Dolphins left to die in an abandoned marine park have finally been rescued following a public outcry.
Doris, Kitana, Dagny and Wren were saved by authorities yesterday morning (4 June).
A video of the conditions they were left in amassed 120,000 views when TideBreakers, a group fighting to end captivity for animals, shared the footage online.
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In the clip, the dolphins were living in old tanks which appeared to be rapidly deteriorating.
Five dolphins had died within a period of eight months while the park was in operation.
Gus, Turk and Nate lost their lives in October 2024 at the Gulf World Marine Park, located in Panama City Beach, Florida.
Marketa Schusterova, who is part of TideBreakers, believes their deaths were likely due to inadequate precautions during construction of a nearby Top Golf location.
One month later, the filtration system in the dolphin’s enclosure broke.
A fourth dolphin, Jett, aged 14, died on 1 March this year during a show as he performed a jump and landed in a shallow part of the tank, which caused him to break his neck.
Shortly after, a fifth dolphin died at the park, aged nine.
“In March 2025, TideBreakers visited the park and were shocked that the conditions were even worse in person,” Marketa told Need To Know.
“Inside the facility, we gathered extensive evidence, which became the foundation of our campaign just days later.
“The footage went viral, and within weeks, Gulf World was raided by local, state and federal authorities.”
Gulf World’s owners, The Dolphin Company, filed for bankruptcy on 31 March.
This move complicated efforts to remove dolphins from the park.
Marketa added: “We’ve expressed concern over the water quality which can cause a number of health issues for the dolphins.
“We’re concerned that the water went from murky green to crystal clear in a matter of days.
“This was possibly due to large amounts of chlorine, potentially exposing the dolphins to further distress.”
Officials in Florida called on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to remove and relocate the mammals.
The case captured a lot of attention online, and left many people outraged that the dolphins were left in such dreadful conditions.
Yesterday, the FWC confirmed that the four rough-toothed dolphins had been rescued.
It said that the Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) in Clearwater, Florida, had received the dolphins successfully.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) deemed the animals to be non-releasable, meaning they cannot return to their natural habitat in the wild.
The FWC said: “FWC Law Enforcement remains steadfast in our commitment to protecting Florida’s marine life.
“In coordination with our partners, we’re proud to share a major step forward in the ongoing investigation at Gulf World Marine Park.
“This morning, four rescued rough-toothed dolphins – Doris, Kitana, Dagny, and Wren – were successfully transported from Panama City to Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
“CMA’s expert team ensured the dolphins were healthy and ready for the move.
“These dolphins, deemed non-releasable by NOAA, will now receive continued care at CMA.
“FWC is actively assisting our federal partners to ensure accountability and the highest level of care for these animals.”
People on social media were relieved that the dolphins had finally been moved.
Denise said: “Thank you for helping them.”
Kait said: “Well done CMA.”
“Bravo,” added Sarah.
Laura said: “Thanks for saving them.”
“Finally. Thank you,” a fifth viewer added.
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