Dolphin Quest terminates contract with Dolphinaris after dolphin death

BY KTAR.COM | FEBRUARY 2, 2019 AT 1:16 PM
UPDATED: FEBRUARY 2, 2019 AT 1:23 PM

PHOENIX — After a dolphin died in the care of Dolphinaris Arizona on Thursday, the company who loaned out the animal has terminated its contract with the Scottsdale attraction.

Dolphin Quest formally terminated its animal loan agreement with Dolphinaris on Friday after the death of Kai, a 22-year-old male bottlenose dolphin, the company said in a press release.

The company announced it was also evaluating the next steps for the remaining two Dolphin Quest animals on site.

“The safety and health of our animals is our top priority”, Dr. Rae Stone, co-founder of Dolphin Quest said in a press release. “In spite of their best efforts, the animal health concerns have not been resolved at Dolphinaris.

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It’s the fourth dolphin death at Dolphinaris in less than two years.

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Company ends contract after dolphin dies at Arizona facility

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Feb 2, 2019, 5:02 PM ET

The fourth dolphin death in two years at a Phoenix-area aquatic facility has prompted a company to terminate its contract to loan animals to the facility.

Dolphin Quest also said Saturday its team was heartbroken by Thursday's death of Kai, a 22-year-old dolphin on loan to Dolphinaris Arizona, but that two other Dolphin Quest dolphins there are well.

Dolphinaris officials didn't immediately respond Saturday to requests for comment but said Friday that it hired an external pathologist to determine the cause of death and that it occurred after his condition began deteriorating and he had difficulty swimming, eating and breathing.

Dolphinaris has additional sites in Mexico. Dolphin Quest operates its own locations in Hawaii and Bermuda.

Over 100 protesters on Saturday demonstrated outside Dolphinaris Arizona, calling for its closure.