US law enforcement and wildlife officials are investigating Gulf World Marine Park in Panama City Beach, Florida, amid serious concerns regarding animal welfare. Reports indicate that four bottlenose dolphins have died in the past year, with three fatalities occurring in October alone. Activists claim that drone footage shows the dolphins swimming in murky, unsanitary conditions, raising alarms about their treatment.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier expressed zero tolerance for animal abuse and authorized a search warrant based on these troubling allegations. The Dolphin Company, which operates the park, allegedly obstructed efforts by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) rangers who attempted to inspect the animals.
In addition to the deaths of the dolphins, one reportedly passed away after sustaining an injury during a performance. The park houses various marine species, including sea lions and penguins.
UrgentSeas, an animal rights organization, has condemned the park's conditions and is actively documenting the situation, calling for immediate action to rescue the affected animals. Their concern is that as conditions worsen, the well-being of these dolphins remains at grave risk.
