On a Japanese beach, a series of attacks by dolphins has recently started. According to local media, at least one man was taken to hospital a few days ago and two more swimmers were bitten on the arms the next day.
Japanese officials believe the same dolphin is responsible for at least six attacks so far.
While dolphins are not usually aggressive towards humans, hostility towards swimmers is not unheard of.
Local media reported that a man was bitten on both arms on Thursday morning, August 11. This was followed by another attack the same afternoon on a second man - who suffered injuries to the fingers of his left hand.
Both incidents happened at Koshino Beach, a popular destination for swimmers and dolphins near the western Japanese city of Fukui.
Officials have already installed high-noise devices, hoping to deter dolphins from the area. Swimmers have also been warned about the dangers posed by the wild creatures.
It is currently unclear what type of dolphin was involved in the attack.
According to local media, dolphins in the area have become accustomed to human interaction and have been seen in extremely shallow parts of the beach - including knee-deep water.
Around the world, dolphin attacks are rare, but not unheard of.
Scientists have suggested that wild bottlenose dolphins find swimming alongside humans "extremely stressful" because it "disrupts their behavioral routines".
In Ireland two women were injured in the space of ten days in 2013 by the same dolphin. A year later, five swimmers were rescued off the coast of Ireland after a dolphin aggressively surrounded them.
In addition to hostility towards humans - dolphins sometimes behave extremely violently towards other sea creatures.
Source: BBC
