A young bottlenose dolphin has taken up residence in the waters off a picturesque beach town in France, delighting locals and tourists by weaving between swimmers.

The female cetacean has been lingering off Saint–Jean–de–Luz since mid–October after apparently being expelled from her pod.

On a recent morning, with the heat already intense and the beach crowded, the dolphin’s fin was seen regularly rising above the water just a few metres from the shore.

While swimmers are delighted, experts have raised concerns about the animal’s safety, warning that people are creating ‘risky situations’ by surrounding her.

Pascale Fossecave, an oceanographer and the city’s deputy for environmental affairs, has been observing the animal.

The dolphin has been seeking ‘social interaction’, readily approaching the shore and displaying a marked ‘curiosity toward humans’, she said.

Measuring over 6.5 feet (two metres) in length and weighing between 200 and 250 kilograms, the dolphin is believed to be between six and eight years old and has not yet reached maturity.

Ms Fossecave said: ‘The reason why she came here escapes us. These animals do not get lost. They can communicate over distances of up to 20 kilometres – we know she can hear the other animals.’

On a recent morning, with the heat already intense and the beach crowded, the dolphin’s fin was seen regularly rising above the water just a few meters from the shore

The dolphin has been seeking ‘social interaction’, readily approaching the shore and displaying a marked ‘curiosity toward humans’

But while locals are thrilled by her presence, it could also pose a risk for beachgoers and the animal herself

While locals are thrilled by her presence, it could also pose a risk for beachgoers and the animal herself.

As the summer season approaches and France endures scorching temperatures this week, many people are expected to flock to the coast.

Authorities have called on beachgoers to behave responsibly, warning that inappropriate conduct could result in a 750–euro fine.

‘Unfortunately, we end up managing humans more than the dolphin, because it’s human behaviour that causes problems,’ Ms Fossecave said.

‘We see gatherings and attempts to surround her, which can create risky situations.’

Experts caution that frequent close contact with humans can be harmful to dolphins, increasing the risk of injury or death.

Once they become fully accustomed to human presence, they may lose their natural wariness of people, boats, and jet skis, and most do not survive for long under such conditions.

It is hoped the dolphin will eventually return to open sea.

Experts have raised concerns about the animal’s safety, warning that people are creating ‘risky situations’ by surrounding her

Authorities have called on beachgoers to behave responsibly, warning that inappropriate conduct could result in a 750–euro fine

Across the border in Spain, a dolphin nicknamed Pakito settled in the waters off San Sebastian in the 1990s, where he lived for several years and became both a local celebrity and a symbol of the city.

Last year, a lucky family were treated to an aquatic masterclass after a playful dolphin joined them on their morning swim at Lyme Bay in Dorset.

Seconds after the family jumped off their boat they were joined by the huge bottlenose dolphin.

The footage shows the playful mammal dancing across the water in a vertical position, asking for belly rubs and guiding people across the water with its beak.

Thea Taylor, managing director of the Sussex Dolphin Project, said she believes the dolphin was a young male adult who wanted to ‘make connections’.

‘Bottlenose dolphins are inherently curious animals and have often been shown to mimic behaviours of other individuals and other animals,’ she told The Daily Mail.

She warned that while this was a situation where the dolphin appeared to seek out the family, she strongly encourages other people not to seek out animals like this.

‘Encouraging interactions with people can be dangerous for the animal, and people too,’ she said. ‘They are powerful animals and may not intentionally hurt people, but accidents can happen.’

Last year, a lucky family were treated to an aquatic masterclass after a playful dolphin joined them on their morning swim at Lyme Bay in Dorset 

The dolphin in the video also appeared to approach and rub itself against the swimmers.

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While reasons for this may be unclear, similar actions recorded during other human–dolphin encounters have led scientists to believe it could be misdirected sexual advances.

In 2018, a ‘love–lorn’ dolphin’s interest toward humans caused a French town to ban swimming.

The animal, named Zafar, would rub up against swimmers, boats and kayaks and even allowed people to hold on to his dorsal fin in the Bay of Brest.

In other instances, the dolphin prevented a female swimmer from returning to shore – she was later rescued by boat – and lifted another woman out of the water with his nose.