Duchess, one of many authentic bottlenose dolphins on the Mirage, has died. She is the fourth dolphin to die on the Mirage since final yr.
An Atlantic bottlenose dolphin on the Mirage, pictured above. One of many authentic dolphins on the attraction has died. (Picture: Getty Photos/Ethan Miller)
Duchess was first positioned within the Las Vegas Strip on line casino’s Secret Backyard and Dolphin Habitat in 1990. Onerous Rock Worldwide on Wednesday confirmed the dolphin’s passing. Particulars on her medical situation weren’t introduced.
In accordance with an announcement from Mirage President Joe Lupo, Duchess was one of many 5 authentic dolphins that opened the Habitat in 1990.
I lengthen my heartfelt appreciation to the Mirage animal care crew and the veterinary specialists who labored tirelessly to make sure Duchess was liked, acquired the highest-quality care, and was as comfy as attainable,” Lupo was quoted by KVVU, an area TV station.
Lupo recalled how Duchess “introduced an unmeasurable quantity of pleasure and happiness to the numerous guests and The Mirage household whereas on the Dolphin Habitat.”
Secret Backyard Completely Closed
In November, it was introduced that Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Backyard and Dolphin Habitat was completely closing. The closure got here as possession of the property went from MGM Resorts Worldwide to the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The tribe owns the Onerous Rock Worldwide model. The gaming property is present process in depth renovations between now and 2025.
The property introduced final yr the attraction’s dolphins, white tigers, white lions, and leopards have been to be cared for by “well-trained, extremely revered animal care professionals and veterinary specialists.”
The Secret Backyard quickly closed after the September demise of one of many different dolphins, K2, who was 11 years previous. The reason for demise was suspected respiratory sickness.
Two different dolphins on the attraction died earlier final yr. One had a respiratory sickness, and the opposite had a gastrointestinal dysfunction.
Because it first opened in 1990, 14 dolphins have died from varied causes and at completely different ages on the well-liked Mirage attraction. Animal rights activists declare the variety of dolphins that died on the Mirage was really greater.
Animal Rights Activists’ Issues
Information about September’s closure was applauded by the animal rights group Folks for the Moral Therapy of Animals (PETA).
“Massive cats belong within the jungle, not behind bars in a on line casino sideshow, and a desert is not any place for a dolphin,” Brittany Peet, normal counsel for captive animal regulation enforcement for the PETA basis, stated in an announcement.
PETA is encouraging Onerous Rock to usher in its new animal-free period by discovering respected new properties for the large cats and dealing to get the dolphins to a seaside sanctuary the place they might have extra pure lives in spacious habitats, removed from the lights and noise of the Strip,” final yr’s assertion stated.
A bottlenose dolphin sometimes lives about 28 or 29 years, the Las Vegas Evaluation-Journal reported, citing information from the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums. Different information counsel they could have life expectations of between 40 and 60 years.
