Inquiry widens into Gulf of Mexico dolphins' killings
Source: New York Times
Published Friday, November 23, 2012 at 1:07 pm / Updated at 1:09 pm
Inquiry widens into Gulf of Mexico dolphins' killings
The New York Times
ATLANTA — An investigation into the mysterious killing of dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico is gaining momentum, with a federal agent now in charge of the case and a $30,000 reward for catching the killer or killers.
Since the summer, six dead dolphins have washed ashore with bullet wounds, severed fins and jaws, and stab wounds. The latest was a dolphin found off the coast of Mississippi with its lower jaw missing.
Whether the deaths were caused by the same group or person is not known, but federal investigators are turning to the public for help.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has called on fishermen and beachgoers to report any dead or injured dolphins. Forensic experts at the agency are testing the slugs removed from the animals to determine if they come from the same gun.
More than 700 dolphins have been found dead of various causes in the Gulf since February 2010. But scientists say that deliberate, violent deaths are rare.
“These are senseless, repugnant acts,” said Moby Solangi, executive director of the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport, Miss. “These dolphins are mutilated in a way that no animal is in the wild.”
Read more: http://www.omaha.com/article/20121123/AP09/121129844
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and prosecute them to the full extent of the law and the harshest penalty available. There is NO excuse for this. Dolphins are highly evolved, intelligent gentle animals.
Why in the world would anyone want to injure or kill such beautiful animals?
They really are very remarkable animals and I just don't understand how anyone could harm or kill such a beautiful creature.
