description Tião Overview
Tião was a solitary bottlenose dolphin that became accustomed to close contact with people along the Brazilian coast during the 1990s. Swimmers and visitors repeatedly touched, restrained, climbed on, or otherwise harassed the wild animal, and Tião subsequently struck people with his body or rostrum, causing numerous injuries and one reported death. His case is frequently cited in discussions of the risks created when humans habituate and pursue solitary wild dolphins.
help Tião FAQ
Who was Tião the dolphin?
Tião was a solitary male bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, that became accustomed to close human contact on Brazil's coast in the 1990s. He was reported around São Sebastião and later became associated with incidents near Caraguatatuba.
Why did Tião become dangerous to swimmers?
People repeatedly touched, restrained, climbed on, and otherwise harassed the wild dolphin. After this pattern of close contact, Tião struck people, and a fatal incident was reported in Brazil in December 1994.
Where did the Tião dolphin incidents happen?
The best-known incidents occurred near Caraguatatuba on the coast of São Paulo state, Brazil. Reports from December 1994 described one swimmer killed and another injured after an attack.
Was Tião a captive dolphin?
No. Tião was a wild, solitary bottlenose dolphin that had become unusually tolerant of people. The case is often cited as a warning against approaching or handling wild dolphins.
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