Miami Seaquarium dolphin Sundance dies after ‘illness’

MIAMI – The Miami Seaquarium announced the death of one of its dolphins, Sundance, on Wednesday.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Sundance today after precursors of illness yesterday,” the aquarium said in a post on X Wednesday night. “Our hearts are with the trainers and medical staff who unconditionally cared for him for more than 30 years.”

Miami Seaquarium did not release any further information on Sundance’s death.

Back in November, the USDA wrote in a report that the Miami Seaquarium is ill-equipped to care for its animals, detailing a number of violations that prompted Miami-Dade County to give the Seaquarium 45 days to get things in order.

In that report, USDA inspectors in November found that the Miami Seaquarium “still lacks a sufficient number of adequately trained employees.”

The USDA-focused inspection that was conducted on Nov. 2 states that “the resignation of the only veterinary technician has left two veterinarians responsible for the care of 46 marine mammals, hundreds of birds, fish, sharks, and rays housed at the facility.”

Local 10 News reported last week that Miami-Dade County officials issued a second Notice of Default to the Seaquarium due to late payments and infrastructure violations.

USDA officials said the inspection was conducted about a month before the beloved killer whale Lolita died at the Seaquarium after a sudden illness.