Concerns raised over dolphin deaths at USA marine park

An investigation has been launched into animal cruelty and neglect after a marine park in America was raided in March by US Law Enforcement and wildlife officials.

Gulf World Marine Park in Panama City Beach, USA has been in the spotlight since four bottlenose dolphins died in the space of just six months. Three dolphins died suddenly in October last year due to different lung and respiratory infections, which the vet believed were caused by building work taking place near to the dolphin pools. A fourth dolphin died this March after crashing headfirst into the concrete tank in shallow water in the middle of performing in a show. The dolphin suffered from severe head injuries which caused its death.

Gulf World Marine Park is home to bottlenose dolphins, rough-toothed dolphins, sea lions, penguins, harbour seals and various birds and reptiles.

Concerns have previously been raised during annual inspections about the conditions that all the animals at the park are being kept in, but it appears that none of the issues had been dealt with, and conditions have got worse not better. These concerns were escalated after the marine park refused to allow rangers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to enter to conduct inspections following complaints about the conditions and drone footage showing dolphins swimming in green murky water. A search warrant was obtained under the grounds of animal abuse to gain access to the park.

The conditions across the whole park are reported to be very bad, with crumbling buildings, two of which were condemned in 2023 by building inspectors, dirty water, cracked tanks and no shade for the animals when they are above the surface performing.

There are reports of penguins and alligators being kept with no water at all, the sea lion pools are rusty and in disrepair with rust and paint leaking into the water. The dolphins are kept in very small concrete tanks in dirty green water with poor visibility. The tanks are cracked and crumbling and have powdered concrete falling into the water. The filtration systems are not working properly, if at all, and there is a build-up of algae in the pools.

Sadly, while this investigation goes on, the animals remain there, and the marine park stays open.

Even more worryingly is the fact that the company who owns Gulf World owns 31 theme parks and marine exhibits across eight countries and on 1^st April 2025 the holding company, ‘The Dolphin Company’, filed for bankruptcy. This makes the rescue of the dolphins and other animals even more complicated and time consuming.

We seriously hope that all the animals are relocated soon and that we don’t hear of any more dolphin deaths in the meantime.