Dolphin Slaying Suspect Is A Kid Says NOAA (PHOTO)
The case of the dolphin slaying that caused Clearwater Marine Aquarium and other environmental agencies to offer a $20,000 reward of the suspect’s information may now have a suspect.
In a press release from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a juvenile suspect has reportedly admitted to the killing of the dolphin and handed over the weapon used in the slaying to NOAA investigators.
NOAA has “positively identified a juvenile who admitted to shooting a bottlenose dolphin with a hunting arrow in Florida state waters.”
The identity has not been disclosed being underage.
Last weekend, authorities found a dead dolphin with an arrow in its side near Alabama’s Orange Beach. The cause of death was infection from the wound. In a statement from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), “Preliminary results of a necropsy, or non-human autopsy, suggest the dolphin lived with the arrow in its side for at least five days before eventually dying from a secondary infection caused by the wound.”
Dolphins are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. That act makes it illegal to harass, harm, kill or feed wild dolphins. Violations can result in civil or criminal prosecution and fines up to $100,000 and one year in jail, NOAA noted.
I hope the feds require the full $100K fine from the kid, which will have to be paid by his parents. This was a cruel, thoughtless act causing a slow and painful death for a protected sea mammal and I have no sympathy for the idiot who did it. He should be prohibited from holding any weapons well past age 18, and he should be prohibited from having a driver’s license until at least age 21. I have more to say about this little creep, but it’s not printable.