Unusual Discovery at Detroit Airport: CBP Finds Dolphin Skull in Unaccompanied Luggage

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport made an unusual discovery on Friday when a routine X-ray screening revealed a skull-shaped object in a piece of unaccompanied luggage. Upon further examination, it was determined that the object was the skull of a young dolphin.

According to CBP, the bag had been “inadvertently separated” from its owners while traveling internationally. The skull was found during a routine screening of the bag, and CBP and US Fish and Wildlife Service officials confirmed that it was from a young dolphin.

“The possession of wildlife items, especially those of protected animals is prohibited,” said Area Port Director Robert Larkin in a news release. “CBP will continue to work closely with our federal partners to protect our nation’s natural resources and ensure compliance with the laws and regulations that govern the importation of wildlife.”

The US Fish and Wildlife Service is responsible for enforcing the laws and regulations that protect endangered and threatened species, as well as the plants and animals that are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

The discovery of the dolphin skull serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting endangered species and the laws that are in place to do so. CBP and US Fish and Wildlife Service officials are working together to ensure that the laws and regulations governing the importation of wildlife are followed.