Officials say a necropsy showed the dolphin had been shot to death
MANHATTAN BEACH, California — A dolphin was found shot dead on a California beach, and an animal rescue group has offered a reward for information leading to the killer.
The dolphin’s remains were found on Manhattan Beach about 20 miles south of Los Angeles, El Segundo-based Marine Animal Rescue wrote on Facebook on Friday.
A necropsy later revealed that the sea mammal had been killed by a gunshot wound, the group said.
“There is NO excuse for such brutality against these beautiful animals,” the group wrote.
The organization said it is offering a reward of $5,000 to anyone with information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person who shot the dolphin.
Earlier this year, authorities say an animal shot and killed a pregnant bottlenose dolphin in Mississippi.
At least 24 dolphins have died as a result of being shot with a gun, an arrow or impaled by some sort of object since 2002, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Dolphins are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. This prohibits harassing, harming, killing or feeding these animals. Violators can face up to $100,000 in fines and 1 year in jail for each offense.
