Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News

Video Credit: CEN/@conocercanarias

This is the moment two scared fishermen try to flee from pursuing killer whales in their small boat in the Canary Islands.

The incident was filmed near the tourist island of Fuerteventura in the Spanish Canary Islands by Ancor Rodriguez Rodriguez, and shared on Facebook where it has been viewed 75,000 times.

In the footage, the pursuing orcas are seen coming to the surface as they closely follow the frightened fishermen’s boat.

One of the men nervously says: “They are going to catch us!”

At one point, they are seen speeding up in an attempt to outrun the chasing killer whales.

According to local media, orcas and many other marine animals enjoy the warm waters around the Canary Islands and there are said to be 86 different species of sharks and manta rays in the region.

These include angelsharks (Squatina squatina), great hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna mokarran) and smalltooth sand tiger sharks (Odontaspis ferox).

After online commentators suggested that the orcas were only “playing”, Rodriguez responded angrily on Facebook: “Orcas are considered one of the most dangerous and intelligent predators in the world, and I certainly do not think that they are friendly.

“I know that humans can be unfriendly and lie to commit crimes, but how can anyone defend killer whales and say that they were only playing as if I was the real threat?”

Netizen ‘Rafael Ramirez Gomez’ said: “Orcas are dangerous animals, if anyone believes the opposite they need to read some books or watch a few documentaries. Well done for escaping, because if they hit the boat with their tail, you would have been doomed.”

Picture Credit: CEN/@conocercanarias