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RANDY sex pest dolphins have been terrorising swimmers at an alarming rate in recent years through a string of dangerous attacks.
Dolphin welfare experts told The Sun there are many reasons why the beloved animals may turn on humans and revealed why victims often feel as if they’ve been sexually assaulted underwater.
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Vicious dolphins have been emerging across the globe in recent years with Japan being hit hardest by an alarming number of strikes.
Local authorities across Japanese beaches have been urging swimmers to take care when in the water after a spate of horror dolphin attacks.
Experts believe many of the randy ambushes could be linked back to Suzu the 8ft bottlenose dolphin.
He has been blamed for 18 serious attacks in 2024 alone near the town of Mihama.
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With the worst assault leaving a primary school child needing at least 20 stitches on a deep bite mark in their finger.
Another savage strike left a man without his fingertip.
Suzu’s sex pest work has been blowing concerned experts away since 2022 when he was said to have been responsible for at least 21 attacks.
He has been accused of causing at least 48 injuries to men, women and children so far.
With many victims saying they were dragged underwater and felt the beast rub up against them.
Bruno Díaz López, the director of The Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute (BDRI), told The Sun this idea of dolphins being sexual towards humans is due to a few reasons.
He said: “Dolphins may engage in tactile behaviour that appears unusual to humans, but this is often a part of their normal social interactions rather than an expression of sexual intent.
“Male dolphins experience increased testosterone levels as they mature, which can result in behaviours that may seem sexual but are, in fact, part of social bonding.
“These interactions are often exploratory and are not necessarily an indication of intent to harm or distress.”
Georgie Dolphin, an animal welfare campaigner from the Humane Society International in Australia, also revealed that the lethal attacks might not actually be a sign of aggression.
She says Suzu and the other dolphins may be simply playing with the panicked victim and giving them a friendly gesture.
Or they may feel threatened and launch defensive strikes to escape from the human.
She told The Sun: “Behaviours such as a wild dolphin biting a swimmer when humans are in their environment could have a multitude of causes.
“Gentle biting often occurs between male dolphins in the wild and is perceived as a friendly gesture.
“In some incidents when they exhibit this behaviour with humans, they may simply be defending themselves.
“Generally, the public perceive dolphins as a friendly and approachable species, but any wild animal can defend themselves or their young if they feel threatened.”
Bruno added that dolphins are often deemed as being dangerous due to their size, strength and protective emotions compared to any human.
Why do dolphin’s commit sexual violence?
FOR decades victims of dolphin attacks have revealed they were rubbed up against and pinned down by the sea creatures.
This led to experts saying the animals were likely seen as hyper-sexual which goes some way to explaining how they attacks on humans.
Sex is a natural act for dolphins with it often being done for pleasure rather than reproduction.
They don’t have a specific mating season like many other animals meaning they frequently take part in recreational sex.
Another interesting element comes from their orientation with bottlenose’s in particular being known for their fluid sexuality.
They can often use sex as a way of marking out territory and asserting sexual dominance.
Dr Chiara Giulia Bertulli, Sightings Officer at the Sea Watch Foundation, says: “Some can show tranquil behaviour – travelling, searching for food and socialising – but others can show much more aggressive behaviour, even within their own species.
“Many dolphins have tooth rakes on their skin from bouts of fighting.
“Male dolphins in particular can show violence when fighting over new territories or dominance over the females.”
Another reason for the dangerous blows dealt by dolphins such as Suzu may be due to his past relationships with humans.
Georgie says meetings between people and wild dolphins are almost non-existent due to where the animals swim.
So when a dolphin does encounter someone, especially near a crowded beach, it will easily cause them to become frightened and tense and lead to the unusual encounters.
The dolphin expert from Australia also thinks Suzu’s aggression towards humans could be a learnt behaviour.
“This particular dolphin may have experienced trauma caused by humans,” she said.
“Given they are extremely intelligent mammals, they would be unlikely to forget such incidents.”
Hormonal fluctuations, sexual frustration or the desire to dominate might drive the dolphin to injuring the people it interacts with
Dr Simon Allen
Bottlenose’s are believed to be able to retain information for up to 20 years making them one of the most memorable animals around.
If Suzu, who appears to be a fully grown male, has had previous negative experiences with humans then this could factor into why he lashes out so often.
Experts say they have spotted Suzu around the Fukui prefecture leading them to believe it is where he spends most of his time.
Just across from the island sits the small town of Taiji, in Japan’s Wakayama prefecture which is infamous for its deadly dolphin drive hunts.
Every year a bay in the town is used for the brutal butchering of hundreds of dolphins by herding the creatures to shore.
Once they are captured they are either taken away to be sold as meat or transported to local aquariums and animal parks.
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Taiji is believed to be the only town in Japan that still allows for drive hunting on such a large scale.
Several animal rights groups have condemned the decision to allow the annual culling to take place due to the large-scale terror it causes for the animals.
Georgie believes Suzu’s attitude towards humans could potentially be linked to the dolphin drive.
One of the issues it may have caused is separating the dolphin from his pod.
Dolphins are known as highly social animals who are often seen along with many friends in the ocean.
But Suzu – and many other dolphins accused of attacking people – have only ever been seen alone.
While dolphins may appear friendly and approachable, it’s important to remember that they are wild creatures, not pets or trained animals
Bruno Diaz Lopez
Dr Simon Allen, a biologist and principal investigator with the Shark Bay Dolphin Research project says this loneliness could be a driving factor into why incidents are taking place.
He told the BBC: “Bottlenose dolphins are highly social animals and this sociability can be expressed in very physical ways.
“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.”
Many terrified locals have been calling for Suzu to be caught and put down for months with the attacks continuing to rise.
Georgie has urged the public and local authorities to consider his situation rather than focusing solely on the damage caused.
The animal welfare campaigner said: “Keeping your distance and showing respect for wild animals is paramount.
“Especially on any occasion when you enter their environment.”
Bruno echoed Georgie’s thoughts saying: “While dolphins may appear friendly and approachable, it’s important to remember that they are wild creatures, not pets or trained animals.”
Why are dolphins attacking swimmers off Japan?
THE dramatic rise in dolphin attacks across the past few years has left experts debating over the likely cause of this sharp rise.
Biologists are constantly questioning what could trigger the animals such as Suzu and spark their irrational behaviour.
One heartbreaking reason could be that the sex-crazed creatures are simply lonely.
Dolphins tend to swim in groups, or pods, whereas some like Suzu are solo travellers.
Some believe that dolphins will interact with humans in order to try and find a mate but will turn aggressive when aroused.
Another reason for the randy tenancies could be an overexposure to humans, cetologist Professor Tadamichi Morisaka has argued.
Divers often swim with dolphins they discover but when they leave the water the animals continue to want that playtime.
This means they will approach people uninvited and may play too rough.
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