Dolphin attacks prompt beach warnings in Japan

“It is reasonable to assume that it is the same individual, as the tail fin wounds are similar to those of the dolphins seen off the coast last year, and it is rare for dolphins, which normally move in groups, to be alone for such a long time,” professor of cetology at Mie University in Japan Tadamichi Morisaka tells Japanese outlet NHK.

Because each dorsal fin has unique ridges, coloration, and notches, it resembles a dolphin’s fingerprint.

In their comments, several specialists have offered theories as to why one dolphin would be responsible for all of these attacks.

“As extremely gregarious creatures, bottlenose dolphins exhibit a great deal of physical sociality. Hormonal changes, sexual frustration, or a desire to dominate can drive a dolphin to harm people it interacts with, just like it can in humans and other social animals. “This can cause serious harm to humans because they are such strong animals,” Dr. Simon Allen, the senior investigator of the Shark Bay Dolphin Research project and a biologist, told the BBC.

The biologist postulated that the dolphin might have been lonely and shunned by its own group.