A bankrupt world operator of marine parks and aquariums is seeking court approval to sell hundreds of its animals after a string of dolphin deaths at one in all its Florida areas pressured a facility closure and sparked a number of investigations.
The Dolphin Firm, which operates greater than 30 parks in eight international locations, cited “restricted liquidity” and “exceedingly excessive” animal care prices for its dolphins, sea lions, manatees and different marine mammals, in response to a submitting submitted Wednesday to the US Chapter Courtroom in Delaware.
The corporate additionally needs to promote a few of its actual property as a part of a broader restructuring effort under Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings initiated in March.
The deaths occurred at Gulf World Marine Park in Panama Metropolis Seaside, Fla., the place 5 bottlenose dolphins died between October of final 12 months and Could.
The fifth fatality prompted the park's closure and intensified scrutiny of the corporate's animal care practices.
The deceased dolphins included Jett, who died in March from blunt power trauma to the pinnacle after crashing into the shallow finish of a pool throughout a public present.
Employees response was reportedly delayed attributable to murky, algae-filled water.
Samira, an eight-year-old dolphin, was discovered useless final month after weeks of misery and refusing meals. Preliminary findings indicated she had ingested overseas materials and suffered a pulmonary hemorrhage.
Three different dolphins — Gus, Turk and Nate — died final October, with reported causes together with euthanasia for a life-threatening situation, bacterial lung illness and systemic an infection.
Following the fatalities, inspections by the USDA and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee discovered troubling circumstances on the park, together with tanks with as much as six inches of algae, damaged water filtration methods, poor water high quality, continual understaffing and delayed emergency responses attributable to poor visibility within the water.
Florida state prosecutors and federal companies have since launched legal investigations.
Jay Trumbull, a state senator, called the situation “disturbing and unacceptable” and urged the removing of all remaining dolphins.
In its submitting, The Dolphin Firm acknowledged that “not solely will the sale and switch of those animals deliver worth to the debtors' estates, it should additionally support within the animals' welfare and security.”
The corporate disclosed in chapter paperwork that it housed roughly 2,400 animals as of 2023.
These included 295 dolphins, 51 sea lions, 18 manatees and 18 seals.
Courtroom information present that many of those animals serve not solely as stay sights but additionally as collateral for over $100 million in excellent debt.
The business worth of bottlenose dolphins varies relying on coaching, age and look. Dolphins captured in Taiji, Japan, in the course of the 2025 season have reportedly sold for between $30,000 and $128,000 each.
Skilled dolphins ready for public performances can command prices as much as $150,000.
California sea lions, additionally a part of the corporate's holdings, typically sell for between $20,000 and $40,000, whereas manatees, a species that's protected underneath US and worldwide legislation, are usually not commercially offered however can incur care costs exceeding $40,000 for several months and greater than $100,000 for extended rehabilitation.
After Gulf World's closure, 11 surviving dolphins have been cleared for relocation by the Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 4 rough-toothed dolphins — Doris, Kitana, Dagny and Wren — have been transferred to Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
The remaining seven dolphins were moved to Marineland in St. Augustine, Fla.
The Dolphin Firm's monetary collapse has additionally revealed inside turmoil. Former CEO Eduardo Albor, who oversaw the corporate's progress over a number of a long time, lost control of the business after it defaulted on approximately $100 million in debt.
In line with court docket filings, Albor refused to relinquish control of the company's parks in Mexico, the place it's headquartered, and denied new administration entry to monetary methods and accounts.
US Chapter Decide Laurie Silverstein lately ordered Albor to stop interfering with company operations and supply entry to all information.
She additionally imposed a $10,000-per-day high-quality for noncompliance. Advisers overseeing the restructuring have accused Albor of diverting income from Mexican parks utilizing bank card readers bought from Costco.
The Publish has sought remark from The Dolphin Firm and Albor.
