The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information regarding a tragic incident involving a juvenile bottlenose dolphin found shot multiple times on a Louisiana beach last month. The animal was discovered on March 13 at West Mae’s Beach in Cameron Parish, located approximately four hours west of New Orleans. NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement revealed that the dolphin had sustained injuries consistent with being shot with a firearm.
A necropsy conducted by the Audubon Nature Institute in New Orleans uncovered multiple bullets lodged in the dolphin's carcass, with some found in critical areas such as the brain, spinal cord, and heart. The trauma inflicted by the gunshot wounds led to the dolphin's death, indicating that the injuries occurred at or near the time of death.
NOAA officials are actively seeking information that could help identify a suspect, leading to an arrest and subsequent prosecution. It is important to note that under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, harassing, harming, killing, or feeding wild dolphins is strictly prohibited. Violators of this law can face civil or criminal prosecution, with penalties of up to $100,000 in fines and a maximum of one year in jail per violation.
