Gulf Coast police hunt for suspects in shooting- mutilation of Dolphins www.privateofficer.com

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MOBILE, Alabama Nov 19 2012 -- Someone has been shooting Gulf Coastdolphins, cutting off their body parts and mutilating them, according toofficials who are asking folks in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana to be onthe look out for such cruelty.
Within the last two weeks, four dead dolphins have beenrecovered in Alabama, Mississippiand Louisianawaters.
A female dolphin, recovered in Mobile Baynear Fairhope, had its tail cut off. That was apparently by a straight knifecut, indicating that a human did it, said Moby Solangi, executive director ofthe Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport, Miss.,which has performed non-human autopsies, known as necropsies, on the dolphins.
One dolphin off ShipIsland in Mississippi had its lower jaw cut off.
One near Ocean Springs, Miss., had a bullet in it, as did another recovered offElmer’s Island, Louisiana.
“It looks like there is someone, a person, who isperpetrating the dolphins” Solangi said. “It’s not only cruel; it’s illegal.”
Harassing, harming, killing or feeding wild dolphins isprohibited under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. Those found guiltyof breaking the law can be fined up to $100,000 and be sentenced to up to ayear in jail per violation, according to the National Oceanic and AtmosphericAdministration, NOAA.
“It’s repugnant. It’s cruel. It’s illegal. It’s senseless,”Solangi said. “These dolphins are already under stress from the oil spill,Hurricane Katrina, and the dead zones. A number of dolphins have died in recentyears. There’s no reason for this.”
NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement is investigating theseincidents. Anyone with information is asked to call that office at:1-800-853-1964. Tips can be left anonymously, said NOAA spokeswoman AllisonGarrett.
"We  have noinformation as to what has happened to these dolphins," Garrett said.
It is not clear if these incidents are related to abottlenose dolphin that was found dead in June with a screwdriver stuck in itshead near the Alabama-Florida border.
Garrett said officials are trying to get the word out thathumans should not feed or try to get close to dolphins, as this may encouragethem to approach other humans and possibly put themselves into dangeroussituations.
"Enjoy watching them from a distance," she said.
Dolphins are generally docile animals, Solangi said. Theycare for their young. They travel in groups because they are social. And theyare known to be friendly to humans, approaching boats and interacting withthem.
“I don’t know if some people think this is funny or asport,” Solangi said, adding that it’s almost as if someone is gatheringvarious body parts as “trophies.”
It doesn't appear as if the meat has been taken for food.
Solangi urges anyone who knows about these incidents or whosees something suspicious to call any type of law enforcement to report it. Youcan also call IMMS at: 1-888-SOS DOLPHIN.
source-al.com