Dolphin skull found in luggage at Detroit airport

U.S. Customs and Border Protection specialists at Detroit Metro Airport found the skull of a young dolphin in unaccompanied baggage.

The agency announced the “shady” find in a press release, noting that the luggage had been “inadvertently separated” from its owners while traveling internationally.

Routine X-ray screenings first detected the image of a “skull-shaped object”, the agency said. Further examination by Fish and Wildlife Service officials determined it was the skull of a young dolphin.

“Possession of wildlife items, especially those of protected animals, is prohibited,” Port Regional Manager Robert Larkin said in the statement. “We take wildlife smuggling seriously and work closely with our federal partners at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect wildlife and their habitats.”

The press release did not provide any information about who owned the luggage.

The dolphin skull was turned over to US Fish and Wildlife Service wildlife inspectors for further investigation, according to the news release.

Bringing illegal wildlife items into the United States can result in penalties, seizures of the item, and even arrests.