Dismembered Dolphin Found on New Jersey Shore

Officials are investigating the troubling discovery of a dolphin's remains on a New Jersey coastline, where the creature was found with its organs missing.

The partial carcass was located on Allenhurst beach, near Asbury Park, last Wednesday. Observers noted that the dolphin had been methodically dismembered.

Experts reported that the dolphin's body had been expertly filleted with precise incisions made using a sharp tool, sparing only the head, dorsal fin, and tail flukes. The internal organs were gone, except for the heart and lungs.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing a dolphin struggling in the waves at a nearby location the prior evening. It successfully navigated past the sandbar and returned to deeper water, leaving it unclear if this was the same dolphin later discovered dead.

The remains were taken for examination and photographic documentation, after which they were buried at the site.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Office of Law Enforcement is leading the investigation into this incident.

Previous Cases and Legal Context

In a separate case from April, NOAA had reported a dolphin found dead in Louisiana with gunshot wounds to vital areas such as the brain and heart.

NOAA reiterates that it is illegal to harass, harm, kill, or feed wild dolphins under federal law. Violating these laws can lead to severe penalties, including a maximum of a year in prison and fines up to $100,000.