2 Marineland Dolphins Die in New Home at Sea World

Two dolphins sent to Sea World in San Diego after Marineland closed died soon after arriving in their new home, a Sea World spokeswoman said Saturday.

The deaths were disclosed by a group protesting last month’s closing of Marineland.

A Sea World spokesman said that Sundance, an 8-year-old bottle-nose male, died Feb. 20 from a skull fracture and cerebral hemorrhage suffered during a fight with other males. Echo, a 30-year-old female, died Feb. 24 from an infection.

Susan Brooks of Citizens to Save Marineland and Its Animals said her group was urging better treatment of the animals.

The 104-acre Marineland park was purchased by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, an Orlando, Fla.-based publishing company, last Dec. 31 for $23.4 million and has been closed since Feb. 11. Most of Marineland’s sea mammals, fish, birds and other animals were shipped to Sea World in San Diego.

Brooks said Sea World officials apparently purposely withheld information about the dolphins’ deaths, possibly because the animals had been mistreated.

Brooks said her group, which has consistently sought assurances from Sea World that the animals are being treated well, only learned of the deaths Thursday after contacting officials with National Marine Fisheries.

Sea World denied that the mammals were poorly cared for and said that Sea World officials were awaiting final autopsy results.