Latest news with #Brucella
Straits Times
16-05-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
Decapitated dolphin in North Carolina prompts $25,000 reward offer from US
NORTH CAROLINA - Federal authorities want to know who decapitated a dolphin that had been stranded on an island off the coast of North Carolina in April, and they are offering a reward of up to US$20,000 (S$25,000) for information that could help them find out. The 8-foot-long bottlenose dolphin was found dead on Lea-Hutaff Island, North Carolina, on April 15, according to a statement from the Office of Law Enforcement of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The reward notice included a photo of the dolphin, which was missing its head, as it lay on the shore of the remote, undeveloped barrier island, which is north of Wilmington, North Carolina, and only accessible by boat, the agency said. Officials from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, which partners with NOAA to respond to dolphin strandings in the region, said that they determined that someone intentionally removed the dolphin's head after it had been stranded on the island. The agency noted that the dolphin was carrying Brucella, a bacteria that causes the infectious disease brucellosis, which can be transferred to humans through direct contact. Symptoms of the disease include headaches, fever, sweating and generally feeling badly or malaise, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Officials performed a necropsy, an animal autopsy, and the results and cause of death were pending. Dolphins are not listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act, but they are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which bans harassing, hunting, killing or feeding wild dolphins. Violations can lead to fines up to US$100,000 and up to one year in jail. Officials said that anyone with information about the Lea-Hutaff Island's dolphin should call the NOAA Enforcement Hotline at (800) 853-1964. People can leave tips anonymously, but to be eligible for the reward, they must include their name and contact information. The agency has previously offered rewards to the public for information about dolphins that appeared to have been killed. In 2024, it offered up to a US$20,000 reward in exchange for information to find the person who they believe fatally shot a juvenile dolphin at a beach in Louisiana. And in 2020, federal authorities offered a reward after two dead dolphins were found with gunshot or stab wounds in Florida. NYTIMES Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
New York Times
15-05-2025
- Health
- New York Times
Decapitated Dolphin in North Carolina Prompts $20,000 Reward Offer From U.S.
The federal authorities want to know who decapitated a dolphin that had been stranded on an island off the coast of North Carolina last month, and they are offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information that could help them find out. The 8-foot long bottlenose dolphin was found dead on Lea-Hutaff Island, N.C., on April 15, according to a statement from the Office of Law Enforcement of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The reward notice included a photo of the dolphin, which was missing its head, as it lay on the shore of the remote, undeveloped barrier island, which is north of Wilmington, N.C., and only accessible by boat, the agency said. Officials from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, which partners with NOAA to respond to dolphin strandings in the region, said that they determined that someone intentionally removed the dolphin's head after it had been stranded on the island. The agency noted that the dolphin was carrying Brucella, a bacteria that causes the infectious disease brucellosis, which can be transferred to humans through direct contact. Symptoms of the disease include headaches, fever, sweating and generally feeling badly or malaise, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Officials performed a necropsy, an animal autopsy, and the results and cause of death were pending. Dolphins are not listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act, but they are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which bans harassing, hunting, killing or feeding wild dolphins. Violations can lead to fines up to $100,000 and up to one year in jail. Officials said that anyone with information about the Lea-Hutaff Island's dolphin should call the NOAA Enforcement Hotline at (800) 853-1964. People can leave tips anonymously, but to be eligible for the reward, they must include their name and contact information. The agency has previously offered rewards to the public for information about dolphins that appeared to have been killed. Last year, it offered up to a $20,000 reward in exchange for information to find the person who they believe fatally shot a juvenile dolphin at a beach in Louisiana. And in 2020, the federal authorities offered a reward after two dead dolphins that were found with gunshot or stab wounds in Florida.
USA Today
15-05-2025
- USA Today
A dolphin was decapitated in North Carolina. NOAA is offering a reward for any information.
A dolphin was decapitated in North Carolina. NOAA is offering a reward for any information. Editor's note. The contents of this story may be disturbing to some readers. A bottlenose dolphin was found decapitated in North Carolina, and federal officials are offering up to $20,000 for information related to its death. A citizen reported the deceased dolphin on April 15, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service. The carcass was recovered from Lea-Hutaff Island, an uninhabited area about 20 miles north of Wilmington. NOAA said when responders located the marine mammal, "its head had been removed." Decapitation violates the Marine Mammal Protection Act, officials say According to the agency, officials believe the dolphin was dismembered between April 16 and 18. A necropsy was performed, and NOAA reported that they suspect the dolphin had Brucella. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the bacteria can cause brucellosis, a disease that can spread through contact with contaminated animals. "This animal was intentionally decapitated, a violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act," the agency said. "The remote location where the dolphin was found adds to the difficulty of investigating this incident and the cause of death. We are calling on your help to find those responsible." The NOAA Office of Law Enforcement is offering a $20,000 reward for information "leading to criminal conviction or the assessment of a civil penalty." Anyone with information is encouraged to call 800-853-1964. Wildlife: Viewers can see hundreds of rattlesnakes come out of den on new Pennsylvania webcam Man decapitates sea lion in California There was another similar case that recently made headlines. In March, NOAA announced a $20,000 reward for a man accused of decapitating a sea lion in Northern California. The agency said the animal was found dead last Christmas at Doran Regional Park in Bodega Bay, and the suspect was seen using "a black 8-inch knife to remove the sea lion's head, placing it in a clear plastic bag, and riding away" on an electric bike. Contributing: Gareth McGrath, Wilmington StarNews, Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
Dolphin's death under investigation after being found decapitated on remote island
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A dolphin's death is being investigated after it was found decapitated on a remote island in North Carolina. NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement said someone reported the stranding of a dead bottlenose dolphin on Lea Island, an undeveloped barrier island north of Wilmington, North Carolina, that's only accessible by boat. A team from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington went to the reported location and found the 8-foot dolphin had been intentionally mutilated and its head removed. The team believes someone intentionally removed the dolphin's head between April 16 and April 18 after they received the initial stranding report. Researchers at the university suspect that the dolphin is carrying Brucella, a bacteria that causes the infectious bacterial disease brucellosis, which can be transferred to humans through direct contact. WATCH: Video shows little frog terrifying Florida driver Necropsy results and the cause of death of the dolphin are pending. '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. We are calling on your help to find those responsible,' the NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement said. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the NOAA Enforcement Hotline at (800) 853-1964. You can leave tips anonymously, but to be eligible for a $20,000 reward, you must include your name and contact information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Miami Herald
14-05-2025
- Health
- Miami Herald
Headless dolphin on remote NC island prompts search for culprit, officials say
The grim discovery of a decapitated dolphin on a North Carolina island has ignited a federal investigation, with a $20,000 reward offered for help finding the culprit, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. A cause of death for the bottlenose dolphin hasn't been confirmed, but a necropsy revealed it was infected with brucellosis, an occasionally fatal disease that 'can be transferred to humans through direct contact,' NOAA Fisheries reports. 'This animal was intentionally decapitated, a violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act,' NOAA said in a May 12 news release. 'The remote location where the dolphin was found adds to the difficulty of investigating this incident and cause of death.' A passerby encountered the 'intact' carcass April 15 on Lea-Hutaff Island and reported it to the Southeast Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline, officials said. The undeveloped barrier island is north of Wilmington and reachable only by boat, NOAA says. '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,' NOAA says. 'They determined that someone intentionally removed its head between April 16 and April 18, after they received the initial stranding report.' Results of a necropsy are pending, but signs of a Brucella bacteria were revealed during an initial health assessment, officials said. Human infection can 'become chronic and lead to long-term disease associated with arthritis, endocarditis, chronic fatigue, depression, and swelling of the liver or spleen,' the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. Just under 2% of infections are fatal, experts say. Bottlenose dolphins are a protected species that can reach 1,400 pounds and live up to 60 years in U.S. waters, NOAA says. 'Harassing, harming, killing or feeding wild dolphins is prohibited under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, as is collecting protected species parts,' NOAA noted in the news release. 'Violations can be prosecuted civilly or criminally and are punishable by up to $100,000 in fines and up to one year in jail per violation.' The NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement is investigating the decapitation and the reward is offered 'for information leading to a criminal conviction or the assessment of a civil penalty.' Reach the NOAA Enforcement Hotline at (800) 853-1964.
