CAMERON PARISH, La. (TND) — A reward is being offered for information on who may have shot a juvenile bottlenose dolphin to death.
The dolphin was found on West Mae’s Beach in Cameron Parish, Louisiana on March 13 with bullets lodged in its brain, spinal cord and heart, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Authorities added the dolphin appeared to have died from trauma, which occurred at or near the time of death.
“A member of the public reported the stranding to the Southeast Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline,” NOAA said in a statement Tuesday. “NOAA’s stranding network partner, Audubon Aquarium Rescue, recovered the animal and transported it to the Audubon Nature Institute in New Orleans for a necropsy.”
NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement is investigating the death and offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to a criminal conviction or the assessment of a civil penalty.
“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.”
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the NOAA Enforcement Hotline at 800-853-1964. People can leave a tip anonymously but to be eligible for the reward you must include your name and contact information.