Federal officials say people are increasingly injuring or killing dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico, with two dolphin mutilations recorded on the Texas coast this year.
The Houston Chronicle reports that 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, one of those cases saw a dolphin shot and its head cut off.
Another 31 were injured or killed by boats and fishing gear.
Erin Fougeres is stranding program coordinator for the federal agency's southeast region. She said told the newspaper that evidence that human harm to dolphins is increasing is anecdotal.
But Fougeres also believes there are more cases because of increased dolphin interaction with people.
