Arizona aquarium Dolphinaris is forced to close after its FOURTH dolphin died in just 16 months

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An aquarium in Arizona has closed down after four of its dolphins died in the space of just 16 months.

Officials with Dolphinaris Arizona said the voluntary closure will only be temporary and will start on Friday so experts can inspect their facilities.

Four out of eight dolphins housed at the facility have died within the last 16 months, with the latest, a 22-year-old bottlenose dolphin named Kai’nalu, being euthanized on January 31.

The four remaining dolphins will be relocated, with two going to other Dolphinaris locations and two returning to the company which provided them in the first place.  

'We hope to find a long term solution for the welfare of our dolphins,' Dolphinaris general manager Christian Schaeffer de Leon said. 

PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman told DailyMail.com that for Dolphinaris to 'temporarily close' is not enough following this fourth 'premature death' at its facility. 

After the death of a fourth dolphin (22-year-old Kai'Nalu, pictured) within 16 months, the Dolphinaris Arizona aquatic facility announced on Tuesday that it will temporarily close for reevaluation by an outside panel of experts

'Dolphinaris Arizona—a desert death trap for dolphins—should never have been built in the first place and must shut down permanently,' Reiman said.

'PETA urges the facility to do the only thing that's right for the surviving dolphins: Move them at breakneck speed to a seaside sanctuary, as the National Aquarium is doing, rather than flying them to yet another marine park for no life at all in a concrete tank.' 

More than 100 protesters demonstrated on Saturday outside the facility located on tribal land near Scottsdale. 

Also at the facility, an 11-year-old dolphin named Khloe died in December from a chronic illness due to a parasite called Sarcocystis that she had for six years.

In May 2018, a 10-year-old dolphin at Dolphinaris died from a bacterial infection, and in September 2017, a seven-year-old dolphin died at the facility from a muscle disease. 

The deaths have taken out half of the population at the open-air aquatic facility, which offers both viewing and hands-on, swimming with dolphins experiences. 

The deaths have taken out half of the population at the open-air aquatic facility (pictured) that offers both viewing and hands-on, swimming with dolphins experiences

Also at the facility, an 11-year-old dolphin named Khloe (pictured) died in December from a chronic illness due to a parasite called Sarcocystis that she had for six years. In May 2018, a 10-year-old dolphin at Dolphinaris died from a bacterial infection, and in September 2017, a seven-year-old dolphin died at the facility from a muscle disease

At the time of Khloe's death in December, GM Schaeffer said, 'This is an extremely sad day for our team at Dolphinaris Arizona.'

Schaeffer continued: 'Prior to her arrival at Dolphinaris, Khloe struggled with chronic illness due to a parasite called Sarcocystis, which can affect mammals, including dolphins. This infection usually causes severe central nervous system and muscle disease, as well as weakens the immune system to other pathogens. 

'Her condition has been managed with exceptional veterinary care for nearly six years as we called on dolphin experts globally to determine treatments that extended her life.'

The company added: 'When Khloe’s caregivers recently noticed her health again showing signs of decline, they took every action possible to try and save her. The mortality rate of Sarcocystis is very high, and very little is known by the veterinarian community about the disease process in dolphins, which can also affect dolphins living in the ocean.

'The other dolphins living at Dolphinaris are all doing well. The Dolphinaris staff appreciates the condolences and support from the community during this difficult time.'

At the time of Khloe's death in December, GM Christian Schaeffer de Leon said, 'This is an extremely sad day for our team at Dolphinaris Arizona,' adding that Khloe was ill before she arrived at the location

Unfortunately, that last statement didn't ring true for long, and one month later, Kai’nalu was euthanized.

'With four out of eight dolphins dying inside of 16 months, the situation has reached critical mass,' Lincoln O'Barry from the Dolphin Project, an anti-captivity activist group based out of Santa Monica, California, said. 

'For the safety of the public and the remaining dolphins, all activities should cease at Dolphinaris Arizona until an independent investigation takes place.'

The organization worked with local activist group DolphinFree AZ to fly a banner over the weekend that read, 'Dolphinaris: Why are 4 dolphins dead?' 

The Dolphin Project , an anti-captivity activist group based out of Santa Monica, California, worked with local activist group DolphinFree AZ to fly a banner over the weekend that read, 'Dolphinaris: Why are 4 dolphins dead?'

Local demonstrators on Saturday showed up on site to call for the location's closure after Kai’nalu, who was on loan from Dolphin Quest to Dolphinaris Arizona died last week. Signs on display read, 'They're dying to entertain us,' 'Captivity kills' and 'Boycott Dolphinaris'

A young girl wearing a Dolphin Project tee shirt holds a candle and a rose while protesting outside of Dolphinaris Arizona on Saturday

Local demonstrators on Saturday showed up on site to call for the location's closure after Kai’nalu, who was on loan from Dolphin Quest to Dolphinaris Arizona died last week. 

Signs on display read, 'They're dying to entertain us,' 'Captivity kills' and 'Boycott Dolphinaris.' 

Dolphinaris hired an external pathologist to determine the cause of this latest death, which the company said came after the dolphin's condition began deteriorating to the point that he had difficulty swimming, eating and breathing.

Dolphin Quest terminated its contract with Dolphinaris Arizona the day after Kai’nalu's death.

Dolphin Quest terminated its contract with Dolphinaris Arizona the day after Kai’nalu's death. Two of the facility's four remaining dolphins are being returned to Dolphin Quest while the other two will be moved to another licensed facility while Dolphinaris Arizona is being evaluated. A trainer is shown feeding a dolphin a fish at Dolphinaris Arizona in Scottsdale on October 13, 2016

The facility said in a statement that an investigative panel that includes veterinarians, pathologists, water quality experts and animal behavior specialists will assess all aspects of the facility and operations and report their findings and any recommendations. 

Two of the facility's four remaining dolphins are being returned to Dolphin Quest while the other two will be moved to another licensed facility while Dolphinaris Arizona is being evaluated.

Calls to the US Department of Agriculture's animal and plant health inspection service seeking comment on the Dolphinaris situation weren't immediately returned on Tuesday.

Dolphinaris Arizona, which is part of the OdySea In The Desert complex on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community near Scottsdale, opened in October of 2016.

Dolphinaris has additional sites in Mexico. Dolphin Quest operates its own locations in Hawaii and Bermuda.

Dolphinaris Arizona, which is part of the OdySea In The Desert complex on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community near Scottsdale, opened in October of 2016. Dolphinaris has additional sites in Mexico. Dolphin Quest operates its own locations in Hawaii and Bermuda