The oldest dolphin at the Miami Seaquarium, and a resident of the park since 1970, died on Tuesday morning, 8th January 2008.

April, a bottlenose dolphin was 40 years old when she died and had suffered from liver failure for two years. April’s age is quite unusual for a captive animal. Whilst dolphins in the wild have an average life expectancy of about 40 years, those in captivity typically live shorter lives despite veterinary care available to these animals and captivity industry claims that tanks are 'safer', offering dolphins and whales protection from threats to them in the wild.

Since 1973, 63 dolphins, 54 sea lions, and one killer whale have died at Miami Seaquarium.