Rare case of dolphin killing a person

In 1994, the Tião dolphin, which frequently interacts with humans, attacked beachgoers in Brazil, killing one victim.

Dolphins may look like they're always smiling with their long, toothy snouts, but don't be fooled, they're still the ocean's top predators. For this and many other reasons, it's important to keep your distance when encountering dolphins in the wild. There have been documented cases of them attacking humans, and in one rare case, the attack resulted in the death of the victim.

The dolphin in question, named Tião, became famous in 1994 for its curiosity and unusual comfort with humans. It interacted frequently with people and visited the pier in São Sebastião, Brazil, almost daily.

Although generally considered to be cheerful and gentle, dolphins sometimes attack humans. (Photo: Tetsuo Arada).

However, some swimmers seem to have taken advantage of Tião's trust in humans. According to a BBC report , they grabbed his fins and tried to ride him, even trying to stick popsicle sticks into his blowhole. Eventually, it seems Tião's patience ran out.

"The dolphin reacted violently to the constant harassment and injured about 29 swimmers. They were taken to hospital with minor injuries. On December 8, 1994, Tião attacked a 30-year-old swimmer, who died a few hours later from internal bleeding due to a perforated stomach, according to the local hospital Casa de Saúde Stella Maris," said Marcos Cesar De O. Santos, an expert at the University of São Paulo, in a study published in the journal Marine Mammal Science in 1997.

Another swimmer was also injured at the time, according to the Los Angeles Times . He was reportedly part of a group that tried to ride Tião and attach items to its tail just before the incident.

The incident prompted authorities to implement a management program to prevent further casualties by raising public awareness of harmful interactions that can have serious consequences for both humans and wildlife. The program proved effective, with no further injuries reported. In 1995, Tião also left São Sebastião and has never been seen again.

Tião belongs to the group of bottlenose dolphins - aquatic mammals of the genus Tursiops . They are distributed in most tropical and warm temperate seas, adapted to many marine and estuarine habitats. Their main food is fish, in addition to squid, shrimp, mollusks. Bottlenose dolphins are also considered intelligent. They have large brains and many complex emotions, such as grief.

Dolphin attacks are not uncommon and have been reported in a wide range of species, from bottlenose dolphins like Tião to the unique pink river dolphins that live in freshwater habitats in South America. Curiously, killer whales, the largest of the oceanic dolphins, appear to be among the species that rarely attack humans and rarely interact with them in the wild.

Animals that humans consider to be happy and gentle can also exhibit defensive or aggressive behavior when humans get too close. If morality and self-preservation are not enough to stop people from harassing wild animals, authorities still have heavy fines.