Piaui, Sept 27 (TruthDive): Brazilian authorities are struggling to rein in a surge in the piranha population. Piranhas took a bite of at least 100 swimmers at the coastal region of North East Brazil this weekend. The attacks happened at Calf Dam (Barragem do Bezerro), not far from big city Teresina in Brazil’s Piauí state.
Authorities in Brazil’s Piaui state are racing to act against a rising piranha that is now threatening to shut the beach down. They believe the problem is due to a large increase of the Piranha population in recent years.
Authorities suspect that the fish have attacked humans because the piranha population has exploded at a rate much faster than fish lower on the food chain. Piranhas attack humans when they are under some kind of pressure, like hunger, especially if their population has increased too much.
The fish usually does not swim out to coastal shores but insufficient food supply has forced the large group of fish to find food elsewhere. Romildo Mafra, a local government official, says “because Piranhas do not have any natural animals they attack people at the beach”.
Officials have flooded local waters with tilapia hoping to curtail the piranha’s hunger somewhat. Wildlife authorities are also attempting to figure out a way to quell the piranha population before it gets too far out of control to handle.
Piranhas took a bite of at least 100 swimmers at a beach in Brazil last weekend. In a UOL Noticias report, nearly 100 people who had been swimming in the water at Piaui state’s main beach last weekend, were taken to the hospital and treated for piranha bites along their toes and heels. While the likelihood of a piranha-induced death is, marginal it is still an odd occurrence to have the fish attacking human is in the first place.
Local authorities are informing beach goers to not wade in low water and wear protective footgear.