OBch Dolphin Death Reward Up

Somebody has a price on their head!

Reward in Dead Dolphin Case up to $20,000

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ORANGE BEACH, Alabama -
The reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the person (s) responsible for killing a bottlenose dolphin in Orange Beach, Ala., with a hunting arrow has increased to $20,000. Several organizations contributed to this reward.

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NOAA federal agents leading the investigation have received several tips but are still asking for others to step forward if they have information on this criminal act. Investigators are following up on every tip they receive. They also appreciate the very generous reward donations, and help from the media and the public in getting the word out.

Reward contributions came from the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, The Humane Society of the United States and The Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust, Alabama Gulf Coast Reef and Restoration Foundation, Coastal Alabama Business Chamber, Cobalt/Cosmos Restaurants, Reel Surprise Fishing Charters, Gulf Chrysler, and the Coastal Conservation Association.

This is the second bottlenose dolphin killed in recent weeks in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. A pregnant dolphin was shot and killed with a gun in Choctawhatchee Bay in Miramar Beach, Fla., just before Thanksgiving. NOAA agents are also asking for information on that case and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society is offering a $2,500 reward.

NOAA is asking anyone with details on either incident to call our Office of Law Enforcement in Niceville, Fla., at 850-729-8628 or the NOAA Enforcement Hotline at 1-800-853-1964 as soon as possible. Tips may be left anonymously.

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.

To report a stranded, injured or sick dolphin, call 1-877-WHALE-HELP.

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I saw that dolphin still alive the day after thanksgiving just west of Bear Point Marina. Definitely did a double-take there...

Dolphins sometimes irritate me when they get after the same fish I'm trying to catch, but they are just doing what they are supposed to do and the world would be a poorer place without them. This makes me sad for that dolphin, and for the whole human race. I hope someone collects that reward.

I have had them take snapper off my line and I have had them accompany me on a scuba dive and watched their antics. To kill a Dolphin is just wrong the person who shot this beautiful creature has a special punishment coming to them.

This type of behavior may indicate inexperienced, excitable, immature response to seeing dolphin. Two years ago at Ft. Morgan, three young men (14-15?) were stabbing rays, that were near shore for their own reasons, with spears they had made with sticks and kitchen knives. When asked why, they explained that they were gonna Google it and cook it. When we explained that the rays were looking for girlfriends, they were stunned. They quit their game, and later spoke to us as they cruised the beach. Or some person has an urge for thrill killing. Sure hope he is found and punished.

...kindof the same mentality that it takes to hunt chi-chi birds with a shotgun! :rolleyes:

This is an ongoing problem and not something new!

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Between 2002 and 2012, NMFS has documented a total of 12 cases of dead dolphins with evidence of gunshot wounds, revealing the growing threat of dolphins being targeted.

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You would have 'thunk' the threat of severe penalties would ward off such behavior by these people (when/if caught), but it may be time to 'crack down' on these offenses.
The Marine Mammal Protection Act specifically makes it illegal to FEED wild dolphins. This is one of the major issues that drives dolphin interactions with humans
Dolphin died in Louisiana from bullet lodged in animal's lung | NOLA.com

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After getting used to receiving food from humans, dolphins — very social animals — often teach other dolphins, and their babies, that behavior, causing them to learn to depend on humans for food rather than forage naturally. The fear is that could cause the animals to become unable to survive in the wild.
In Sarasota, Fla., a dolphin called Beggar became a local tourist attraction and began attacking and harming humans. But after several days of strict policing to keep people away from the dolphin, it resumed its natural behavior and began ignoring humans, Horstman said.

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Federal agents identify juvenile as suspected shooter of arrow that killed bottlenose dolphin | AL.com

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NOAA agents, along with conservation officers from Alabama and Florida worked together to identify the juvenile, who, the news release states, admitted in writing to shooting the dolphin as it swam in Florida state water sometime during the last week of November.

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Gulf Coast Teen Arrested For Killing Dolphin With Arrow

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News 5 has learned authorities made an arrest involving a bottlenose dolphin shot and killed with a hunting arrow. The dolphin washed up in Orange Beach at the beginning of December. Authorities say a teenager has been charged in the dolphin death. Investigators say the dolphin was shot in Florida waters. They tell News 5 they have a written confession from the teenager and have seized his bow. A substantial reward was created for information leading to an arrest in this dolphin case.

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The official NOAA news release...
http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/news_room/...ting_arrow.pdf

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Tips lead to break in the case of a dolphin found dead, shot with a hunting arrow in Northern Gulf of Mexico
Shooter identified as a juvenile

NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement positively identified a juvenile who admitted to shooting a
bottlenose dolphin with a hunting arrow in Florida state waters. That dolphin was found dead
more than a week later in Orange Beach, Ala.

NOAA federal agents requested assistance from the Alabama Department of Conservation and
Natural Resources, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Escambia
County Sherriff’s Office. Together they obtained written confessions and seized the bow. Since
this is a juvenile case, no other information is releasable.

NOAA federal agents are grateful to the other enforcement agencies assisting with the case, as
well as the help received from the public and the media. The publicity and tips helped federal
agents find the person responsible for this incident.

Thanks also goes to those who contributed to the generous reward in this case. Contributions for
the $24,000 reward came from the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, The Humane Society of the
United States and The Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust, Alabama Gulf Coast Reef and
Restoration Foundation, Coastal Alabama Business Chamber, Cobalt/Cosmos Restaurants, Reel
Surprise Fishing Charters, Gulf Chrysler, and the Coastal Conservation Association, the City of
Orange Beach and one private citizen.

People can help prevent future harm to wild dolphins by not feeding or attempting to feed them.
Dolphins fed by people learn to associate people with food, which puts dolphins and people in
potentially harmful situations.

NOAA has not received tips on the pregnant dolphin shot and killed on Choctawhatchee Bay in
Miramar Beach, Fla., just before Thanksgiving. Anyone with information on that incident should
call NOAA’s enforcement office in Niceville, Fla., at 850-729-8628 or the NOAA Enforcement
Hotline at 1-800-853-1964 as soon as possible. Tips may be left anonymously and the reward,
offered by the Whale and Dolphin Conservation, stands at $2,500 for information leading to arrest
and prosecution.

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.

To report a stranded, injured or sick dolphin, call 1-877-WHALE-HELP (1-877-942-5343).

NOAA's mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the
depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and
marine resources.

*Photos of the bow in this case and others of the Orange Beach and Miramar Beach
dolphins are available upon request – please contact Kim Amendola via
email, Kim.Amendola@noaa.gov
or Allison Garrett via email, Allison.Garrett@noaa.gov

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Dumb kid, I hope he learns something from this. May not go to jail but will probably cost his parents a lot of $ in fines.

At least two Florida piers (Navarre and Ocaloosa) have had issues with dolphin sharing the free slow-moving fish attached to lines. Although having a fish "flippered" is just as annoying as having one "sharked", only a very foolish person would risk the fines and other trouble associated with actually attacking the mammals. However, teens trying to lure the dolphin into biting down on baits with large hooks or yanking giant silver crickets near the dolphins are the pier cousins of the kid with the bow.