What's Behind Spike in Gulf Coast Dolphin Attacks? Deadand sometimes mutilateddolphins have been turning up recently. Rena Silverman for National Geographic News Published March 29, 2013 Part of our weekly "In Focus" seriesstepping back, looking closer. When Louisiana Fisheries and Wildlife personnel discovered a dead bottlenose dolphin near Elmer's Island late last year, they figured it was another victim of the 2010 BP oil spill. So they were shocked when an onsite necropsy showed no signs of oil-related injury, or of bacterial infection, biotoxins, or diseasethe most common causes of death in dolphins. Instead, the Louisiana officials found a tiny piercing on the right side of the dolphin's blowhole. That hole would later reveal the cause of death: a small bullet lodged in the animal's lung. The killing turned out to be another in a growing string of apparent attacks on dolphins and other marine mammals reported along the Gulf Coast in recent months. According to a December report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in 2012 three dolphins with gunshot wounds were found "stranded" (or washed ashore) along the Gulf Coastthe highest number since 2004. In addition to those with gunshot wounds, several mutilated dolphinswith severed heads, missing tails, full-body slashes across their abdomens, and missing pieces of jawbonehave been discovered in recent months off the shores of Alabama, Florida, and Texas. While the general mortality rate has not increased in dolphins, scientists and animal-rights advocates are finding an unusual amount of evidence suggesting human harm to the animals. Last June, for instance, a dolphin was spotted swimming in Perdido Bay, near the Florida-Alabama border, with a screwdriver sticking out of its head. A day later the dolphin was found dead in the water just west of Dupont, Alabama. Such incidents prompted NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) to launch a federal investigation last November into crimes against dolphins in the Gulf. Killing a dolphin or any other marine mammal is a federal crime punishable by up to $100,000 in fines and a year in jail. Because the dolphin attacks have occurred sporadically, along all 1,680 miles of the Gulf Coast, officials do not believe they are the work of "one single madman," as Humane Society field director Sharon Young explains. "It may be comforting to think it's one person doing this," she says, "but it really isn't." Unusual Cruelty continued http://news.nationalgeographic.com/...cks-gulf-coast-marine-mammals-oceans-science/ If you like Dolphins.. and I do, you will find this story disturbing.. Could they be just thrill kills?
This is just creepy, and disturbing... and sick. Honestly, it is just beyond me why anyone would purposely do something like this. The Gulf also has a high number of sharks, with any luck, maybe next time some jackass leans over the edge of the boat to take aim, he/she will become lunch for a 20' Great White. grrrrrrrrrr Thanks for the link, Margot.
National Geographic is pretty thorough... Can you even imagine killing a dolphin? The penalty is $100,000 and a year in jail. - - - Updated - - - National Geographic is pretty thorough... Can you even imagine killing a dolphin? The penalty is $100,000 and a year in jail.
Hi Margot, No, I can't imagine it at all. It takes a depraved individual to purposely do something of this nature. It's a disgusting act, and unsettling for me to even try to make sense of. That aside, happy Easter holiday to you and yours. *smile*
Those guilty are just the usual little miscreants, ghouls and domestic terrorists. They know nothing will happen to them even if they get caught. nom de plume -30-
I agree and will take it one step further. Check out these rather interesting findings http://www.incasa.org/PDF/2011/animal_human_violence.pdf
Thank you for the link, Shang. Interesting and informative. I also bookmarked it for reference in the future. Happy Easter to you and yours.
that is the very first thing you should consider. if they have been feasting on a commercial catch, I guarantee you the fishermen will react. seals and sea lions around here are fair game for the commercial fleet no matter what the law says.
