The hunt is on for the individual who shot a juvenile bottlenose dolphin three times last month, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. According to CNN, the organization is offering a $20,000 prize for information that results in a conviction or civil punishment in the Louisiana case. The young dolphin was discovered dead on March 13 on Mae's Beach in Cameron Parish, in the southwest part of the state, according to a press release from the NOAA.
A postmortem examination "revealed multiple bullets lodged in the carcass, including in the brain, spinal cord, and heart of the dolphin," according to the NOAA. "The animal appeared to have died from the trauma, which occurred at or near the time of death." The organization said that its law enforcement branch is looking into the matter. "Harassing, harming, killing, or feeding wild dolphins is prohibited under the Marine Mammal Protection Act," according to the NOAA. "Violations can be prosecuted civilly or criminally and are punishable by up to $100,000 in fines and up to 1 year in jail per violation."
A postmortem examination "revealed multiple bullets lodged in the carcass, including in the brain, spinal cord, and heart of the dolphin," according to the NOAA. "The animal appeared to have died from the trauma, which occurred at or near the time of death." The organization said that its law enforcement branch is looking into the matter. "Harassing, harming, killing, or feeding wild dolphins is prohibited under the Marine Mammal Protection Act," according to the NOAA. "Violations can be prosecuted civilly or criminally and are punishable by up to $100,000 in fines and up to 1 year in jail per violation."
