In 1994, a dolphin named Tião, known for its frequent interactions with humans, attacked a beachgoer in Brazil, resulting in one fatality.
Dolphins may appear to be constantly smiling with their long, toothy snouts, but don’t be misled; they are apex predators of the ocean. For this reason and many others, it is crucial to maintain a safe distance when encountering dolphins in the wild. There have been recorded instances of dolphins attacking humans, and in a rare case, such an attack resulted in the victim’s death.
The dolphin involved in the incident mentioned above was named Tião, who gained notoriety in 1994 for its curiosity and unusual comfort with human contact. It frequently interacted with people and visited the docks in São Sebastião, Brazil, nearly every day.
Although often perceived as playful and gentle, dolphins can occasionally attack humans. (Photo: Tetsuo Arada).
However, some swimmers appeared to have abused Tião’s trust in humans. According to a report from BBC, they grabbed its fins and attempted to ride it, even trying to stick ice cream sticks into its blowhole. Eventually, it seems Tião’s patience ran out.
“The dolphin reacted violently when continuously disturbed and injured about 29 swimmers. They were hospitalized with minor injuries. On December 8, 1994, Tião attacked a 30-year-old beachgoer, who died a few hours later from internal bleeding due to a ruptured stomach,” 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.
According to Los Angeles Times, another swimmer was also injured at that time. This person was reportedly part of the group trying to ride Tião and attach items to its tail just before the incident occurred.
The incident prompted authorities to implement a management program to prevent further injuries by raising community awareness about harmful interactions that could have serious consequences for both humans and wildlife. The program proved effective, as no further injuries were reported. In 1995, Tião also left São Sebastião and has not been seen since.
Tião belonged to the bottlenose dolphin species, a marine mammal from the genus Tursiops. They are found in most tropical and warm temperate waters, adapting to various marine and estuarine environments. Their primary diet consists of fish, as well as squid, shrimp, and crustaceans. Bottlenose dolphins are also considered intelligent, possessing large brains and complex emotions, such as grief.
Dolphin attacks are not uncommon and have been documented in various species, from bottlenose dolphins like Tião to the unique pink river dolphins inhabiting freshwater environments in South America. Interestingly, orcas, the largest members of the dolphin family, seem to be among the least likely to attack humans and rarely interact with them in the wild.
Creatures that humans perceive as playful and gentle can also display defensive or aggressive behavior when approached too closely. If ethics and self-preservation awareness are not enough to deter people from harassing wildlife, authorities still impose heavy penalties.
