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Last week, what looked like the butchered remains of a dolphin were found on a New Jersey beach. The disturbing find has led to an investigation by federal authorities.
The Marine Mammal Stranding Center received a call on Wednesday, October 30, that the partial remains of a dolphin had been discovered on the beach at Allen Ave. in Allenhurst, New Jersey. Upon closer inspection, the dolphin appeared to have been butchered. “The animal’s flesh had been completely removed with clean cuts from a sharp instrument, leaving only the head, dorsal fin and flukes,” wrote the organization on Instagram. “The animal’s organs, except for the heart and lungs, had been removed.”
The day before, witnesses had seen a common dolphin struggling in the surf nearby. However, those same witnesses also reported that the dolphin was eventually able to successfully swim back out, making it unclear if it was the same animal.
The butchered dolphin remains were taken to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center to be documented and photographed. Afterwards, the carcass was buried on the beach.
The case is currently under investigation by the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement.
