Dolphinaris Arizona Death Rate 4 Times The National Average
An Arizona Republic investigation found that Dolphinaris Arizona was one of the deadliest dolphin exhibition facilities in the United States.
Data shows the death rate there was more than four times the national average. The death rate statistics were obtained from an inventory provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The data was based on how many deaths occurred over the course of the combined stays of the eight dolphins that were kept in captivity. Those that were housed at Dolphinaris spent a combined 17 years there. Four of the eight dolphins died during the time the facility was in operation, meaning there was one dolphin death per four years of captivity.
The national rate is one death per 18 years of captivity. The surviving dolphins from the facility were flown to a sanctuary near the Virgin Islands in February.
Two of the dolphins at the facility died after contracting an infection. The deaths of the other two have still not been determined.
