GALVESTON (December 2, 2012)--People are increasingly injuring or killing dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico and two dolphin mutilations were recorded on the Texas coast this year, federal officials said.
At least 11 dolphins were discovered mutilated on the state's Gulf Coast over the last eight years.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in one of those cases a dolphin was shot and its head was cut off.
Another 31 were injured or killed by boats and fishing gear.
Erin Fougeres, stranding program coordinator for the federal agency's southeast region, said that evidence that human harm to dolphins is increasing is anecdotal, but she also believes there are more cases because of increased dolphin interaction with people.
