5th dolphin dies at Gulf World Marine Park, officials say

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WJHG/Gray News) - Another dolphin has died at Gulf World Marine Park in Florida, bringing the total number of dolphins that have died there to five.

Florida Sen. Jay Trumbull made a Facebook post regarding the animal’s death Wednesday, saying it is part of a “disturbing and unacceptable pattern.”

Trumbull said his office has been communicating with federal and state partners, including the USDA and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

He said he is calling on FWC to remove the remaining animals and ensure they are relocated to a safe and appropriate environment.

In a social media post, Gulf World Marine Park said it will be closed for the rest of the week and plans to reopen June 3. The park did not give a reason for the closure.

Trumbull said he has also been in conversation with aquariums in other parts of the state, including SeaWorld, which would be willing to take in the remaining dolphins at Gulf World as soon as needed.

Trumbull said the five dolphins that have died since October of last year are not isolated incidents. He said they are signs of failure, and his office is demanding immediate action.

Trumbull is calling on the FWC to go into Gulf World immediately, remove the remaining animals, and ensure they are taken to a safer habitat.

“We believe that through the state attorney, that if an animal cruelty case was brought along, then FWC would have authority to shut it down and to remove the dolphins, and so that’s our goal right now,” he said. “This doesn’t need to continue, we don’t need to see a report next week, two weeks from now, of another dolphin ing away, we really need to act now to make sure this doesn’t happen.”

Florida Congressman Neal Dunn has ed Trumbull’s actions in response to the dolphin deaths and said he has been closely monitoring the situation.

“The quality of life for the sea life at Gulf World has been totally unacceptable, and this latest incident only demonstrates the dereliction of duty and need for swift action,” he said in a statement.

After news of the fifth dolphin’s death broke, protestors gathered outside the park, demanding officials take action to remove the animals from the facility.

The activists held signs with phrases such as “DON’T GO IN” and “5 dolphins dead in 8 MONTHS.”

Copyright 2025 WJHG via Gray Local Media, Inc. All rights reserved.