Reward for information on shooting death of pregnant dolphin

A reward is being offered to find the person who shot and killed a pregnant bottlenose dolphin and her unborn calf.

Details of the animal autopsy last week revealed the mother died of a gunshot wound, which also killed her unborn calf, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) confirmed.

The mammal was found on the beach in Waveland, in the US state of Mississippi, on April 30, with a small calibre bullet lodged in her lung.

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The bullet appears to be about 12mm long in a photograph released by The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies.

NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement is investigating the case, with a $15,500 reward offered for information leading to the successful identification and/or prosecution of the person responsible.

The combined reward is being offered by Lightkeepers, The Humane Society of the United States, CetLaw, Ocean Experience, the Animal Welfare Institute, and Dolphins Plus Marine Mammal Responder.