Authorities are still trying to piece together what happened in this tragic shooting. It was on a visit to Lea-Hutaff Island, a remote and undeveloped barrier island north of Wilmington, North Carolina, that they found the decapitated dolphin. The discovery of the dolphin’s mutilated body in this isolated spot was shocking. It is only accessible by boat, meaning there are very serious questions about how it died.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries’ office of law enforcement has been spearheading the investigation. Per authorities, the dolphin may have transported Brucella. This bacteria is responsible for animal brucellosis, an infectious disease that can be transmitted to humans through direct contact. This is a striking finding that emphasizes the public health dangers of such a disaster.
This animal’s head being cut off was done on purpose against the Marine Mammal Protection Act. According to NOAA Fisheries’ special agent in charge of the agency’s office of law enforcement, the remote location where they found the dolphin makes the investigation more challenging. This puts an additional burden on ascertaining the cause of death.
The decapitation of the dolphin does not merely elicit outrage due to its macabre nature and sensational media coverage. Any person convicted of such an act would be subject to a significant monetary penalty not to exceed $100,000. They can still be sentenced to as much as a year in jail. Furthermore, law enforcement is offering a reward of $20,000 for any information leading to the identification of those responsible for this heinous act.
The first health assessment of the dolphin indicated that Brucella had infected her. This last finding made it especially challenging to ascertain the precise cause of death. Investigators must overcome obstacles posed by Lea-Hutaff Island’s remoteness. Restricted access to the site can be an absolute barrier to additional investigation.
Despite these challenges, officials are determined to find out what caused this crash. The public is encouraged to call with any information that could help advance their investigation and bring the culprits to justice.