Bottlenose dolphin dies at controversial Scottsdale facility

PHOENIX — A bottlenose dolphin that had a rare muscle disease died at a controversial Scottsdale facility last month, it was announced Friday.

In a press release, Dolphinaris said Bodie died on Sept. 23.

“Bodie had been experiencing a rare muscle disease and was under constant veterinary care,” the release said. “The veterinary team consulted with experts throughout the United States and Europe.”

The facility said a necropsy showed veterinarians could have done nothing to help Bodie.

“Our team at Dolphinaris Arizona will continue our devotion to provide each of our dolphins with the highest standard of care in accordance to the industry’s best practices, as well as federal and international regulations,” the release said.

Dolphinaris opened last year near the Loop 101 and Via de Ventura.

One of the facility’s biggest attractions gives guests the chance to swim with dolphins, something that was objected to by thousands online because it can sicken people and the animals alike.

Critics of Dolphinaris have argued that the eight animals should not be kept in the 1 million-gallon tank because it is too small and they would be deprived of social and psychological stimulus.

“You’re going to see these magnificent creatures in shallow pools, nothing more than a glorified bathtub,” Courtney Vail, a wildlife biologist who works for the Whale Sanctuary Project, said when Dolphinaris opened.

Grey Stafford, the general manager of Dolphinaris, said he was aware of the concerns when the facility opened but people should also hear the facts.

“The fact is that dolphins in human care thrive,” Stafford said. “They live as long as or longer than their wild counterparts, and many of the lessons that we’ve learned in human care situations like this actually go to help save animals in the wild.”

KTAR News’ Corbin Carson contributed to this report.

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