Aggressive Dolphin Attacks at Japanese Beach Injure Swimmers

Many people know dolphins to be friendly marine mammals who squeak at the slightest bit of happiness, but dolphin attacks on humans are very real. Some beachgoers in Japan learned that the hard way. 

On July 16, a man in his 60s was swimming in the waters off Suishohama beach in the town of Mihama when he was rammed by a dolphin in the water. According to the BBC, his ribs were broken and he had bites on his hand after the quick-but-violent encounter. Later that morning, another man in his 40s similarly sustained arm bites from a dolphin at the same beach. Later that day, two more people were injured by dolphins at the popular beach. 

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Local police say six dolphin attacks have been recorded in the Fukui prefecture, where Mihama is located, so far this year. Signs have been posted at the beach telling swimmers to avoid approaching or touching the ocean mammals. Scientists have surmised that wild bottlenose dolphins are stressed out by swimming alongside humans, so the animals could have been disturbed by the bathers' presence. 

The U.S.'s National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration warns about the dangers of treating dolphins as if they aren't dangerous. "Dolphins are not water toys or pets. The 'Flipper myth' of a friendly wild dolphin has given us the wrong idea," the agency stated plainly. "Truly wild dolphins will bite when they are angry, frustrated, or afraid. They are disturbed when people try to swim with them."

If you see a dolphin in the water this summer, it's probably best to stay away and appreciate them from afar.