Tampa Aquarium announces the death of its dolphin Apollo: “We will continue to learn from his life”

The Tampa Aquarium announced the death of its dolphin Apollo, the youngest specimen of this species that was in the facilities of this institution that is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of sick and injured marine animals.

“We are saddened to share the passing of the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, 4-year-old Apollo, who lived inClearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) since 2021 after being found stranded,” the aquarium reported in itswebsite.

The youngest of the institution's dolphins was rescued after becoming stranded in Playalinda, Florida, in May 2021. Apollo had health problems, including parasites in the dorsal fin and pectoral fins, along with inflammation of the stomach and lungs.

After healing him, the center's veterinarians found that he had a significant hearing loss that made his geolocation system and therefore his life in freedom impossible, so they decided that he would become part of the population of dolphins cared for in this peculiar aquarium that In addition to being open to the public, it is dedicated to dissemination, species conservation and research.

“Our team is heartbroken by the passing of Apollo. The well-being of our animals has always been our top priority atClearwater Marine Aquarium. “Apollo was a beloved member of our CMA family and his passing has left a void in our hearts,” the institution said.

Despite his initial improvement, in March Apollo again showed signs of discomfort, once again requiring monitoring by specialists, who adjusted his diet and noticed certain signs of improvement. However, this weekend his health seemed to deteriorate irremediably, which is why he was put under palliative care “to keep him comfortable.”

“We will continue learning from his life,” said Dr.James "Buddy" Powell, director of zoology at CMA, recalling the “profound impact that these animals have on our lives and the importance of our conservation efforts.”

Clearwater Marine Aquarium It opened in 1972 at its current location in Clearwater Beach in a former water treatment plant with large pools suitable for rehabilitation operations.

Numerous forms of marine life are permanent residents of the aquarium, all of which have serious injuries that prevent them from returning to the wild.

The aquarium's best-known permanent resident was Winter, a bottlenose dolphin who was rescued in December 2005 after his tail became trapped in a crab trap.

The injuries sustained resulted in the loss of his tail and the aquarium fitted him with a prosthetic tail that brought worldwide attention to the facility. Winter later starred in the 2011 film,Dolphin Tale, and the sequel,Dolphin Tale 2, partially filmed in this peculiar aquarium.

In January of this year,Hemingway, a dolphin rescued from the wild in 2019, died at Tampa's Clearwater Aquarium due to gastrointestinal problems at the age of 37.