Outrage after discovery of a dolphin shot dead on a beach in California

A non-profit animal rescue organization is offering a $ 5,000 reward for information to arrest a person who shot a dolphin in Southern California.

Marine Animal Rescue said in a Facebook message that the dolphin was found dead in Manhattan Beach. After a medical examination, a doctor determined that the animal had died from a gunshot wound.

"There is no excuse for such brutality against these beautiful animals," the organization wrote on Facebook.

Peter Wallerstein, founder and president of Marine Animal Rescue, told NBC News that he had asked the National Marine Fisheries Service to open an investigation, while acknowledging that it would be difficult to find the guilty.

"They will do their best," he says. "They have the ball and they have evidence of the shooting, we find very rarely these people but the reward is to put them on notice."

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Several people left comments on the group's Facebook page and expressed their indignation.

"I'll add $ 300 to the rewards basket," wrote a Facebook user. "Thank you for your efforts to save marine life, I hope that whoever did it will get caught."

"There is no word … I only hope that this sick person is caught and realizes the horrible thing that she did to such an innocent and intelligent mammal that has has been documented countless times to save humans, "wrote another.

Those with information on the shooting are invited to contact Marine Animal Rescue.

Eric Ting is a personal editor of SFGATE. Send him an e-mail at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter

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