Dolphin fatally speared in the head, likely while begging for food near Florida

Warning: Graphic Images Below

Officials are offering a $38,000 reward for information leading to the identification of the culprits behind the killing of a bottlenose dolphin near Florida.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in a statement that they received a report of a bottlenose dolphin found dead along Upper Captiva Island in Lee County, Florida.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission recovered the dolphin at the end of May.

According to the NOAA, there was a wound penetrating from above and in front of the right eye, extending almost six inches toward the top and back of the head.

“The wound ended inside the head at the top of the skull and had evidence of hemorrhaging, indicating wounds consistent with being impaled prior to death,” they said.

The dolphin was an adult male previously known to area biologists.

He was last observed swimming around fishing boats and was seen with "begging dolphins."

The puncture wound indicates this dolphin might have been in a begging posture when he was stabbed.

A reward of up to $38,000 is being offered for information leading to the identification and/or prosecution of the person(s) responsible.

The NOAA says that violent incidents toward dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico continue. Since 2002, at least 26 dolphins, including this one, have been found with evidence of being shot by guns or arrows, or impaled with objects.

Officials are reminding people that feeding dolphins is illegal and it can lead to them associating people, boats, and fishing gear with food, putting them in harmful situations.

Violations can be prosecuted either civilly or criminally and are punishable by up to $100,000 in fines and up to one year in jail per violation.