SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A dolphin that lived to nearly 40 years old has died at SeaWorld San Diego, the park announced on Sunday.
Dottie the dolphin’s long-time home was at SeaWorld San Diego after transferring from SeaWorld Orlando where she was born. She mothered four calves in her 39 years and “was especially known for her strong personality and curiosity,” her SeaWorld care team said.
The dolphin was well loved by SeaWorld and San Diegans. She was even highlighted in a holiday 2023 social media post slapping her flippers on the water’s surface with SeaWorld’s giant light-up Christmas tree in the background.
Bottlenose dolphins, like those at SeaWorld, weigh around 330-440 pounds and can grow up to 6 to 12-feet-long, according to the park. SeaWorld says the species is not endangered but they do face many threats in the ocean like entanglement in fishing gear and ocean pollution.
On average, dolphins typically live 8 to 17 years in the wild, and can live up to 60 years under human care.
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The park said Dottie was very close with her care team and that SeaWorld veterinarians were able to keep her thriving for 15 years after she was diagnosed with kidney stones…