Lotty the dolphin dies after nearly 40 years held captive

Lotty, a female bottlenose dolphin held in captivity since 1983, has passed away.

Captured in Charlotte Harbour, Florida in March 1983 as a very young individual, Lotty has spent nearly 40 years in captivity. She began her life in confinement in the UK, held first at Knowsley Safari Park before being transferred a few months later to Flamingo Land. When Flamingo Land closed in 1993, she was transferred to the Kolmarden Zoo and in 2005 to Marineland Antibes in France where she was held until her death.

WDC End Captivity campaigner Cathy Williamson says; ‘No dolphin should have to suffer as Lotty has. France and other countries holding captive whales and dolphins need to commit to ending imports and breeding, as well as shows and interactions programmes, and bring about an end to the suffering of whale and dolphin individuals in captivity for good.’

‘The only comfort in her death is that she is at last free from being a commodity for human entertainment.

‘We continue to fight for the freedom of all whales and dolphins. Thanks to our campaigning, Virgin Holidays, TripAdvisor and British Airways will no longer sell tickets to SeaWorld or any other facility that holds whales and dolphins captive for 'entertainment'.

WDC has partnered with the SEA LIFE Trust to create the world’s first beluga whale sanctuary in Iceland. It is hoped initiatives like this will encourage the rehabilitation of more captive whales and dolphins into natural environments around the world, and one day help to bring an end to whale and dolphin entertainment shows.

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