Lonely Dolphin May Be Behind Beach Attacks in Japan
For the third year in a row, swimmers have been hurt in dolphin attacks at beaches in central Japan's Fukui prefecture.
So far this summer, 18 people have been injured in dolphin attacks. In 2023, at least nine people were injured in such attacks, including one swimmer whose ribs were broken. And in 2022, 21 people were injured in such attacks.
In the most recent incident, a man swimming off Mizushima island in Tsuruga was bitten on both hands by a dolphin. Earlier this summer, a 10-year-old boy was bitten on two of his fingers by a dolphin, and needed over 20 stitches.
Although there have been many attacks, just one dolphin may be responsible.
Speaking to NHK, Tadamichi Morisaka of Mie University said the fin of a dolphin seen in the area matches that of a dolphin seen swimming off the coast last year. He believes it is a male Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin, and is probably the same dolphin that has been attacking people.
Morisaka also noted that it's unusual for dolphins, which are very social animals, to be alone for such a long time.
Speaking to the BBC, Simon Allen of the University of Bristol suggested the dolphin may be lonely without the company of other dolphins, and is seeking the companionship of humans instead.
Both experts have said that dolphins communicate in physical ways, like bites, and this can result in serious injuries when they try to communicate with humans.
However, another expert, Matthias Hoffmann-Kuhnt of the National University of Singapore, told the BBC that dolphin attacks usually happen "when humans get too close to these dolphins and do not know how to conduct themselves."
Notably, in one incident in July a 13-year-old-boy at Shiraki Beach in Tsuruga was bitten after trying to pet a dolphin.
The Japan Coast Guard says people should stay away from dolphins, and get out of the water if they see one.
