Dolphins head for Atlantis

At the time Kerzner International's Chief Marine Officer Frank Muru issued a brief statement on the matter saying, "The facts that are being circulated are grossly inaccurate. Our plans for a dolphin facility are still in the planning stages. Therefore it is premature to address any specifics." ~ however, it now appears they have found their dolphins from another source.

The Marine Life Oceanarium, which was home to 17 dolphins, 24 sea lions, and 22 exotic birds was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in September 2005. Since then the tale of the dolphins has been told the world over. Some were placed in hotel swimming pools during the storm while 8 others were swept into the Mississippi Sound and were recaptured later by their trainers. After the hurricane some were moved to a US Naval Base in Gulfport, others to facilities in Florida, New Jersey and Baltimore. Today all 17 of the Marine Life dolphins have found a new home at the Atlantis Resort, situated at Paradise Island in the Bahamas which is owned by Kerzner International.

Marine Connection Captivity Officer, Allan Whaley said ‘The Atlantis Resort received quite a lot of adverse publicity when they were linked to the rumoured Solomon Islands export. It appears they are now attempting to 'offset' this bad publicity stating that they are helping these dolphins by removing them from their temporary facilities and reuniting them in the Bahamas. Whilst it is correct that in their current facilities there is the possibility that the cold weather and the effects of separation could take their toll, there is no mention of the additional stress that will be placed on the dolphins during transportation to the Atlantis resort, especially as it has been shown that moving dolphins from one facility to another results in the same levels of stress as those suffered by dolphins during captures from the wild, and records show that dolphins have died during transportation between facilities."