Bay County, Fla. (WMBB) – On March 1st, staff rushed guests attending a Gulf World show from the arena after a dolphin reportedly crashed into the shallow edge of a pool while jumping.
“The clarity of the water was so bad, you couldn’t say much. We weren’t sure something was wrong until we saw the trainers go crazy… They actually ran through us and they were kind of rude about it… Just like everyone is in the state they are now.
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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) marine mammal datasheet confirmed that the Shaw dolphin is a 14-year-old jet. It also confirmed that his cause of death was an acute head injury.
Jet is the latest. Within the last six months, three other dolphins have died within a week in the Bay World.
According to NOAA documents, 14-year-old Gus was euthanized on October 4th due to an unspecified, life-threatening condition. On October 7th, a 15-year-old Turkish died of bacterial lung disease. Four days later, 20-year-old Nate passed away. No cause of death was given.
The Gulf World opened on its anniversary in 1970. At the time it was owned locally. However, in 2015 the park was purchased by the Dolphin Discovery Group, also known as the Dolphin Company.
Moore is a resident of Panama City Beach and has been to the Gulf Coast for the rest of his life. He says the park has changed in recent years.
“They had more animals. I remember the facility was clean, but you enjoyed going to it… it didn’t feel cheap, it felt like a family business that actually cared about the business.
The January USDA inspection report explains the major issues in detail. They found that some penguins were housed in indoor storage spaces where they “paint carpets, old sound equipment with cords hanging down on cabinets, dust, dust and debris throughout the room.”
There were no working water filters in the East Dolphin Pool. The West Pool filters worked at just 50%. The report also points out that the pool is rich in algae.
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The Dolphin Discovery website claims to be the number one dolphin company in 31 worlds. There are four in Florida. Gulf World in Panama City Beach, Marineland in St. Augustine, dolphin connections on the duck key, Miami Sicorium.
Earlier this month, Miami-Dade County officials provided the company with an eviction notice from Miami Shearium after Orca, Lolita, died.
State officials are taking caution.
Sen. Jay Trumbull says he contacted the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Committee. The FWC has no jurisdiction, but is working closely with USDA and NOAA in the Miami Seaquarium case.
“It’s not right to allow this particular issue, not just these owners, but these types of behavior to continue to occur. You are putting these animals at risk. You are putting your trainers at risk.
In fact, locals organized a protest later this month.
“What really motivated this protest was Jet’s death. During the show, when Jet hit cement and died of trauma in his head, I realized something was really lying down… The ultimate goal is to close the Gulf World and move the animals to facilities to work.
Gulf Coast world officials declined to comment and introduced WMBB to businesses. The corporate office of the dolphin company has not responded.
The protest is scheduled for March 29th at 10am before the Gulf World.
Organizers also say they will address the issue at the Panama City Beach City Council meeting on April 10th.
The FWC issued the following statement:
“On March 22nd, our POW Wildlife Investigators conducted a site inspection of the facility in response to reports on the hygiene and condition of the aquatic enclosure at Gulf World Marine Park in Panama City Beach, as well as reports on the health and welfare of prisoner Bottlenorth dolphins.
During the inspection, the FWC was denied entry by park officials to conduct wellness checks, look at dolphin enclosures by Gulf World staff and see dolphin enclosures because the enclosures are under federal jurisdiction.
The FWC has found species and enclosures based on state authorities (now excludes dolphin areas) that have been found in basic compliance, but remains committed to solving this issue. To that end, we will be involved in continuing this investigation and provide the resources necessary to promote this issue.
Additionally, the FWC refers the facility to all state-level licensing bodies that may license other components of the facility.
Florida wildlife health and welfare is our mission, including the state’s saltwater marine mammals. ”
