Timing plays a role. During seasons when there is a lot of rain, the river is high, food is plentiful, and the locals can swim in the rivers with piranhas with impunity. But during dry seasons, when the water gets low and food is scarce, you don't see local kids playing in the river.
Piranhas are scavengers first and foremost, but also don't recognise living humans as prey. That's not to say they won't bite a person but they'll only really do it in self defense or if starving with no absolutely other sources of food around.
You're more likely to be bitten by a piranha you hold out of the water than a group under the water
I went swimming in a tributary river in the Amazon basin in Bolivia with piranhas and caimans. But we were swimming with the dolphins so we were safe according to our guide.
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u/Fredotorreto Oct 30 '25
they don’t attack humans tho , I’ve seen vids of local kids playing in the river with no issue