13/12/2024
Dolphins seem to have a permanent smile and look friendly, but don't be fooled by their "big smiles", as these marine mammals are still one of the top marine predators. For this reason, it is important to keep our distance if we encounter dolphins in the wild, since they are known to also attack humans, and in one very rare case, such an attack can even be fatal.
The dolphin involved in the fatal incident was known by the name Tião, a male Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops sp.) that was made famous in 1994 for its unusual 'familiarity' with humans. He regularly interacts with humans and stops by the pier in São Sebastião, Brazil, almost every day. Unfortunately, some people abuse Tião's belief in humans. According to a report from the BBC, some people grabbed his fins and tried to hitchhike on him, and even inserted ice cream sticks into Tião's spray hole. And in the end, Tião's patience began to run out.
The dolphin reacted aggressively when repeatedly harassed, and eventually injured about 29 swimmers, who were then rushed to the hospital with minor injuries. On December 8, 1994, Tião hit a 30-year-old swimmer who died hours later from internal bleeding due to a ruptured stomach, which became the first case of death by a dolphin. Another swimmer was also injured at the time, they reportedly had tried to ride Tião and attach objects to the dolphin's tail shortly before the incident.
The deaths sparked a management program designed to prevent further injuries or deaths by raising public awareness of harmful interactions, and how those interactions can have serious consequences for humans, as well as wild animals. The program appears to be effective as there are no more reports of injuries. And sometime in 1995, Tião left São Sebastião and was nowhere to be seen. Because of his actions, he got the nickname "The Killer Dolphin".
Source : IFL Science | Los Angeles Times
