TAMPA, Fla. (AP) – Authorities are offering a $20,000 reward for information after a tragic incident involving a dolphin found dead on a beach in Cameron Parish, Louisiana. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Services reported that the juvenile bottlenose dolphin was discovered with multiple gunshot wounds in its brain, spinal cord, and heart on West Mae’s Beach on March 13.
A necropsy confirmed that the dolphin sustained traumatic injuries at or near the time of its death, leading to its untimely demise. Now, NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement is taking charge of the investigation into the incident, with a $20,000 reward being offered for details that may help identify the perpetrator or lead to the imposition of a civil penalty.
Harassing, hunting, killing, or feeding wild dolphins is strictly prohibited under NOAA regulations, with severe consequences awaiting violators. Those found guilty of such actions could face fines of up to $100,000 and possible imprisonment for up to one year per violation. Such acts of violence against marine wildlife are not only illegal but also detrimental to the conservation efforts aimed at protecting these species.
Individuals with any information related to the incident are encouraged to contact the NOAA Enforcement Hotline at 800-853-1964, as authorities work diligently to bring justice to the dolphin found dead with gunshot wounds on the Louisiana beach. The senseless killing of marine animals is a matter of grave concern, highlighting the urgent need for stricter enforcement of laws to safeguard these vulnerable creatures in their natural habitats.