Sexually frustrated dolphin terrorizes Japanese coastal town

Shocking news is reaching us from the Japanese city of Mihama. It turns out that the panic among the residents is being caused by a single dolphin attacking people. Scientists speculate that it might be searching for a sexual partner and feels lonely.

It is no secret that dolphins are sexually active, and this is not limited to the mating season. These mammals find partners not only for reproduction but also for pleasure. Dolphins search for partners year-round, and when unsuccessful, they often experience frustration, nervousness, and loneliness. This emotional state could be the reason why they sometimes attack people.

This seems to be the case with a sexually frustrated dolphin in Japan. Recent reports from Mihama indicate that a lonely bottlenose dolphin is desperate to find a partner. Since it has been unsuccessful so far, it has started attacking innocent people relaxing by the water. The youngest victim is an elementary school student who needed stitches on his finger after an encounter with the animal.

In the summer of 2024, as many as 18 dolphin attacks were recorded in Mihama, Japan. The Kyodo agency, citing the Coast Guard, is reporting this information. They also indicate that the number of dangerous encounters between these mammals and people is increasing. In 2022, one dolphin attack was recorded, and in 2023, there were five. Surprisingly, scientists believe that most of the attacks in 2024 were caused by one individual.

Local authorities are urging people to be careful. They emphasize that dolphins may look gentle, but they can be dangerous. They remind the public that encountering these mammals can result in bites from very sharp teeth, causing significant bleeding. Additionally, dolphins can pull a person into the sea, making escape difficult.

- Just as in humans and other social animals, hormonal fluctuations, sexual frustration or the desire to dominate might drive the dolphin to injuring the people it interacts with. Since they are such powerful animals, this can lead to serious injury in humans - said biologist Simon Allen from the Australian Shark Bay Dolphin Research project during an interview with the media.

He explained the dangerous dolphin's behavior and speculated that its nervous reactions might have been influenced by negative past experiences with humans.