Marineland Antibes, France has announced the death of Lotty, one of the female dolphins held at the facility who recently suffered from an infection. Marineland report Lotty to be around 40 years old however Marine Connection records show her as being approximately 1-year-old when captured from the wild in Florida waters on 19 March 1983 – making her just under 37 years of age.
Lotty was one of the final three dolphins to be held in captivity in the UK prior to the closure of the last UK dolphinarium at Flamingoland, Yorkshire in 1993. Lotty, along with two other dolphins Betty and Sharky (all captured from the same location in 1983), were then transferred to Kolmarden Zoo, Sweden. The three were separated when Betty was moved on to Gardaland, Italy in 1997 and then to Acquario di Genova, Italy in July 2013 meanwhile, Lotty and Sharky were transferred to Marineland, Antibes on 3 April 2005.
Marineland is to conduct a necropsy in the next few days to help determine the cause of Lotty’s death. Marine Connection director Margaux Dodds comments, “Having been involved in campaigns to close the UK dolphinaria, these last remaining dolphins at Flamingoland hold a special place in my memory and whilst we mourn the loss of such a beautiful animal, she is at last free from being a commodity of the public display industry, whilst sadly the show goes on for Sharky, Betty and many others.”
