Louisiana authorities are seeking public assistance following the death of a dolphin found riddled with bullet wounds. They have announced a $20,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of those responsible for the tragedy in Cameron Parish.
Matt Walia from NOAA’s Fisheries Office of Compliance reported the discovery of the deceased bottlenose dolphin on March 13th. “This is not a common event, but it is deeply troubling. We are urgently requesting the public’s assistance,” Walia commented.
The Dolphin Was Discovered at West Mae Beach
Mae Beach is located just west of Cameron, Louisiana. The necropsy revealed the likely time of death was shortly before its discovery on Wednesday, March 13th.
“The necropsy showed multiple bullet wounds and holes in the dolphin’s body, which were the apparent cause of death,” Walia explained.
The Examination Found Bullets in the Dolphin’s Brain, Spinal cord, and Heart
Walia emphasized that harassing, harming, killing, or feeding wild dolphins is illegal under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Violations can lead to civil or criminal charges, including fines of up to $100,000 and a year in jail for each offense.
“Regrettably, this is not the first time human interactions have led to the death of marine mammals,” Walia added.
Anyone with information is strongly encouraged to contact the NOAA Enforcement Hotline at 1-800-853-1964.
