Experts believe that a dolphin responsible for nearly 50 attacks on humans in recent years may be acting out due to loneliness, Sky News reports, citing several media reports.
Since July 21, there have been 18 reported incidents involving a single male bottlenose dolphin attacking swimmers in the seaside town of Mihama, Japan, as reported by NBC, citing Japanese broadcaster NHK.
This particular dolphin is exhibiting unusual behavior for its species, as bottlenose dolphins are typically social animals that thrive in pods. Observations of the dolphin suggest it is alone, which raises concerns among marine biologists.
“It’s unusual for bottlenose dolphins of this kind to approach people at all, let alone bite them,” Tadamichi Morisaka from the Cetacean Research Center at Mie University, who is also part of the Dolphin Communication Project, noted.
He explained that this dolphin appears to have become accustomed to human interaction over the years.
Morisaka described the bites as playful in nature, suggesting that the dolphin primarily seeks social interaction with humans rather than intending to harm. However, with dolphins possessing sharp teeth, even seemingly playful bites can result in major injuries.
Local swimmers have been advised to exit the water if they encounter a dolphin. Recently, NHK reported an incident in which a man in his 50s was bitten on both hands while trying to shoo away the dolphin at a beach in nearby Tsuruga, marking him as the 18th victim since July.
In the past three years, NHK has documented 48 separate instances of dolphin bites in the area, some resulting in broken bones. Morisaka further explained that the injuries seen on the dolphin’s dorsal fin from last week’s attack match those of a dolphin spotted off the coast in the previous year. Dorsal fins have unique patterns similar to human fingerprints, leading experts to believe that the same dolphin is involved.
Elizabeth Hawkins, chief executive and founding director of Dolphin Research Australia, suggested that the attacks seem to be from a “sociable solitary dolphin” that has become detached from its normal social group.
“When isolated, dolphins often seek to fulfill their social needs with other species, and it’s usually humans they turn to,” Hawkins said.
She warned that when dolphins find themselves socially isolated, they can exhibit aggressive behavior, including biting.
