'Fredi' the pilot whale dies at SeaWorld Orlando eight years after being rescued from a mass stranding in the Florida Keys

  • SeaWorld announced the death of its pilot whale named Fredi on Sunday
  • The company said Fredi died of a 'persistent infection' 
  • Fredi was one of 23 pilot whales mass stranded in the Florida Keys in 2011
  • Thirteen of the whales died but eight, including Fredi, were initially saved after the incident. Two of those eight were treated and sent back to the wild
  • Fredi was deemed unable to be released back into the wild due to her young age, so SeaWorld kept her at its park in Orlando 
  • SeaWorld said Fredi had suffered from chronic health issues since her rescue 

By Associated Press and Chauncey Alcorn For Dailymail.com

Published: | Updated:

A pilot whale that was rescued and rehomed at a SeaWorld park following a mass stranding in the Florida Keys eight years ago has died.

Officials at SeaWorld Orlando posted on its blog that female pilot whale NOAA 301, known as Fredi, died on Saturday following a long illness.

A spokeswoman told the Associated Press Sunday that Fredi had shown signs of appetite loss and was undergoing an aggressive anti-microbial treatment.

Fredi was part of a mass stranding of 23 pilot whales in 2011 near Cudjoe Key, Florida. Thirteen of those whales died.

SeaWorld announced the death of its pilot whale named Fredi on its blog site on Sunday

SeaWorld announced the death of its pilot whale named Fredi on its blog site on Sunday

Eight of the whales, including Fredi, were initially saved after the incident. Fredi was deemed unable to be released back into the wild due to her young age, so she was transferred to SeaWorld Orlando.

Two of the eight rescued pilot whales were treated and released back into the wild.

'Pilot whale NOAA 301 has had persistent health concerns since being rescued,' SeaWorld wrote on its blog site. 'Through a physical exam and diagnostic samples, veterinarians discovered that 301 had an infection. Despite recent round the clock care, her health and quality of life continued to decline sharply.'

SeaWorld rescue team members spent two months in the Keys helping with the 2011 rescue efforts along with other rescue organizations.

Fredi was one of 23 pilot whales mass stranded in the Florida Keys in 2011. Thirteen of the whales died. Eight of the whales, including Fredi, were initially saved after the incident

Fredi was one of 23 pilot whales mass stranded in the Florida Keys in 2011. Thirteen of the whales died. Eight of the whales, including Fredi, were initially saved after the incident

Two of the eight pilot whales rescued by SeaWorld in 2011 were sent back to the wild

Two of the eight pilot whales rescued by SeaWorld in 2011 were sent back to the wild

The Orlando Sentinel reports Fredi was the second whale death at SeaWorld's Orlando park this year. Kayla, a 30-year-old orca, died of unknown causes in January.

SeaWorld has faced increased scrutiny from animal rights activists in recent years due in part to the release of the damning 2013 documentary 'Blackfish,' which told the story of a captive orca that killed its trainer at the theme park while maintaining that keeping dolphins and whales in captivity was harmful to the intelligent animals.

SeaWorld's attendance rates have been rising since 2018, rebounding from years of declining ticket sales after 'Blackfish' was released, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

In 2018, SeaWorld paid $5 million in fines to settle an S.E.C. lawsuit alleging the company misled shareholders about the impact 'Blackfish' had on its bottom line, the New York Times reported.

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