Piranhas attacked and left bloody wounds on multiple beachgoers at a Brazilian resort earlier in May, it was reported in recent days.
While there were no fatalities, the vicious piranha swarm consumed a chunk of flesh off the victims' legs and feet, as visible on the bite marks, according to the reports.
Although rare, the incident adds to several reported piranha attacks on humans in the past.
For decades, piranhas have been a subject of both wildlife interest and pop culture, with the latter showing they are a notorious, bloodthirsty fish that also craves for humans.
In Hollywood movies, they are depicted as fast foragers that can turn a large prey into skeleton in a matter of seconds.
However, experts suggested that what we know about piranhas are not accurate, asserting they are omnivores and more of scavengers than hunters that craves small fish, other animals, and plants.
Available evidence contradicts long-held notions that humans are on the prey list of piranhas.
Brazil Piranha Swarm Attack
The Brazil piranha swarm attack occurred in a beach resort in Taruma-Acu on May 1, wherein at least eight people were left with bleeding wounds, according to the local news outlet portal g1, as cited by Newsweek on Friday, May 12.
The victims were apparently playing in the waters at a live stream during the Labor Day holiday when they suddenly felt painful sensation on their legs and feet.
Also Read: 5 Enthralling Facts About Piranhas: Do They Really Eat Scales?
Related Piranha Attacks
Although piranha attacks on humans are rare, they still do occur.
In previous years, related cases involve people entering the waters which have been perceived as provoked attacks.
In 2015, a six-year-old girl in Brazil was reportedly eaten alive by piranhas when her grandmother's boat capsized during a vacation in February of that year.
Investigation into the incident revealed the girl's body was found surrounded and devoured by a large group of piranhas, the BBC reported.
In 2012, another Brazilian girl died after being attacked by a shoal of piranhas.
In 2013, over 70 swimmers sustained injuries on their hands and feet following a violent piranha attack in Rosario, Argentina.
In 2011, a teenager in Bolivia died in a piranha attack.
Local police said the 18-year-old was drunk when he jumped from a canoe and into a river in Rosario del Yata, Sky News reported.
Do Piranhas Eat Humans?
There are many tales that bring the narrative of how schools of piranha actively and intentionally attack humans, however scientific evidence that supports such aggressive behavior remains limited, according to researchers in Brazil in a study published on the website of the National Institutes of Health.
The research team clarified that there are few cases where piranhas eat the corpse of humans in the water after dying from heart attack or drowning.
They also added that the ferocious fish are notorious for occasionally injuring bathers and swimmers in inland bodies of water like lakes and rivers.
Related Article: The Only Fish That Can Survive Deadly Piranha Attack
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