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The encounters still posed a risk. The Japanese Coast Guard warning quoted in reporting was to never touch a dolphin and to get out of the sea if one approaches.
What happened in Fukui?
In an October 4, 2024 report, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) counted 18 reported dolphin attacks in Fukui Prefecture in 2024 and said more than 50 people had been injured over the preceding three years. ABC noted that some incidents might have gone unreported, so these figures should not be treated as a complete official count.
ABC also reported that Mie University researcher Tadamichi Morisaka compared photographs and identified a matching wound on the dolphin’s fin, supporting the view that one individual had returned. This identification was based on the reported photo comparison; it does not establish that the same behavior or motive explained every incident.
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Why might the dolphin have approached or bitten swimmers?
The dolphin’s motive has not been established. Experts offered possible explanations, not a definitive account of what the animal intended in any particular encounter.
Morisaka told ABC that dolphins rub against and gently bite one another as a way to play and communicate. He suggested that a dolphin trying to keep a human engaged in play might bite because it does not have hands and feet like a person. That interpretation does not mean a bite is harmless or that a specific bite was playful.
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Live Science reported that Ryoichi Matsubara, director of Echizen Matsushima Aquarium, had observed the dolphin trying to press its genitals against people in 2022 and 2023. The reporting discussed mating behavior and sexual frustration as possible explanations. Those reported observations and interpretations do not prove sexual motivation for the 2024 bites.
The most accurate summary is that the dolphin may have been seeking social contact, and sexual contact is one proposed possibility. The available reporting does not establish the animal’s subjective intent or explain why it remained in the area.
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Does social behavior mean the dolphin was harmless?
No. An interpretation of rubbing or biting as social behavior is not a guarantee of safety. ABC quoted Jeff Weir of the Dolphin Research Institute in Victoria reminding readers that dolphins can be aggressive toward one another and are predators. That general point is not proof that this dolphin was hunting people.
Do not assume that an animal is safe to approach because it appears calm, curious, or playful. A wild dolphin’s behavior can be difficult for people to interpret, and close interaction carries risks for both people and the animal.
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What should you do if a wild dolphin approaches?
- Follow local instructions. The Japanese Coast Guard warning quoted by ABC told people encountering a dolphin to “never touch them and get out of the sea.”
- Do not touch, feed, swim with, or harass the dolphin. NOAA Fisheries gives this general guidance for wild dolphins in the United States; follow current local instructions and rules at the beach you are visiting.
- Keep your distance. Do not try to get closer for a photograph or to interact with the animal.
- Tell lifeguards or local authorities about the sighting. Follow their advice about leaving the water or avoiding the area.
- Seek medical care if you are injured. Do not dismiss a bite or other injury because the dolphin seemed gentle.
What this incident does—and does not—say about dolphins
The Fukui reports concern repeated encounters involving a likely recurring individual. They do not show that dolphins generally attack people, nor do they establish why this animal approached or bit swimmers. The practical lesson is to treat wild dolphins as wild animals: observe them from a distance and do not try to interact.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently Asked Questions
Why was a dolphin approaching or biting beachgoers in Japan?
Experts suggested that it may have been seeking social interaction. Play or communication are possible explanations for rubbing and gentle biting, and sexual behavior was also discussed based on reported observations. The animal’s motive in any specific encounter has not been proven.
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- AWARD WINNING & TRUSTED PRODUCT - Winner of Popular Science’s Greatest Innovations, Weather Channel Best Summer Tech, Forbes Best Health Tech, and many more. Sharkbanz has been trusted and used as a way to reduce the risk and enjoy greater peace of mind since 2015 from customers around the world.
Was the dolphin sexually motivated?
That is one hypothesis, not a confirmed explanation for the bites. Live Science reported observations by aquarium director Ryoichi Matsubara of the dolphin pressing its genitals against people in 2022 and 2023; those observations do not establish the motive for the 2024 incidents.
How many people were injured?
ABC reported 18 dolphin-attack reports in Fukui in 2024 and more than 50 people injured over the preceding three years. ABC cautioned that additional incidents might have gone unreported, so these figures are not a complete verified count.
What should I do if a dolphin swims toward me?
Follow local instructions and leave the water if directed. Do not touch, feed, swim with, or harass a wild dolphin. NOAA Fisheries offers this as general U.S. guidance; local rules and instructions apply at a specific beach.
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