Mutilated dead dolphins found in northern Gulf
GULFPORT, Miss. Authorities are investigating several attacks on dolphins in the northern Gulf of Mexico after some were found with gunshot wounds, cuts and missing jaws.
The Sun Herald reports that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has issued a "heads up" directive. That puts officials on alert for an increase in human interaction with dolphins in the waters across Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
Authorities say cases of gunshot wounds, mutilations and other injuries have been detected in recent months.
Scientists from the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport have responded to four dolphin strandings. And on Friday, a team went to Deer Island and found a second dolphin dead with a portion of his jaw missing.
A dolphin found dead earlier near Gautier had a 9mm bullet wound.
"It went through the abdomen, into the kidneys and killed it," said Moby Solangi, IMMS executive director.
He said recovering the dolphins and performing a necropsy to determine the cause of death is heartbreaking for his staff.
"We think there's someone or some group on a rampage," he said. "They not only kill them but also mutilate them."
The public can help by reporting any information they may know about the mutilations, he said. He also asked recreational and commercial fishermen to be on the watch for anyone killing the dolphins.
Attacks on the dolphins carry fines and jail sentences.
Solangi said he doesn't know why anyone would want to kill the dolphins. "They already are under a lot of stress from the oil spill, the dead zone," he said. However, in the past, fishermen and charter boat captains have been convicted of harming dolphins they thought were taking bait or fish.
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Curb your hyperbole.
Ghandi said, that one could tell much about a country by the way they treat their animals. I agree. In that sense, we have much to be ashamed for.
As for the creature committing these horrible acts ~ from extensive reading on criminal profiling ~ we're dealing with a psychopath. If its victims haven't become humans, my guess is they will.
@ Curiousservant: Mountainstates1 isn't THAT off course. Originally, I was with you, but your rudeness turned me off. Nothing wrong with expressing passionate compassion. If others judge animal right activists as absurd because 'we' attempt to protect the rights of those who are unable to defend against their exploitation and degradation ~ so be it. If you take a stance, as you obviously did, show some backbone and stay firm to your beliefs. What are you afraid of? Judgement?
We have met the enemy,
and he is us.
In the panhandle of Florida, an angry illiterate white male population, there has a widespread disregard for regulation and government.
They listen to Rush Limbaugh on their radios while drinking and then shoot up the sea, the pasture, the field, anywhere they think it's safe to discharge weapons.
One even is flying a Confederate Flag that is visible from I-10 near Beulah, Florida.
how do you know? are you one of them? even if not, you're displaying ignorance
next
I think there are some people who are born twisted and get their jollies out of doing outrageous stuff such as this. I also think they get as much or more of a thrill out of the outrage that follows from nearly all of the rest of us as from the act itself.
I am also fairly certain this isn't the work of fishermen who believe dolphins are stealing their livelihood; sure, they sometimes kill 'em but generally will shoot and leave it at that. As a rule, they don't torture them as well.