18 beachgoers in Japan have been bitten by dolphins this year, drawing unusual warnings
CBSN
Tokyo — Authorities in central Japan are urging beachgoers to steer clear of dolphins after a sharp increase in biting incidents, with one expert saying the culprit may be a single overly playful individual. This year has so far seen 18 swimmers bitten at several beaches in the Fukui region, according to the local Tsuruga coast guard, which logged just a handful of injuries related to dolphins in each of the past two years.
Most of the bites were minor — some were little more than scratches — but in one recent incident, an elementary school child wound up requiring 20 to 30 stitches, coastguard official Shoichi Takeuchi told AFP.
At Suishohama Beach, also known as "Diamond Beach," a local tourism association is calling for vigilance, issuing warnings on its website and handing out fliers advising people not to approach or touch the animals.
