A $20,000 reward has been offered for information on individuals who caused harm to a sick and stranded bottlenose dolphin on a Texas beach last month, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced recently.
NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement reports the dolphin was alive when it became stranded on Quintana Beach on April 10, but died after multiple people interacted with it. A necropsy (non-human autopsy) determined the cause of death was drowning, NOAA reports in the April 26 statement.
"Video stills obtained during the event could help identify individuals who have direct information concerning this event," NOAA states in the report. "If anyone can identify the individuals depicted in the photographs, NOAA encourages you to contact NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement Hotline at (800) 853-1964."
NOAA's law enforcement division is requesting any or all information leading to the identification, arrest, prosecution and conviction or civil-penalty assessment of the persons responsible for causing the death of the dolphin, the agency reports. Informants can remain anonymous, NOAA states, but reminds possible tipsters that to be eligible for any rewards, they will need to provide their contact information.
This incident is the second in two weeks, according to the report. The first incident occurred in Florida, when another dolphin also died after being "intentionally harmed" by humans, the report states.
NOAA advises anyone who comes across a stranded animal to immediately alert emergency responders and to limit interactions with the animal to keeping its skin wet and protected from sun exposure while waiting for professional help. Trying to help the animal back into the water should not be attempted, the agency states, as it may be sick or injured and in need of assistance.
“Harassing, harming, killing or feeding wild dolphins is prohibited under the Marine Mammal Protection Act,” NOAA Fisheries states in the report. “Violations may be prosecuted civilly or criminally and are punishable by up to $100,000 in fines and up to 1 year in jail per violation.”
