Swimmers face repeated dolphin attacks

For several years in Japan, authorities have been concerned about dolphin attacks, particularly in Wakasa Bay, north of Kyoto. According to researchers, it could be a solitary dolphin, a real “Jaws” scenario…

You have been afraid of sharks since Jaws. Now, we may also have to be wary of dolphins. In Japan, authorities are concerned about a surge in attacks on swimmers in Wakasa Bay, north of Kyoto. Each time, it is a huge dolphin that attacks humans. According to researchers, it could even be a solitary dolphin, sexually frustrated.

Authorities are taking the problem very seriously as attacks have increased in recent years. Over the past three summers, there have been more than 50 dolphin attacks recorded in Wakasa Bay alone. This long bay bordered by several beaches is very popular in Japan, about fifty kilometers north of Kyoto.

And the number of attacks continues to increase year after year. There have been no deaths so far, but many bathers were very shocked. They say the dolphin repeatedly charged at them while they were near the beach, even when they were standing.

This summer, some people suffered broken or cracked ribs. Many have been bitten too. In July, a child even had to receive twenty stitches in his hand after being attacked in the Mihama region by an animal measuring nearly 2.5 metres and possibly weighing more than 200 kilos.

There is debate among researchers as to why these dolphin attacks occur frequently. They wonder if these attacks are the work of several dolphins in the area who are trying to mark their territory, or whether it was just a single, particularly aggressive dolphin.

There have been no captures as a result of these attacks so far. So cetologists, cetacean specialists, can only work on photos or videos of these incidents. CSome people think they always recognize the same male of the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin species. They think he might be sexually frustrated during mating season. This is why he allegedly tried several times to violently climb on certain swimmers, visibly to rub shoulders with them.

Local authorities cannot do much, for the moment, because eThey cannot hunt these animals which are protected in this area. Some municipalities have begun to install small underwater devices off their beaches that emit ultrasounds to try to repel cetaceans. And lifeguards are now ordering swimmers to quickly get out of the water when they spot the dolphin in heat.