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We're at COP28 to Save the Whale, Save the World.

We’re at COP28 to save the whale, save the world

Ed Goodall Ed is WDC's head of intergovernmental engagement. He meets with world leaders to...
Gray whales from drone.

We’re taking steps to uncover the mysteries of whales

Vicki James Vicki is WDC's protected areas coordinator, she helps to create safe ocean spaces...
We must protect our non-human allies. Image: Tom Brakefield, aurore murguet, johan63

We’re urging governments to protect all of our climate heroes – CITES

Katie Hunter Katie supports WDC's engagement in intergovernmental conversations and is working to end captivity...
The Natütama Foundation are dedicated to protecting endangered river dolphins. Image: Natutama

Guardians of the Amazon: protecting the endangered river dolphins

Ali Wood Ali is WDC's education projects coordinator. She is the editor of Splash! and KIDZONE,...
Amazon river dolphins. Image: Fernando Trujillo/Fundacion Omacha

Amazon tragedy as endangered river dolphins die in hot water

Ali Wood Ali is WDC's education projects coordinator. She is the editor of Splash! and KIDZONE,...
Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin © Mike Bossley/WDC

WDC in Japan – Part 3: Restoring freedom to dolphins in South Korea

Katrin Matthes Katrin is WDC's communications and campaigns officer for policy & communication in Germany...
Wintery scene in Iceland

Seeking sanctuary – Iceland’s complex relationship with whales

Hayley Flanagan Hayley is WDC's engagement officer, specialising in creating brilliant content for our website...
Whaling ship Hvalur 8 arrives at the whaling station with two fin whales

A summer of hope and heartbreak for whales in Icelandic waters

Luke McMillan Luke is WDC's Head of hunting and captivity. Now that the 2023 whaling season...

Perpetrator of dolphin crime found

In what might have been a positive turn of events in solving the most recent and shocking dolphin crime in Florida’s Gulf region has turned bittersweet in the midst of news confirming that the perpetrator of this intentional act was underage. The youth admitted to the crime through a written confession, and the weapon was subsequently seized by law enforcement. 

In this case, a fatally-wounded bottlenose dolphin was found on December 9th near Orange Beach, Alabama, a victim of a hunting arrow that was lodged in his side. A necropsy revealed that the sub-adult male dolphin may have lived for up to five days with the arrow in his side before succumbing to a secondary infection from the wound.

The penalty that will be imposed under the Marine Mammal Protection Act is uncertain as the enforcement case moves forward. Harassing, harming, killing, or feeding wild dolphins is prohibited under the Act, and 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. The MMPA protects all species of dolphins, as well as other marine mammals such as whales and seals.

A spate of dolphin deaths resulting from directed acts of violence continues in the Gulf region, and many of these incidents remain unresolved. News of these increasing dolphin crimes has prompted WDC and other groups to offer rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for these illegal and cruel acts perpetrated against protected bottlenose dolphins.

The more recent case of the shooting of a pregnant dolphin near Destin, Florida remains an outstanding example of the difficulty that these cases present to law enforcement officials who seek any information to solve these mysterious and unfortunate acts against these protected species. WDC has offered a $2,500 reward for any information relating to this incident. 

The Humane Society of the United States has recently added to this reward, bringing the total to $7,500. WDC hopes that rewards might offer an incentive to the public to step forward with any information that they might have to identify the perpetrators of these crimes. In the case of the dolphin shot by an arrow, conservation organizations and the local community rallied together to raise a reward of $24,000, serving as an indication of how serious these crimes are, and should be, taken. We hope that this incident will serve as an example for others that might contemplate harming these amazing creatures.

It is devastating that this dolphin died at the hands of a young person. We may never know the intent of this individual in seeking to harm or kill a dolphin, but we hope that through education, awareness, and the swift application of the law that the public will come to understand these magnificent creatures, their importance to the marine ecosystem, their behaviors, and their special and unique attributes that make each and every one an individual worth protecting and revering. 

Dolphins in the region continue to face impacts from the Gulf oil spill, fishing gear entanglements, and habitat loss. We are disheartened that they are also subjected to these brutal attacks, and continue to seek information from anyone who may have details pertaining to these incidents, including any photos or video. The public can also do its part by helping to prevent future harm to dolphins by not feeding, attempting to feed, or directly interacting with wild dolphins. Dolphins fed by people learn to associate people with food, which puts dolphins and people at risk.

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