MIAMI – New details were released Thursday after Miami Seaquarium announced the death of one of its beloved dolphins, Sundance.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Sundance today after precursors of illness yesterday,” the aquarium said in a post on X Wednesday night. “Our hearts are with the trainers and medical staff who unconditionally cared for him for more than 30 years.”
Sources tell Local 10 News that Sundance was one of two dolphins forced to perform all their Christmas shows after one of the other dolphins’ performers had to be moved to another habitat.
Sundance had reportedly stopped eating and sources say he died in the arms of his trainer just two days later.
Sundance was a descendant of one of the dolphins who played “Flipper” -- and was one of the oldest dolphins at the park.
We are deeply saddened by the passing of Sundance today after precursors of illness yesterday. Our hearts are with the trainers and medical staff who unconditionally cared for him for more than 30 years. pic.twitter.com/O8nYMxLNdP
— Miami Seaquarium (@MiamiSeaquarium) December 28, 2023
Miami Seaquarium did not release any further information on Sundance’s death.
In April of 2022, during a performance of the Flipper Dolphin Show, cellphone video captured a trainer struggling to stay afloat as Sundance dragged her underwater and then pushed her forward.
The Seaquarium later said that the trainer had accidentally scratched Sundance with her hand which caused her to break routine.
Back in November, the USDA wrote in a report that the Miami Seaquarium is ill-equipped to care for its animals, detailing a number of violations that prompted Miami-Dade County to give the Seaquarium 45 days to get things in order.
In that report, USDA inspectors in November found that the Miami Seaquarium “still lacks a sufficient number of adequately trained employees.”
The USDA-focused inspection that was conducted on Nov. 2 states that “the resignation of the only veterinary technician has left two veterinarians responsible for the care of 46 marine mammals, hundreds of birds, fish, sharks, and rays housed at the facility.”
Local 10 News reported last week that Miami-Dade County officials issued a second Notice of Default to the Seaquarium due to late payments and infrastructure violations.
According to that report, the Seaquarium owes the county more than $87,000 in past-due rent.
The Seaquarium was given 45 days to remedy all of it, but the county does retain the right to terminate the lease.
USDA officials said the inspection was conducted about a month before the beloved killer whale Lolita died at the Seaquarium after a sudden illness.
Dr. Jenna Wallace, a former veterinarian at Miami Seaquarium who once treated Sundance, is now calling on USDA to do more for the animals’ wellbeing.
“The USDA has federal oversight over these animals,” said Wallace. “They should confiscate these animals immediately and the county and city of Miami should be working with USDA to make that happen before the park loses more and more animals.”
Miami Seaquarium has not responded to Local 10 News’ request for comment.
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