A West Cork dolphin has been labeled a threat after reports it ‘aggressively pushed’ a swimmer underwater.
Now the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group has urged swimmers to stay away from Clet, Ireland’s newest solitary dolphin.
The Sunday Independent reports that the warning was issued after Clet made an aggressive move towards a male swimmer.
The bottlenose dolphin originated in French before moved to English waters and was first spotted off the south-west coast of Ireland in June.
The report says that unlike Dingle resident Fungi, Clet has a contrary nature which has prompted marine experts to issue the warning.
A spokesman for the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group said it was made aware of an attack by Clet near Sherkin Island in west Cork.
The spokesman said: “Clet may not be enjoying the attention being paid to it in recent weeks in west Cork.
“We are aware of a report of an adult swimmer nearby in wetsuit and mask from a yacht at anchor being aggressively pushed underwater by the dolphin.
“They got a bit of a shock as a result. The report goes on to say that the dolphin attacked twice and lashed out with its tail.”
A separate warning was issued by the IWDG concerning another dolphin resident near the Aran Islands.
The IWDG report added: “Bottlenose dolphins are not cute and cuddly, they are not our ‘friends’ and nor do they benefit in any meaningful or long-term way from interacting with humans.
“The evidence from those in the UK and France who are more familiar with this individual than we are here is that Clet does not seek out humans to swim with, and we feel this says enough.
“Do not confuse the shape of their jawline with a smile. They can and do cause serious injury to humans and have killed in the past.”
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