Reward offered for information after 2 dolphins died in Texas and Florida following interactions with humans

By Aya Elamroussi, CNN

Officials are offering rewards for information on people who may have harmed two dolphins that later died in Texas and Florida.

NOAA Fisheries, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, announced up to $20,000 for information on anybody who harassed a sick dolphin last month on Quintana Beach in Texas.

The bottlenose dolphin was stranded alive on the beach on April 10 and was pushed back into the water as beachgoers tried to swim with and ride the animal, the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network said in a Facebook post.

“She ultimately stranded and was further harassed by a crowd of people on the beach where she later died before rescuers could arrive on scene,” the network said.

Officials have obtained footage of the harassment in Texas that may help in identifying the people involved, NOAA said.

The Marine Mammal Protection Act prohibits the harassing, harming, killing or feeding of wild dolphins.

Harassing, harming, killing or feeding wild dolphins is punishable by up to $100,000 in fines and up to 1 year in jail per violation, the agency said.

Meanwhile, an adult dolphin died in March after she impaled in the head with a spear-like object on Fort Myers Beach, NOAA officials said, citing the dolphin’s autopsy. The agency is also offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information about that incident.

The animal was apparently in a begging position for feeding when it was attacked while still alive. She appeared to have died from the trauma, NOAA said in a statement.

“Begging is not a natural behavior for dolphins and is frequently associated with illegal feeding. People can help prevent future harm to wild dolphins by not feeding or attempting to feed them,” it said.

The agency — whose mission is stewardship of ocean resources and habitats — advised people to avoid interacting with stranded marine animals because they may be sick or injured.

Pushing animals back into the water delays the animal getting the help it needs and may result in re-stranding in worse condition, it said.

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CNN’s Michelle Watson and Rebekah Riess contributed to this report.