Florida bottlenose dolphin found dead after being speared in the head while it was still alive suggesting it was begging for food when it was wounded

  • The bottlenose dolphin was found dead in May in Florida's Upper Captiva Island
  • A necropsy revealed the dolphin had been impaled in the head from above
  • The spear-like object left a six-inch wound and left signs of bleeding indicating the dolphin was still alive when it was stabbed
  • The dolphin was believed to have been begging for food when it was wounded 

By ASSOCIATED PRESS and MAXINE SHEN FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

Published: | Updated:

Authorities are investigating the death of a dolphin that was speared in the head in Florida.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in a news release Thursday that a bottlenose dolphin was found dead along Upper Captiva Island in Lee County, Florida, in May.

A necropsy revealed that the dolphin was impaled with a spear-like object while it was still alive. 

Authorities said this bottlenose dolphin was found dead in Florida in May. It had sustained a spear-like wound to the head, indicating it had been stabbed from above

Authorities said this bottlenose dolphin was found dead in Florida in May. It had sustained a spear-like wound to the head, indicating it had been stabbed from above

The dolphin was said to have been stabbed above and in front of its right eye and that the wound was about six inches deep, going in the direction of the top and back of its head. 

The top of its skull had evidence of hemorrhaging, indicating that the wound was sustained while the dolphin was still alive. 

The dolphin was an adult male known to area biologists and was last seen swimming around fishing boats, alongside 'begging dolphins' — wild dolphins that have learned to beg for food after being fed by humans.  

Officials say the puncture wound indicates the dolphin might have been in a begging posture when he was stabbed.

The wound showed signs of bleeding indicating the dolphin was still alive when it was stabbed
The dolphin was said to have been in a begging position when it was wounded (file image)

The wound (left) showed signs of bleeding indicating the dolphin was still alive when it was stabbed. It was said to have been in a begging position when it was wounded (file image, right)

The dolphin was last seen swimming around fishing boats with 'begging dolphins.' This is the dead dolphin's fin, as seen in an image from 2007

The dolphin was last seen swimming around fishing boats with 'begging dolphins.' This is the dead dolphin's fin, as seen in an image from 2007

NOAA said that at least 25 dolphins prior to the recently found bottlenose dolphin have been seen stranded with evidence of human violence, including be shot by guns or arrows or having been impaled with an object. 

It is illegal to harass, harm, kill or feed wild dolphins and can lead to up to $100,000 in fines or up to a one-year jail sentence. 

Authorities say the best way to prevent this kind of human violence against wild dolphins is not to feed them, as the mammals quickly learn to associate people, boats and fishing gear with getting fed, which puts them in potentially dangerous positions. 

Several wildlife agencies have banded together to offer a reward of up to $38,000 for information leading to the identification, successful prosecution or arrest of the person responsible. 

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to leave an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-853-1964.  

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