The Miami Seaquarium is in mourning following the death of Sundance, a long-time resident dolphin, announced yesterday. "We are deeply saddened by the passing of Sundance today after precursors of illness yesterday. Our hearts are with the trainers and medical staff who unconditionally cared for him for more than 30 years," according to Miami Seaquarium's post on X.
We are deeply saddened by the passing of Sundance today after precursors of illness yesterday. Our hearts are with the trainers and medical staff who unconditionally cared for him for more than 30 years. pic.twitter.com/O8nYMxLNdP
— Miami Seaquarium (@MiamiSeaquarium) December 28, 2023
No further details regarding the circumstances of Sundance's death have been made available. The dolphin's demise follows an unsettling incident in 2022 when cellphone footage captured a situation where Sundance appeared to be dragging a trainer under water during the Seaquarium's Flipper Dolphin Show. Seaquarium officials later clarified that the incident was the result of an accidental collision, leading Sundance to break away from routine, the details of which were reported by NBC Miami.
In a broader context, the Seaquarium has faced significant scrutiny for its handling of marine life. In November, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a stark assessment, outlining a series of violations relating to animal care at the facility. This report prompted Miami-Dade County to issue a strict ultimatum, giving the Seaquarium a mere 45 days to address these issues, as detailed by Local 10 News.
The USDA report expressed concerns over staffing at the Seaquarium, with the resignation of the only veterinary technician leaving just two veterinarians responsible for the care of a large number of marine animals. This situation arose shortly before the loss of the Seaquarium's killer whale, Lolita, who died after a sudden illness, as noted by the USDA officials. These developments, including additional violations related to late payments and infrastructure issues led Miami-Dade County officials to issue a second Notice of Default to the embattled Seaquarium, as revealed by Local 10 News.
Thus far, the Miami Seaquarium has not responded to media requests for additional commentary on the matter. Sundance's death comes as a somber reminder of the ongoing challenges and discussions regarding captive marine animal welfare and the responsibilities of such establishments to the creatures under their care.
