Dolphin Found Shot Dead On Louisiana Beach With 'Multiple Bullets' In Body

Authorities are offering up to $20,000 for information after a dolphin was found shot dead on a Louisiana beach last month.

A member of the public saw the bottlenose dolphin, a juvenile, on West Mae’s Beach in Cameron Parish on March 13 and called a hotline for stranded marine mammals.

A necropsy revealed “multiple bullets lodged in the carcass, including in the brain, spinal cord, and heart of the dolphin,” the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Fisheries department said in a statement on Tuesday.

The animal appeared to have died from the trauma, which occurred near the time of death, it said.

“While this is a tough case, it also highlights the importance of reporting marine mammal and sea turtle strandings to stranding network partners like AAR,” Audubon Aquarium Rescue, which recovered the animal’s body, said in a Facebook post.

NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement is investigating the death and asking the public for information on who could have been involved. 

“We are offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to a criminal conviction or the assessment of a civil penalty,” NOAA Fisheries said. 

Harming a dolphin is prohibited under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Violations can be prosecuted civilly or criminally and are punishable by up to $100,000 in fines and up to one year in jail.  

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the NOAA Enforcement Hotline at 800-853-1964.