TOKYO, July 27, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - Beachgoers in the Japanese region of Fukui

have been warned to stay away from a displeased dolphin accused of biting
swimmers, with officials urging visitors to "watch from afar".

Beach attendants at the seafront in the central region on Wednesday set up a
device that emits ultrasonic frequencies in a bid to repel the cantankerous
creature, the city said.

A sign has been put up warning dolphin fans not to touch the animal.

Local media said at least 10 incidents involving dolphin bites have been
recorded by attendants at the beach since it officially opened for the summer
on July 9.

A local official told AFP that Fukui's fire department has been called over
two incidents, both involving men in their 40s who were swimming near the
local beach.

Injuries have been minor so far, but local authorities have warned of
"potentially severe wounds".

"Dolphins tend to be considered cute, but if you approach wild dolphins
carelessly, you might get bitten and injured," Fukui prefectural police
cautioned in a Twitter post Monday.

"If you spot any, don't go near them," the police said, citing the case of a
man who was bitten on the hand on Sunday.

The city believes the series of attacks are the work of single dolphin, which
was first spotted near shore at a different beach in April, Masaki Yasui, an
official from the tourism promotion department, told AFP.

"We understand that there are certain body parts where dolphins don't like to
be touched, like the tip of its nose and its back fin," Yasui said.

He said videos posted on Twitter showed beachgoers had been trying to touch
the dolphin in those areas.

"We encourage visitors to watch the dolphin from afar if they come across
it," the official said.