ollowing h ee g oups
in acco dance wi h he p e iously men ioned s udies. The i s ca ego y pe ains o habi a
dis u bances, which encompass he p esence o pollu an s and was e in he en i onmen ,
he o e use o esou ces, he impac s o clima e change, and he a ailabili y o p ey. The
Conse a ion 2025,5, 54 6 o 14
second g oup ela es o he isks associa ed wi h ma i ime a ic, such as collisions and noise
pollu ion. Las ly, he hi d g oup add esses addi ional h ea s o o ca popula ions, including
issues ega ding hei ep oduc i e a es and assaul s on hese ce aceans.
Va iable 5:Legal S a us. This a iable is ela ed o e o s o analyze he in o ma ion
con ained in he a icles included in he sample ha pe ain o legal p o ec ion and con-
se a ion egula ions ha impac o ca popula ions. The de ini ions o he co esponding
ca ego ies a e based on he desc ip ions p o ided by Alessia Scude i’s wo k [
35
]. Thus,
he i s ca ego y e e s o whe he he news i ems in ques ion indica e ha he species is
included in he Red Lis o Th ea ened Species o he In e na ional Union o he Conse a-
ion o Na u e (IUCN). The second ca ego y ocuses on whe he hese a icles men ion any
o he in e na ional con en ions ha p o ec his species, such as he Con en ion on In e -
na ional T ade in Endange ed Species o Wild Fauna and Flo a (CITES), he In e na ional
Con en ion o he Regula ion o Whaling o he Bonn Con en ion. The hi d ca ego y is
ela ed o whe he he in o ma ion analyzed in his con ex e e s o any egula ion o law o
he s a es ha a e in ol ed in he conse a ion o he Ibe ian kille whale, o example, he
Conse a ion Plan o he o cas o he S ai and Gul o Cádiz [
28
]. Finally, an addi ional
ca ego y has been iden i ied, i ocuses on whe he he a icle men ions, e en in a gene al
way, he ac ha o cas a e a p o ec ed species and ha hey a e a isk o ex inc ion.
Va iable 6:In o ma ion Sou ces. This a iable ocuses on an analysis o he ci a ions,
es imonies o e e ences men ioned in news i ems wi h he aim o suppo ing he in o -
ma ion p esen ed in hem. The de ini ions o he ca ego ies associa ed wi h his a iable
we e de e mined based on he classi ica ion p oposed by San os and C owde [
38
]. The
i s ca ego y assesses whe he he news includes any e e ence o au ho i ies ha esea ch
he beha io o ce aceans, including bo h p o essionals who a e a ilia ed wi h uni e si ies
and expe s om o ganiza ions ha a e dedica ed o he asks o esea ching and conse -
ing ma ine biodi e si y. The second ca ego y add esses he inclusion o quo a ions om
ins i u ions, public bodies o in e na ional o ganiza ions ha a e compe en in he ield o
ma ine conse a ion in hese in o ma i e pieces. The hi d ca ego y e e s o he inclusion
o es imonies o s a emen s o ishe men o c ew membe s o sailboa s and pleasu e boa s
as well as speci ic men ions o hese indi iduals. Finally, he ou h ca ego y includes
appoin men s o p i a e companies ha a e ela ed o he ou ism o ishing indus y.
2.3. Conco dance Analysis
The analysis o ag eemen be ween he human code s was conduc ed using a p o-
cedu e simila o ha employed by San os and C owde [
38
]. The esea che s who we e
esponsible o he s udy join ly analyzed 20% o he news i ems included in he sample
(N = 22) wi h he aim o aligning he s udy c i e ia wi h he a iables and he co esponding
ca ego ies desc ibed abo e. The emaining in o ma i e pieces we e analyzed indepen-
den ly by bo h esea che s. Wi h espec o his las se o news i ems, he le el o ag eemen
be ween he human code s was e alua ed based on K ippendo ’s alpha [
39
] ega ding
each o he ca ego ies associa ed wi h he 6 a iables in es iga ed in his s udy.
3. Resul s
The sec ion on he esul s o his esea ch is di ided in o h ee pa s. Fi s , an anal-
ysis o he le el o ag eemen obse ed be ween he e alua o s who analyzed he news
i ems included in he sample is p esen ed. Subsequen ly, he esul s o an analysis o he
six a iables included in his esea ch a e p esen ed. Finally, a syn hesis o he esul s
ob ained om an analysis o he news is p o ided.
Conse a ion 2025,5, 54 7 o 14
3.1. Analysis o he Le el o Ag eemen Be ween Human Code s
The analysis o he le el o ag eemen be ween he wo e alua o s ega ding he
26 ca ego ies associa ed wi h he 6 a iables unde s udy in his esea ch, e ealed K ip-
pendo alpha alues ha anged om 0.850 o 0.990. These esul s indica e a high le el o
ag eemen be ween he wo e alua o s. The esul s o a conco dance analysis a e a ailable
in he Supplemen a y Ma e ials o his a icle (see File S3).
3.2. Analysis o he P opo ion o News by Ca ego y o Each Va iable
3.2.1. Va iable 1: E en De ails
In he sample unde analysis in his con ex , 89.7% o he a icles (N = 96) o e ed
in o ma ion conce ning a leas one o he ca ego ies associa ed wi h his a iable, which
was ela ed o he de ails o he encoun e s be ween o cas and essels. In addi ion, among
he en i e se o a icles, 25.2% (N = 27) add essed only one ca ego y, whe eas 51.4%
(N = 55) p esen ed da a conce ning wo o h ee ca ego ies. Finally, 13.1% (N = 14) p o ided
in o ma ion ega ding ou o mo e ca ego ies.
Wi h espec o speci ic in o ma ion conce ning he cha ac e is ics o he e en s associ-
a ed wi h Ibe ian kille whales, 70.1% o he news i ems (N = 75) men ioned he ype o
essel in ol ed. Such a men ion could be included in a gene al way, such as by indica -
ing whe he hese essels we e sailboa s o pleasu e boa s o by speci ying hei leng h.
In addi ion, 57.9% o he in o ma i e a icles unde in es iga ion (N = 62) o e ed some
geog aphical e e ence ega ding he place o places a which he e en s occu ed, 43%
(N = 46) indica ed he damage ha he kille whales caused o he boa s, and 32.7%
(N = 35) o e ed an accoun o he e en s ha occu ed. Only 10.3% o he news
(N = 11) o e ed da a ega ding he beha io o he kille whales in ol ed in his con-
ex ( o example, how hey app oached he boa s o how di e en indi iduals ac ed) o a
esidual numbe o news epo s conce ning he speed o he boa s.
A summa y o he ela i e equencies o he ca ego ies associa ed wi h he a iable
E en De ails is a ailable in he Supplemen a y Ma e ials (see Table S2 in File S4).
3.2.2. Va iable 2: Explana ions o he Beha io o Kille Whales
A o al o 43% o he news i ems unde analysis (N = 46) men ioned a leas one
possible cause o he beha io o hese Ibe ian kille whales. Among all he news i ems
unde in es iga ion, 14% (N = 15) p esen ed a single explana ion, whe eas 29% (N = 31)
add essed wo o mo e possible causes o he beha io o hese ce aceans.
In ela ion o he explana ions e e enced in he a icles unde analysis in his con ex , he
beha io o he kille whales could be ela ed o he cu iosi y o hese mammals o o some
ype o play ul ac i i y in which he younges membe s o his species engaged. These poin s
we e men ioned in 32.7% o he a icles (N = 35). Allusions o inciden s, acciden s o aumas
ha kille whales could ha e su e ed in hei pas in e ac ions wi h boa s as a possible cause
o he beha io o hese ce aceans appea ed in 23.4% o he news i ems (N = 25).
In addi ion, e e ences o o cas’ lea ning abili y, hei communica ion skills o he
social bonds hey end o es ablish wi hin he g oup we e made in 23.4% o he in o ma i e
pieces (N = 25). Finally, wo in o ma i e pieces e e ed o he p essu e o s ess gene a ed
by a combina ion o ac o s.
A summa y o he ela i e equencies o he ca ego ies associa ed wi h he a iable
Explana ions o Beha iou is a ailable in he Supplemen a y Ma e ials (see Table S3 in File S4).
3.2.3. Va iable 3: P e en a i e Ac ions
A o al o 47.7% o he news i ems unde analysis (N = 51) men ioned a leas one solu ion
o he p oblem caused by encoun e s be ween kille whales and boa s. Among he o al se
Conse a ion 2025,5, 54 8 o 14
o news i ems, 31.8% (N = 34) p esen ed a single solu ion o he p oblem caused by he
unusual beha io o he Ibe ian kille whales, whe eas 15.9% (N = 17) men ioned wo o mo e
possible solu ions.
In e ms o he ype o solu ion men ioned in he a icles, 32.7% o he news i ems
included in his esea ch (N = 35) p o ided speci ic in o ma ion ega ding he beha io o
people wi h esponsibili y o he boa s ha could help mi iga e o p e en encoun e s wi h
o cas. S a egies ela ed o conside a ion o he a ea and he speed o na iga ion, he ype
o na iga ion (mo o ized o sailing), he mos app op ia e schedules o a oiding kille
whales and he ac ions ha should be aken in he e en o a collision we e highligh ed.
A o al o 14% o he news i ems (N = 15) e e ed o echnical solu ions ha could be
used ei he o change he beha io o he kille whales ( o example, h ough sound de ices
o accesso y elemen s loca ed a he helm) o o moni o ce aceans and p o ide in o ma ion
o essels ega ding he loca ion o hese animals.
In addi ion, 8.4% o he news i ems (N = 9) e e ed o egula o y solu ions, legal
changes o he implemen a ion o p ohibi ions ela ed o na iga ion. A simila numbe o
in o ma i e pieces (7.5%, N = 8) highligh ed he need o pe o m scien i ic in es iga ions
ha could acili a e he imp o emen o ou cu en s a e o knowledge o he beha io
o kille whales. Finally, 3 a icles indica ed solu ions ha we e ela ed o he economic
ield, speci ically wi h ega d o he con ac ing o insu ance o co e he isks paced by he
boa s, and a single news i em e e ed o imp o emen s in he habi a o he kille whales
ha should be conside ed as a possible solu ion o hese challenges.
A summa y o he ela i e equencies o he ca ego ies associa ed wi h he a iable
Ac ions is a ailable in he Supplemen a y Ma e ials (see Table S4 in File S4).
3.2.4. Va iable 4: Th ea s Towa ds he Ibe ian Kille Whale
A o al o 23.4% o he news unde analysis in his con ex (N = 25) e e ed o a
leas one h ea o Ibe ian kille whales. In he news as a whole, 6.5% o he a icles unde
examina ion (N = 7) men ioned a single h ea , whe eas 16.8% o hese news i ems (N = 18)
alluded o 2 o mo e h ea s aced by o cas in he ex .
Rega ding he ypes o h ea s o o cas ha we e men ioned in he a icles, 18.7% o
he news i ems (N = 20) add essed p oblems ela ed o al e a ions o he habi a s o hese
mammals, including by highligh ing ac o s such as pollu ion and he accumula ion o
was e, ma ine o e exploi a ion o he e ec s o clima e change. In addi ion, he ma i ime
a ic in he ou es equen ed by hese kille whales, he esul ing collisions wi h boa s
o he noise pollu ion gene a ed by na al ac i i y we e men ioned by simila numbe s
o news i ems (16.8%, N = 18). Finally, o he ypes o addi ions, such as a acks on kille
whales, including by shoo ing, o he low ep oduc ion a e obse ed in his species, we e
men ioned by ewe a icles (11.2%, N = 12).
A summa y o he ela i e equencies o he ca ego ies associa ed wi h he a iable
Th ea s is a ailable in he Supplemen a y Ma e ials (see Table S5 in File S4).
3.2.5. Va iable 5: Legal S a us o he Ibe ian Kille Whale
A o al o 26.2% o he news i ems unde analysis in his con ex (N = 28) included
in o ma ion ega ding a leas one o he ca ego ies ha pe ained o he p o ec ion s a us o
Ibe ian kille whales. Among he o al news i ems, 16.8% (N = 18) co e ed a single ca ego y,
whe eas 9.3% p esen ed wo o mo e e e ences (N = 10).
Rega ding he ype o in o ma ion p o ided in his con ex , 19.6% o he a icles
(N = 21) included gene al e e ences o he s a us o he kille whale as a h ea ened, ulne -
able o endange ed species, albei wi hou iden i ying speci ic egula ions o ag eemen s.
In addi ion, 12.1% o he news i ems (N = 13) men ioned some o he no ms o egula ions
Conse a ion 2025,5, 54 9 o 14
ha p o ec his species, such as he Conse a ion Plan o he O cas o he S ai and Gul
o Cádiz, which was es ablished in he O den APM/427/2017 [
28
]. Finally, se en a icles
indica ed ha Ibe ian kille whales a e included in he Red Lis o Th ea ened Species o
he In e na ional Union o he Conse a ion o Na u e, al hough no news i ems e e ed o
in e na ional con en ions.
A summa y o he ela i e equencies o he ca ego ies associa ed wi h he a iable
Legal S a us is a ailable in he Supplemen a y Ma e ials (see Table S6 in File S4).
3.2.6. Va iable 6: In o ma ion Sou ces
A o al o 81.3% o he news i ems included in he sample (N = 87) e e ed o a leas
one sou ce o in o ma ion in he ex . A o al o 55.1% o he o al numbe o hese news i ems
(N = 59) had a single e e ence, whe eas 26.2% (N = 28) p esen ed wo o mo e e e ences.
Rega ding he sou ces o in o ma ion ci ed in he a icles, 62.6% (N = 67) included
e e ences o au ho i ies, who we e ei he p o essionals linked o uni e si ies o expe s
om o ganiza ions ha we e dedica ed o he asks o esea ching and conse ing ma ine
biodi e si y, such as he Coo dina o o he S udy o Ma ine Mammals (CEMMA) o he
Socie y o he S udy and Conse a ion o Ma ine Fauna (AMBAR). In addi ion, 29% o
he news i ems (N = 31) men ioned some ins i u ion o public body, such as he Minis y
o T anspo , he Minis y o he Ecological T ansi ion and he Demog aphic Challenge,
he Ma i ime Rescue Coo dina ion Cen e o he Gene al Di ec o a e o Me chan Ma ine,
in he ex . This inal ca ego y also includes e e ences o in e na ional o ganiza ions ha
ocus on he conse a ion and s udy o ma ine habi a s, such as he In e na ional Whaling
Commission o he Whale and Dolphin Conse a ion. The es imonies o ishe men as well
as c ew membe s o sailboa s o pleasu e boa s we e included in 12.1% o he news i ems
(N = 13), whe eas 6.5% o hese a icles e e ed o p i a e companies (N = 7).
A summa y o he ela i e equencies o he ca ego ies associa ed wi h he a iable
Sou ces o In o ma ion is a ailable in he Supplemen a y Ma e ials (see Table S7 in File S4).
3.3. Summa y o Resul s
A summa y o he mos signi ican ends iden i ied in he analysis o he a icles included
in he sample is p o ided below. Figu e 1summa izes he equencies o news i ems ha
included a leas one e e ence o some o he ca ego ies associa ed wi h each a iable.
Figu e 1. Rela i e equencies (%) o news i ems ha included a leas one men ion o any o he
ca ego ies associa ed wi h each a iable (N = 107).
