Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) has increased its reward to $10,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for a spate of attacks on protected bottlenose dolphins in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama over the past several months.
In June (2012), a dolphin was identified alive with a screwdriver lodged in its head and later found dead just west of Dupont Point, Alabama. In September, a necropsy performed on a dolphin found dead on Elmer’s Island, Louisiana, revealed the animal had died of a gunshot wound. Most recently in November, a dolphin was found dead in Mississippi, also a victim of a gunshot wound.
The increase in the reward will also contribute to the establishment of a permanent enforcement fund to help with potential future cases and longer term efforts for these types of violations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).
Wild dolphins are protected under the MMPA and it is illegal to harass, harm, kill or feed these animals. Between 2002 and 2012 there have been a total of 12 documented cases of dead dolphins with evidence of gunshot wounds, revealing a continuing need for long-term vigilance and for the public to come forward with information to support law enforcement efforts. It’s unknown for some of these cases whether the gunshots happened before or after the dolphin’s death.
“We need the public’s help to help catch those responsible for these crimes. We are pleased that, through broader collaboration, we can substantially raise our initial reward to support NOAA’s ongoing investigation of these crimes, reflecting our ongoing commitment to protecting dolphins in the Gulf Region,” stated Courtney Vail, Campaigns Manager for WDC. “These dolphins continue to face impacts from the Gulf oil spill, fishing gear entanglements and habitat loss. It is horrifying that they are also subjected to these brutal attacks.”
WDC continues to seek information from anyone who may have details pertaining to these incidents, including any photos or video. Please call the NOAA Enforcement Hotline at 1-800-853-1964. Individuals can leave anonymous tips or identify themselves when providing their reports on the incident. NOAA Fisheries has also established a webpage with more information.