Dolphin death protested
Scottsdale facility being investigated
Hundreds of activists gathered Saturday to protest Dolphinaris in the wake of its fourth dolphin death, as the facility that loaned its dolphins to the Arizona venue terminated its agreement.
Hundreds of activists gathered Saturday to protest Dolphinaris in the wake of its fourth dolphin death, as the facility that loaned its dolphins to the Arizona venue terminated its agreement.
Leslie Acevedo, from Las Vegas, said when she saw online that four dolphins had died she had to come down to support the protest.
“Dolphins are sentient beings. They shouldn’t be interacting with people, they should be swimming for hundreds of miles free in the ocean. This is just wrong,” Acevedo said.
The facility opened in 2016 with eight dolphins, half of which have died in that time. Four dolphins remain at Dolphinaris, according to spokeswoman Jen Smith.
For two hours, protesters lined the intersection at East Via de Ventura and North Pima Road in Scottsdale, calling for the remaining dolphins to be released and for Dolphinaris to be investigated and shut down.
Kai, a 22-year-old dolphin, died Thursday morning after his condition began deteriorating and he had difficulty swimming, eating and breathing. The dolphin showed signs of declining health two weeks ago and was treated, according to Christian Schaeffer, general manager for Dolphinaris.
“We made the extremely difficult decision to humanely euthanize Kai ensuring he would pass peacefully,” Schaeffer said in a statement.
Federal officials confirmed Friday they are investigating Kai’s death.
Saturday was 10-year-old Katherine Seay’s first protest, and she said it will definitely not be her last.
“I’m trying to shut down Dolphinaris and give animals more rights than they have now. They’re not just things to be toyed with,” Seay said. “Don’t put dolphins in the desert! It’s just not right.”
Hawaiian facility ends dolphin-loan agreement with Dolphinaris
Kai was on loan from Hawaii-based Dolphin Quest to participate in education and experiential learning programs
for the public.
Dolphin Quest has terminated its animal-loan agreement with Dolphinaris Arizona and is evaluating the next steps for its remaining two dolphins at the facility.
“The Dolphin Quest team is heartbroken over the loss of our beloved Kai,” it said in a statement.
Dolphin Quest said it is looking at all options, including the removal of its two remaining dolphins, Liko and Noelani,
from the facility. The facility opened in 2016 with eight dolphins, half of which have died in that time.
“The safety and health of our animals is our top priority,” said Dr. Rae Stone, co-founder of Dolphin Quest. “In spite of their best efforts, the animal-health concerns have not been resolved at Dolphinaris.”
Dolphin Quest said they have a senior marine-mammal specialist on site at Dolphinaris who is closely monitoring the dolphins. Liko and Noelani are alert and in good condition at this time, according to the statement.
Dolphin Quest said it has contacted the USDA and is working with them on next steps.
Three other dolphins have died at Dolphinaris
The three other dolphin deaths, all of which have caused controversy, include:
❚ Khloe, an 11-year-old bottlenose dolphin, who died due to a chronic illness Dec. 30, 2018, according to Dolphinaris AZ.
❚ Bodie, a 7-year-old bottlenose dolphin, who died of a fungal infection Sept. 23, 2017. Dolphinaris originally reported the cause of his death as a rare muscle disease, but the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released a report to local activist Laurice Dee, who has opposed the facility, that said Bodie died of a fungal infection. That prompted activists to speculate if desert conditions are appropriate for dolphins. Dolphinaris Arizona spokeswoman Jen Smith told The Arizona Republic in June 2018 that the “muscle disease was secondary to a fungal infection.”
❚ Alia, a 10-year-old bottlenose dolphin, who died May 22, 2018, of an acute bacterial infection that officials said “spread quickly throughout her body.”
Protesters argue dolphins don’t belong in the desert
Karen Michael, a board member of Animal Defense League of Arizona, said that the group warned Dolphinaris when they first broke ground that there were soil-born fungi that could be very detrimental to the dolphins’ health.
“Dolphinaris has put profit over ethics in keeping these dolphins in the desert. Their priorities are clearly not the animals,” Michael said.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman released a statement regarding Kai’s death:
“Dolphinaris Arizona’s deadly dolphin prison is out of touch with public sentiment — and there’s no excuse for keeping it open,” the statement reads. “PETA urges Dolphinaris to send surviving dolphins to seaside sanctuaries, where they would never again be forced to haul tourists on their backs in the sweltering Arizona desert.”