Deedee
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2005
- Messages
- 1,561
I have just read this sad story from discovery cove
ORLANDO, Fla. -- A tragic ending to a Sea World 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.
Sea World officials say nothing like this has ever happened before and they're doing whatever it takes to make sure it doesn't happen again.
Sea World's Discovery Cove offers a more intimate setting for people to interact with animals. So Sea World 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 Sea World 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.
Sea World 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 Sea World, Sharky's remains will be used for science and research and will be disposed of properly as required by federal guidelines.
ORLANDO, Fla. -- A tragic ending to a Sea World 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.
Sea World officials say nothing like this has ever happened before and they're doing whatever it takes to make sure it doesn't happen again.
Sea World's Discovery Cove offers a more intimate setting for people to interact with animals. So Sea World 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 Sea World 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.
Sea World 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 Sea World, Sharky's remains will be used for science and research and will be disposed of properly as required by federal guidelines.
