Baby dolphin is found shot to death on the beach with bullets in its brain, spinal cord and heart

Authorities are hunting for the heartless thugs who shot a baby bottlenose dolphin to death, after it was found with bullets in its brain, spine and heart on a beach in Louisiana. 

The juvenile animal was found washed ashore on West Mae's Beach in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, on March 13 with severe injuries, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).  

The NOAA said in a statement: 'A member of the public reported the stranding to the Southeast Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline. 

'NOAA's stranding network partner, Audubon Aquarium Rescue, recovered the animal and transported it to the Audubon Nature Institute in New Orleans for a necropsy.'

The necropsy revealed 'multiple bullets lodged in the carcass, including in the brain, spinal cord, and heart of the dolphin', and that the animal died from the wounds, which took place at or near the time of death. 

The juvenile animal was found washed ashore on West Mae's Beach in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, on March 13

The NOAA's enforcement arm is now investigating the death, and is offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information about the perpetrators. 

'Harassing, harming, killing, or feeding wild dolphins is prohibited under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. 

'Violations can be prosecuted civilly or criminally and are punishable by up to $100,000 in fines and up to 1 year in jail per violation.' 

There are an estimated 31 distinct populations of bottlenose dolphins in the northern Gulf of Mexico, nearby where the dead baby dolphin was found. 

The Marine Mammal Commission said that bottlenose dolphins in the area are still reeling from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which led to dolphin populations in the area declining by 45%. 

Across the world, there are an estimated 600,000 bottlenose dolphins, each of which can live for up to 60 years in the wild and are generally between 6.6 and 13.1ft long when fully grown adults.

Their diet primarily consists of eels, squid, shrimp and a wide range of fish.