TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A man swimming near the Yongxin Port in Kaohsiung was attacked by stray dogs in shallow water and drowned on Thursday afternoon. 

A 76-year-old man, surnamed Tsai (蔡), was attacked by the dogs on Zuanshi Beach in Kaohsiung’s Yongan District, reported UDN. The man lived nearby and reportedly often swam at the beach. 

Tsai received bites to his head and chest, but the cause of death was drowning. Despite being rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment, he was declared dead shortly after arrival. 

Zuanshi Beach is a popular spot for locals and tourists to take walks and swim, but it has become home to a large number of stray dogs, which can pose a risk to visitors. There were reports of dogs attacking beachgoers last week, per UDN. 

The Kaohsiung Animal Protection Office has caught 51 stray dogs in the area this year. In one focused operation, they caught 29 dogs in a single week.

Locals reportedly avoid the area near Shiban Road, especially during dawn and dusk when large numbers of the dogs congregate. Some residents have lobbied for the local government to cull the strays. 

The number of dogs has increased rapidly in recent years because of residents who feed the strays, which then form large groups and reproduce. Several local residents have been caught dropping off food at night and have been reprimanded by local officials, per UDN.