WILMINGTON, N.C. (WNCN) \u2014 Federal marine law enforcement is investigating after a dolphin was found dead with its head cut off along the North Carolina coast.<\/p>\n
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a person reported on April 15 seeing a dead dolphin stranded on Lea-Hutaff Island, a remote, undeveloped barrier island just north of Wilmington.<\/p>\n
Scientists with the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, which is a part of a national program that coordinates emergency\u00a0responses to sick, injured, distressed or dead marine mammals, quickly responded to the location.The NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement is now asking for help to identify those involved, offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information that leads to either a criminal conviction or the assessment of a civil penalty.<\/p>\n
This animal was intentionally decapitated, a violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act,\u201d NOAA officials said in a news release on May 12. \u201cThe remote location where the dolphin was found adds to the difficulty of investigating this incident and cause of death. We are calling on your help to find those responsible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Violations can be prosecuted civilly or criminally, and are punishable by up to $100,000 in fines and up to one year in jail for each violation.<\/p>\n