SHINGU, Japan - A beach in western Japan recently began a summer event enabling visitors to swim for a few hours a day near two Risso's dolphins that are released from a pen in the cove.
Visitors showed excitement and joy at seeing the dolphins up close at the beach in Taiji, Wakayama Prefecture on the first day of the event Friday. The animals will be released between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. through Aug. 16.
The two females measure around 3 meters and 2.5 meters. The area is corralled off with a net to prevent the dolphins from swimming off into the open sea.
"This is the only beach in Japan where people can swim with dolphins," said caretaker Erena Tamazawa, 24. "The best part about this experience is being able to see the animals in one of their most natural conditions."
