Pregnant dolphin found shot to death, reward offered

WAVELAND, Miss. (CBS12) — There is a reward out to find the person who shot and killed a pregnant bottlenose dolphin.

According to NOAA, authorities found the dead dolphin in April on a beach in Waveland, Mississippi.

The dolphin died of a gunshot from a small caliber weapon. A veterinarian found the bullet lodged in the dolphin's lung. An unborn calf also died due to its mother's death, NOAA said.

Lightkeepers, the Humane Society of the United States, CetLaw, Oceans Experience and Dolphins Plus Marine Mammal Responder are offering a combined reward of $6500 for information leading to an arrest in the case.

Call the NOAA Enforcement hotline at 800-853-1964 if you have any information.

NOAA says there have been 24 dolphins killed by guns or arrows, or impacted with objects since 2002. More than half of those cases happened since 2010.

People can face fines up to $100,000 and a year in jail if convicted of harassing, harming, killing or feeding wild dolphins.