Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Bizarre: Decapitated Dolphin Head Found On North Carolina Island
100 Percent Fed Up ^ | May 15, 2025 | Staff

Posted on 05/15/2025 7:55:11 PM PDT by Red Badger

Wildlife authorities in North Carolina have reported that a decapitated dolphin was discovered on Lea-Hutaff Island.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries’ law enforcement office stated the dolphin was initially found on the island intact.

Days later, when members of the marine mammal stranding team from the University of North Carolina Wilmington arrived on the island to evaluate the dolphin, they discovered its head was cut off.

The office stated, “This animal was intentionally decapitated, a violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The remote location where the dolphin was found adds to the difficulty of investigating this incident and cause of death.”

Authorities are offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person who decapitated the dolphin.

Check out what The Guardian reported:

Wildlife officials in North Carolina are offering a reward of $20,000 for information about the decapitation of a dolphin on a remote coastal island.

The 8ft-long dolphin was initially found, intact, on Lea-Hutaff Island in the state by a member of the public. When staff from the marine mammal stranding team from the University of North Carolina Wilmington arrived a few days later to investigate, they found the animal’s head had been removed.

“This animal was intentionally decapitated, a violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The remote location where the dolphin was found adds to the difficulty of investigating this incident and cause of death,” said the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries’ office of law enforcement in a statement.

It added that an initial health assessment of the dolphin showed the animal was likely carrying Brucella, a bacteria that causes the infectious disease brucellosis and can be passed on to humans through direct contact.

Anyone convicted of mutilating the dolphin could face a fine of up to $100,000 and up to a year in jail.

Lea-Hutaff Island is a remote and undeveloped barrier island north of the city of Wilmington and is only accessible by boat. The island is a haven for turtles, as well as shorebirds, wading birds, waterfowl and marsh birds during their nesting, migration and wintering seasons.

Per NOAA:

NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement is investigating the death and decapitation of a dead bottlenose dolphin on Lea-Hutaff Island. We are asking the public for any information about who may have been involved. We are offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to a criminal conviction or the assessment of a civil penalty.

A member of the public originally reported the stranding of a dead dolphin on Lea Island, near marker 105, to the Southeast Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline on April 15. The area is a remote, undeveloped barrier island north of Wilmington, North Carolina, only accessible by boat. When our stranding network partner, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, went to the reported location, the 8-foot dolphin had been intentionally mutilated and its head removed. They determined that someone intentionally removed its head between April 16 and April 18, after they received the initial stranding report.

Based on their initial health assessment of the dolphin, the University suspects the animal is carrying Brucella, a bacteria that causes the infectious bacterial disease brucellosis. The disease can be transferred to humans through direct contact. Our stranding network partner performed a necropsy (animal autopsy) and complete results and cause of death are pending.

This is a Guest Post from our friends over at WLTReport.


TOPICS: Outdoors; Pets/Animals; Society; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: bottlenose; brucella; cetaceans; dolphin; dolphinhead; leahutaffisland; mmpa; skull
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-34 last
To: Red Badger

It will probably turn out than another authorized agency cut off the head to determine the cause of death and there was a lack of communication. How stupid to put out a reward for a dead dolphin.


21 posted on 05/15/2025 10:49:53 PM PDT by lefty-lie-spy (Stay Metal)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

They eat our pets and now they eat our dolphins!


22 posted on 05/15/2025 11:31:31 PM PDT by higgmeister (In the Shadow of The Big Chicken! )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

[[Authorities are offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person who decapitated the dolphin. ]]

Unless of course it was an illegal alien. If so, well then, no harm no foul as illegals can do no wrong, and dsmocrat leaders will rally to the side of the illegal.


23 posted on 05/15/2025 11:59:19 PM PDT by Bob434 (Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger
Bizarre: Decapitated Dolphin Head Found On North Carolina Island

Idiots! The head is missing. What they found was a decapitated dolphin.

Journalists!

Regards,

24 posted on 05/16/2025 12:10:13 AM PDT by alexander_busek (Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger
It is unlawful to disturb a dead dolphin [...]

I'm sure the dead dolphin was past caring. Probably didn't feel the least bothered.

My older brother always used to laugh at the signs at our local park warning, "Do not molest the ducks!"

I was ten years old at the time and didn't get the joke until much later.

Regards,

25 posted on 05/16/2025 12:15:30 AM PDT by alexander_busek (Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Sacajaweau

A walleye is not a mammal.


26 posted on 05/16/2025 12:38:10 AM PDT by piasa (Attitude adjustmilents offered here free of charge)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Its a Sicilian message. It means Flipper sleeps with the fishes.


27 posted on 05/16/2025 1:02:22 AM PDT by lowbridge ("Let’s check with Senator Schumer before we run it" - NY Times)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

28 posted on 05/16/2025 1:46:06 AM PDT by lowbridge ("Let’s check with Senator Schumer before we run it" - NY Times)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sacajaweau

If you are caught in possession and don’t have a fishing license taking a fresh fish for dinner may be illegal. Consequences will vary by state and by conservation officer.


29 posted on 05/16/2025 3:37:25 AM PDT by The Free Engineer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Not high on my list of priorities.


30 posted on 05/16/2025 5:16:27 AM PDT by maddog55 (The only thing systemic in America is the left's hatred of it!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger
What info did it have on Cankles?


31 posted on 05/16/2025 5:49:01 AM PDT by Libloather (Why do climate change hoax deniers live in mansions on the beach?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: maddog55

> Not high on my list of priorities.<

When dead dolphins and unborn turtles get more protection than soon to be born humans, it does make you question peoples’ priorities.

EC


32 posted on 05/16/2025 6:25:45 AM PDT by Ex-Con777
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Is the head now mounted above some islander’s fireplace?


33 posted on 05/16/2025 4:53:02 PM PDT by JimRed (TERM LIMITS, NOW! Finish the damned WALL! TRUTH is the new HATE fSPEECH! )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: alexander_busek

I read it the opposite. Only the head is left and the body is gone.


34 posted on 05/18/2025 8:12:06 AM PDT by subterfuge (I'm a pure-blood!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-34 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson