Dolphin found dead off Upper Captiva was impaled in the head; NOAA enforcement seeks tips

Investigators are looking into who or what made a penetrating gash in the head of a bottlenose dolphin that was later found dead along Upper Captiva Island.

Investigators from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Law Enforcement said marine mammal experts saw the wound after the dolphin was found dead. The association announced a $38,000 reward Thursday for a conviction related to the death.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission recovered the animal at the end of May and a necropsy revealed it had been impaled in the head with a spear-like object while alive. 

From April:Dead deep-water dolphin calf's stomach held plastic bags and balloon, scientists discover

More:2-foot-long plastic shower hose pulled from dead dolphin's stomach

“It takes a truly callous person to stab a gentle dolphin in the head,” said Kate MacFall, Florida state director for the Humane Society of the United States. “Dolphins are among the most beloved of marine animals and there is absolutely no excuse for this wanton cruelty."

The wound, penetrating from above and in front of the right eye, extended almost 6 inches toward the top and back of the head, a necropsy revealed. 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.   

The animal was an adult male previously known to area biologists. They said he was last observed swimming around fishing boats with "begging dolphins."

The puncture wound indicates the dolphin might have been in a begging posture when he was stabbed, the necropsy noted. 

More:Dead fish floating in Matanzas Pass on Fort Myers Beach, dolphins nearby

More:NOAA: Red tide still killing dolphins in Southwest Florida

NOAA officials are looking to get information at the NOAA Enforcement Hotline at 800-853-1964 from anyone who may have details of the incident. Tips may be left anonymously.

There is a $38,000 reward provided from a number of agencies and organizations for information leading to the identification and/or prosecution for the person(s) responsible and/or an arrest, conviction or civil penalty assessment.

The Humane Society contributed $5,000, double its usual amount due to the donation of a board member.

"Hopefully this reward offering encourages anyone with information about this brutal crime to come forward,” MacFall said.

NOAA said there have been at least 26 violent incidents toward dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico since 2002, including evidence of them being shot by guns or arrows, or impaled.  

The agency recommends avoiding feeding or trying to feed wild dolphins. It is illegal to do so and dolphins fed by people learn to associate people, boats, and fishing gear with food, which puts dolphins and people in harmful situations.

Additionally, harassing, harming, killing or feeding wild dolphins is prohibited under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. 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.

If you come across a dead or injured marine mammal do not intervene, call responders at 1-877-WHALE HELP (877-942-5343).

Connect with this reporter: MichaelBraunNP (Facebook) @MichaelBraunNP (Twitter)

About the Common Bottlenose Dolphin

Weight: 300 to 1,400 pounds

Lifespan: 40 to 60 years

Length: 6 to 13 feet

Threats: Entanglement, Illegal feeding and harassment, Habitat degradation, Noise, Chemical contaminants, Oil spills and energy exploration, Disease, Biotoxins, Vessel collisions

Location: New England/Mid-Atlantic, Pacific Islands, Southeast, West Coast