Federal authorities reported that the dolphin's flesh was 'completely removed with clean cuts,' raising alarms about possible illegal activities against marine life.
The Marine Mammal Stranding Center highlighted that the dolphin was not endangered but is protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, making its killing illegal.
New Jersey witnessed a significant uptick in dolphin strandings, with last year recording 54 stranded dolphins, more than 50 percent above the average.
NOAA is investigating the incident, which could lead to severe penalties; up to $100,000 in fines or one year in prison for the perpetrator.
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