In La Rochelle, France, two dolphin corpses were found by members of the public, with chunks of skin missing and homophobic slurs carved into their tails. Marine conservation group Sea Shepherd France posted images of the mutilated dolphins on social media, claiming that it was done as an insult to their advocacy work. Words such as “Sea Shepherd” and “PD,” which is a derogatory term for gay men in France, were carved into the dead animals. The group is calling for an investigation to be launched because dolphins are a protected species.
The Sea Shepherd France organization has been calling for tighter regulations on fishing in France, reporting that approximately 6,000 dolphins are caught and killed every year on the west coast of the country alone. One of their demands is to suspend popular fishing sports for four months to see how many dolphins are accidentally being caught in fishing nets. They believe that unidentified fishermen pulled the stunt as a threat. “What a shame for the whole profession, which they discredit,” a spokesperson told The Telegraph.
This is not the first time dolphins have been found mutilated on the French coastline. Last month, Sea Shepherd France filed a complaint after six mutilated dolphins were found on beaches. “The sea never stops throwing up the corpses of dolphins, captured by fishing gear,” said Sea Shepherd France President, Layma Essemlali. “When [they] are mutilated, it’s because they have either been eaten or [are] victims of an attempt to sink them to hide the evidence of capture.” It’s estimated that since December, at least 370 dolphins have washed ashore, with 30 of them being reported as bycatch. The group is vowing to continue its efforts to save these dolphins and will not stop until concrete measures are taken.
The disturbing news of French fishermen carving homophobic slurs into dead dolphins has sparked outrage among animal rights activists and environmentalists. With Sea Shepherd France’s efforts to protect marine life and tighter regulations on fishing in France, it remains to be seen what actions will be taken to stop the mutilation of these protected species.
