Third Dolphin Dies at Dolphinaris
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Bodie
In just over two years, one third of the dolphins held captive at Dolphinaris are dead. Khloe, a ten year old bottlenose dolphin, is the third dolphin to die at Dolphinaris since it opened near Scottsdale, Arizona in October of 2016. She reportedly died on December 30, 2018. Bodie, a seven year old dolphin, died in September 2017, followed by the death of ten year old dolphin Alia in May of 2018.
Before the captive facility opened, ADLA and other groups repeatedly warned about the danger of housing dolphins in Arizona’s desert environment, a source of fungal diseases that can be deadly to dolphins. Following Bodie’s death from fungal infection,
Alia
ADLA, Animal Welfare Institue, and other groups expressed concern to Dolphinaris and government agencies regarding the health and welfare of the remaining dolphins.
Bodie’s death was tragic and preventable. Dolphinaris released a statement that Alia died from septicemia from an acute bacterial infection. However, despite requests from animal welfare groups including ADLA, Dolphinaris has refused to release any necropsy reports. Dolphinaris needs to provide the public with accurate, comprehensive information regarding the illness and deaths of Bodie, Alia, and Khloe, as well as accurate information on the current health status of its remaining captive dolphins.
Khloe
ADLA will continue to seek information on these senseless deaths and will be asking Dolphinaris to finally do the right thing by releasing its remaining dolphins to a seaside sanctuary before another death occurs.
Thanks to Arizona Republic columnist Ed Montini for his excellent piece on the death of Khloe. This is his third article on dolphins that have died at Dolphinaris. Based on this facility’s poor record we are very concerned that it won’t be the last.