Samira the Dolphin (c.2017-2025)
Obituary
Samira, a female bottlenose dolphin, died at Gulf World Marine Park in May 2025—the fifth dolphin to die at the facility in eight months
Samira, a female bottlenose dolphin, died at Gulf World Marine Park in May 2025—the fifth dolphin to die at the facility in eight months. Gulf World Marine Park is owned by The Dolphin Company, which owns multiple dolphinariums in the US and internationally. Samira reportedly stopped eating on May 2, 2025. Gulf World’s chief veterinarian expressed concerns about financial problems and their ability to provide needed veterinary care to her. A preliminary investigation revealed she may have ingested a large amount of foreign material and had a pulmonary hemorrhage.
At the time of the dolphin’s death, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) was issuing permits to relocate the remaining dolphins. The transfer was postponed because Gulf World appealed. Florida legislators and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission had attempted to expedite the transfer but were unable to act without transport permission from NOAA. On June 3, 2025, four female rough-toothed dolphins, Doris, Kitana, Dagny, and Wren, were transferred from Gulf World to Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
Unfortunately, the remaining dolphins may be sent to another facility owned by the Dolphin Company. The emergency waiver issued by NOAA states that the seven dolphins will go to Marineland Dolphin Adventure, which was recently cited for multiple Animal Welfare Act violations, including flaking paint and improperly stored medication. At the end of May, the Florida Attorney General opened a criminal investigation into The Dolphin Company. On June 5, 2025, media reported that Florida legislators delayed this transfer in the hopes of sending them to a non-Dolphin Company facility.
While the Dolphin Company’s facilities have particularly egregious animal care records, all dolphinariums are cruel. It’s not possible to replicate dolphins’ vast and dynamic ocean environment in captivity. World Animal Protection urges everyone who loves dolphins to avoid aquariums and marine parks and instead enjoy them in the wild.
