#Beach #visitors #Japan #warn #biting #dolphins
Beachgoers in Japan’s Fukui region have been warned to stay away from an angry dolphin accused of biting swimmers, and officials urged visitors to “watch from afar”.
Beach wardens on the coast in the central region on Wednesday set up a device that emits ultrasonic frequencies to ward off the quarrelsome creature, the city said.
A sign has been put up warning dolphin fans not to touch the animal.
Local media said at least 10 incidents of dolphin bites by beach attendants have been recorded since it officially opened for the summer on July 9.
A local official told AFP that the Fukui Fire Department was called over two incidents involving both men in their 40s who were swimming near the local beach.
Injuries have been minor so far, but local authorities warned of “possible serious wounds”.
“Dolphins are generally considered cute, but if you are careless when approaching wild dolphins, you may be bitten and injured,” Fukui Prefectural Police warned in a Twitter post Monday.
“If you see any, don’t go near them,” police said, referring to the case of a man who was bitten on the hand on Sunday.
The city believes the series of attacks is the work of a lone dolphin, which was first spotted offshore on another beach in April, Masaki Yasui, an official with the Department of Tourism Promotion, told AFP.
“We understand that there are certain body parts that dolphins don’t like to be touched, like the tip of their nose and dorsal fin,” Yasui said.
He said videos posted to Twitter showed beachgoers attempting to touch the dolphin in those areas.
“We encourage visitors to watch the dolphin from a distance if they encounter it,” the official said.
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