Not sure if this was posted here yet.
Two articles, the first from WFTV9:
ORLANDO, Fla. -- A tragic ending to a SeaWorld stunt intended to captivate its spectators left one dolphin dead after two dolphins collided in a mid-air trick. Park officials are taking another look at their training practices.
SeaWorld officials say nothing like this has ever happened before and they're doing whatever it takes to make sure it doesn't happen again.
SeaWorld's Discovery Cove offers a more intimate setting for people to interact with animals. So SeaWorld says there were only a few people around when the tragedy happened. The accident happened during a show at Discovery Cove where visitors get an up-close and personal experience with the dolphins.
But during an aerial stunt Saturday afternoon, Sea World officials say a dolphin named Sharky collided with another dolphin and died.
"It's just a freak accident," said Sean Gilligan, a park visitor.
A SeaWorld spokeswoman said it's unusual for two dolphins to crash in mid-air. Visitors who didn't see the accident say after watching dolphin shows at the park, they're surprised it happened.
"Everything was controlled," said Keith Killebrew, another park visitor. "Very cool."
Sharky was a 30-year-old female dolphin. A web site that tracks captive dolphins says Sharky was captured in 1982 and is an atlantic bottle-nose dolphin.
SeaWorld said it is taking the incident seriously and is looking into training protocols to make sure it doesn't happen again.
The other dolphin in the collision is expected to be okay. After the investigation that will happen at SeaWorld, Sharky's remains will be used for science and research and will be disposed of properly as required by federal guidelines.
(CNN) -- A 30-year-old dolphin at Sea World has died after colliding with another dolphin while performing aerial tricks, the Orlando, Florida, amusement park said Monday.
The incident occurred about 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the Discovery Cove area of the park, according to a statement by Sea World spokeswoman Becca Bides.
The animals were in the center of the lagoon and not near guests, she said.
The dolphin who died was named Sharky. The other dolphin, Tyler, is being watched by veterinarians but appears to be fine, Bides said.
"This is an unfortunate, random incident," Bides said in a written statement.
"While it is not unusual to have two animals performing aerial behaviors at the same time, we are reviewing the situation to ensure even such a random incident does not occur again."
Two articles, the first from WFTV9:
ORLANDO, Fla. -- A tragic ending to a SeaWorld stunt intended to captivate its spectators left one dolphin dead after two dolphins collided in a mid-air trick. Park officials are taking another look at their training practices.
SeaWorld officials say nothing like this has ever happened before and they're doing whatever it takes to make sure it doesn't happen again.
SeaWorld's Discovery Cove offers a more intimate setting for people to interact with animals. So SeaWorld says there were only a few people around when the tragedy happened. The accident happened during a show at Discovery Cove where visitors get an up-close and personal experience with the dolphins.
But during an aerial stunt Saturday afternoon, Sea World officials say a dolphin named Sharky collided with another dolphin and died.
"It's just a freak accident," said Sean Gilligan, a park visitor.
A SeaWorld spokeswoman said it's unusual for two dolphins to crash in mid-air. Visitors who didn't see the accident say after watching dolphin shows at the park, they're surprised it happened.
"Everything was controlled," said Keith Killebrew, another park visitor. "Very cool."
Sharky was a 30-year-old female dolphin. A web site that tracks captive dolphins says Sharky was captured in 1982 and is an atlantic bottle-nose dolphin.
SeaWorld said it is taking the incident seriously and is looking into training protocols to make sure it doesn't happen again.
The other dolphin in the collision is expected to be okay. After the investigation that will happen at SeaWorld, Sharky's remains will be used for science and research and will be disposed of properly as required by federal guidelines.
(CNN) -- A 30-year-old dolphin at Sea World has died after colliding with another dolphin while performing aerial tricks, the Orlando, Florida, amusement park said Monday.
The incident occurred about 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the Discovery Cove area of the park, according to a statement by Sea World spokeswoman Becca Bides.
The animals were in the center of the lagoon and not near guests, she said.
The dolphin who died was named Sharky. The other dolphin, Tyler, is being watched by veterinarians but appears to be fine, Bides said.
"This is an unfortunate, random incident," Bides said in a written statement.
"While it is not unusual to have two animals performing aerial behaviors at the same time, we are reviewing the situation to ensure even such a random incident does not occur again."
