A dead dolphin was found washed ashore near the southern Bulgarian Coral Black Sea vacation village.

The disturbing sight of the Black Sea dolphin with multiple shot wounds was reported by tourists, the Bulgarian National Television. The dead dolphin has been apparently shot with an automatic rifle.

Bulgaria's Agriculture Minister Miroslav Naydenov has already ordered an investigation into the case. The Black Sea dolphin is an endangered species, he has pointed out, as cited by the BGNES news agency.

Currently, it is estimated that only a few thousand Black Sea dolphins are living.

Since the end of July, animal cruelty has been considered a crime in Bulgaria to be punished by jail time or probation. The amendments in the country's Penal Code criminalizing animal cruelty were passed in April, but the Parliament postponed by three months the approval of the texts on animal cruelty.

The amendments were triggered by several widely publicized cases of animal cruelty across the country.