A rough-toothed dolphin that was found stranded on the shore of Xucuo Harbor in Taoyuan died during rescue efforts. An autopsy revealed a shocking discovery: the dolphin had been shot twice—once in the cervical vertebra and once in the right lower jaw on the head—at different times, causing its stranding and eventual death.
Professor Chen Yixiong from the Institute of Marine Biology at National Taiwan Ocean University explained, "Being shot twice doesn't kill immediately, but it's like having half a life. Even if the dolphin doesn't die right away, it cannot catch fish, which is essentially a slow death." The injuries severely impaired the dolphin's ability to feed, leading to malnutrition and weakness.
Zeng Zhengcong, Secretary-General of the Taiwan Cetacean Society, noted that when the rough-toothed dolphin was found stranded, it appeared unusually thin and malnourished, indicating it had been suffering for some time. It is believed that the first gunshot already affected its ability to forage, and the second shot further weakened it, causing death on the day it was stranded.
Professor Chen added that the exact location where the dolphin was shot remains unknown because dolphins can travel long distances. The bullets could potentially help identify the shooter. He emphasized that being shot twice is life-threatening; if there is heavy bleeding, the danger is even greater. Even without massive bleeding, gunshot wounds can seriously disrupt feeding functions, causing the dolphin to become increasingly emaciated and unable to survive.
The motive behind shooting the dolphin is still under investigation. Professor Chen mentioned that while he has heard of fishermen using spearguns, this is the first time he has heard of shooting steel pellets at dolphins, which he finds unbelievable. He stressed the need for awareness and protection of conservation species at sea. Due to strict port controls on firearms, he suspects the shootings likely occurred offshore.
