Dolphin found dead on a Louisiana beach with bullets in its brain, spinal cord and heart [Video]

A bottlenose dolphin was found shot to death on a Louisiana beach last month and now authorities are offering a $20,000 reward for information that aids their investigation into the incident. NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement said the dead dolphin was found on West Mae’s Beach in the state’s Cameron Parish with multiple bullets lodged in its brain, spinal cord and heart.

The dolphin was found on March 13 by a member of the public, who called Southeast Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline, NOAA said in a news release on Tuesday. The Audubon Aquarium Rescue took the animal to New Orleans for an animal autopsy, which concluded the dolphin died from the trauma that occurred near or at the time of death.

NOAA says “harassing, harming, killing or feeding wild dolphins is prohibited under the Marine Mammal Protection Act,” and its law enforcement office is now asking the public for …