The discovery of a mutilated dolphin on a beachfront in New Jersey has prompted an investigation by federal officials. The remains of the marine mammal were located on Wednesday in Allenhurst, located just north of Asbury Park, by the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, an organization that addresses incidents involving stranded or distressed marine life in the area.

According to the center, the dolphin—a species known as the common dolphin—exhibited signs of having been deliberately butchered. In an official statement, the center noted, “The animal’s flesh had been completely removed with clean cuts from a sharp instrument, leaving only the head, dorsal fin, and flukes.” Furthermore, it was indicated that most of the dolphin’s internal organs were extracted, with the heart and lungs being the only organs left intact.

On Tuesday night, witnesses had observed a dolphin of the same species struggling in the waves just a block away from the location where the remains were discovered. Fortunately, that dolphin managed to swim over a sandbar and escape back into the ocean, although it remains unclear if this particular dolphin is the same as the one found deceased the following day.

The common dolphin is not currently classified as threatened or endangered, which raises further questions about the incident. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Law Enforcement has taken on the investigation into this disturbing case.