Category Archives: seaworld

Seaworld’s “Beetle” Dolphin Dies in Casino Swimming Pool

In a press statement from MGM, a 12-year old bottlenose dolphin named Beetle died on Oct. 27 of unknown causes. Beetle was the 13th dolphin to die at The Dolphin Habitat at The Mirage in Las Vegas. Historically, this facility has had 22 dolphins — now with a 59 percent mortality rate and an average age of death of 10-years old. Wild dolphins can live to be 50 years or more, concluding that this facility, even with up-to-date filtration systems and temperature-controlled water, restaurant-quality frozen dead fish and a full-time vet, the dolphins in Las Vegas are dying 30 years younger in their captive environment in the desert.

Beetle came to The Mirage in 2010 from SeaWorld Orlando on a long-term breeding loan. Though he never fathered any offspring, The Habitat emphasized in September they would begin breeding all the sexually-mature males. Beetle made news in Orlando for biting a child.

Beetle has been documented on multiple occasions by Free The Mojave Dolphins and Martyn Stewart logging motionless at the gates, chewing on the gates and piping and being aggressive toward other male dolphins.

Because of this behavior, the facility put a plastic kayak in front of the gate to deter Beetle from chewing. The kayak has been chewed as well.

Photo by Terran Baylor
Photo by Terran Baylor

Beetle was also used as one of the main dolphins in the “Paint with a Dolphin Program” where patrons pay to have a dolphin paint on a piece of canvas.

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Beetle was mainly kept in one of the three pools at the Mirage with minimal shade to find refuge in under the sun. Though there is a shade regulation under the Animal Welfare Act ( § 3.127 Facilities, outdoor.(a) Shelter from sunlight. When sunlight is likely to cause overheating or discomfort of the animals, sufficient shade by natural or artificial means shall be provided to allow all animals kept outdoors to protect themselves from direct sunlight.), there have been multiple APHIS inspections, pressure from the community for constructing a structure, and even a verbal commitment from MGM to begin building in Spring 2015. No such structure was ever built.

We would like to make sure Beetle is not replaced by another dolphin. We would like for all breeding to end at The Mirage and to ban any additional importing of dolphins. Ric O’Barry’s Dolphin Project is currently working on a dolphin sanctuary in Mexico where these dolphins have an open invitation to retire too.

You can call MGM corporate at 1-(702)-891-1844 directly to tell them you will boycott them until they shut down the dolphin exhibit. You can also contact the Dolphin Habitat to voice your concerns at 1-(702)-791-7111, 1-(702)-791-7588, 1-(702)-792-7889

Please also sign the petitions.

RIP Beetle. You are free to roam the skies now and no gate will ever keep you from freedom again.


Beetle Tweetsheets

#AskSeaworld Campaign

#AskSeaworld @SeaWorld If you care about your animals, why did you dump your “problem” dolphin out in the desert? pic.twitter.com/sQ7gvDGChY

(click here to send tweet)

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#AskSeaworld @SeaWorld if you provide the best care, why are your animals in the desert w/o shade? #MojaveDolphins pic.twitter.com/NBbTbbaS66

(click here to send tweet)

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#AskSeaworld Hey @SeaWorld, how do you feel about Beetle dying @TheMirageLV at the young age of 12? #MojaveDolphins pic.twitter.com/9ahmgDyh2P

(click here to send tweet)

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#AskSeaworld @SeaWorld why did you send dolphins from each of your parks to pools in the desert without shade? pic.twitter.com/diOjuWT0kq

(click here to send tweet)

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Contact Local Vegas Media

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Fox 5 Vegas @fox5vegas

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ABC Action 13 News@ktnv

Krystal Allen @KrystalNews3LV

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Dyrdek and the Desert Dolphins

ROB2Over the weekend of October 17th-18th 2015, Rob Dyrdek uploaded a photo of what appears to be a private gathering at the Mirage Casino Dolphin Habitat after hours. While activsts were out standing out on the strip, educating the tourists about the horrors of dolphin captivity, Rob was gushing about the attire of his guests and the “pod” of dolphins swimming in a small pool in the Mojave desert.

These ten dolphins do not get any relief from extreme temperatures in the summer time. The UV rays burn their skin just like humans. Three of these dolphins belong to SeaWorld, who placed them in the desert hoping they would produce several offspring to further the captive gene pool. These dolphins are subjected to chewing gum in the pools, leaky tanks, left in a beached position for several minutes for photos, and gated away from their family members.

We have noticed during the last 12 months that Viacom (the company that owns many television networks such as Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, LOGO, and Spike) has had several of their network stars directly promoting the dolphin habitat through their social media postings and indirectly through their promotional bookings and showings at the Terry Fator theater inside of the Mirage casino.

ROBFLYERWhile we understand that Rob and Bryiana Noelle Flores were recently married, and we are in no way trying to take away from their special day, we DO want to stress the importance of educating celebrities who choose to boast about such experiences while the animals are left to suffer. Rob and Bryiana are in a very fortunate place in life that has given them a platform to reach hundreds of thousands of people around the globe.

We urge Bryiana and Rob to watch documentaries such as “Blackfish” and “The Cove”, research the effects of captivity on cetaceans, and ask themselves if they really believe that sentient mammals such as dolphins belong in barren swimming pools, hundreds of miles from the ocean in the middle of the driest desert in the country. We ask that they speak to fellow celebrities such as Steve-o (who also received popularity thanks to MTV) and Joe Rogan and listen to their opinion on why they have joined the crusade against cetaceans in captivity.

 

Rob Dyrdek Bryiana Noelle
  1. .@robdyrdek #MojaveDolphins are SUFFERING at Mirage. Here are some facts to help you learn. Plz dont promote them pic.twitter.com/J20Dxj0ECG (Tweet)
  2. .@robdyrdek #MojaveDolphins should not be kept in desert swimming pools. Talk to @steveo about why this is wrong! pic.twitter.com/Br1w9GPqaY (Tweet)
  3. .@robdyrdek Exploiting #MojaveDolphins is not entertaining, funny OR cool. Please consider helping the 10 dolphins pic.twitter.com/jDvYTL1CVM (Tweet)
(If we see her Twitter come back online, we will design some tweet sheets to Bryiana. Stay tuned and be on the look out! In the mean time, feel free to leave polite, information comments on her facebook and instagram pages)

ROB


SteveO, Mirage & SeaWorld Are Connected!

Steveo.JPGStunt performer Steve-o, known mostly for his time spent with “Jackass”, recently outed himself as the prankster activist who defaced the California highway sign for Seaworld Drive to read “Seaworld Sucks”. This stunt has drawn the eyes of many, and opened up the eyes to thousands more who would of never known about the issue otherwise. We thank Steve-o for risking his life and taking the time to speak out for the killer whales in captivity at Seaworld.

We would like to take this time to let Steve-o know about the conditions the dolphins are facing in Las Vegas. It was just last year he was in the city performing with Tom Green (not at an MGM property!) We don’t expect Steve-o to pull another stunt- we just hope he will also use his celebrity to become a voice for the Mojave Dolphins. They need all the help they can get. If more people are aware of the issues, we will be able to get the support of the public and get the dolphins better protection. A tweet by him will reach his million followers, and spark attention and interest.

We have created a list of tweets that you can use, but feel free to make up your own and use photos. Stay polite, factual, and respectful! It is the best way to get our message across.

Hey @SteveO, did U know @TheMirageLV holds 10 dolphins in the desert? How do U feel about that? #MojaveDolphins pic.twitter.com/kXabKX7nuN (Tweet This!)

 

.@SteveO, props for #SeaworldSucks! Can you speak out for #MojaveDolphins @TheMirageLV? Really could use Ur voice! pic.twitter.com/dzx1dslw89 (Tweet This)

 

Take the pledge @SteveO at MojaveDolphins.Com @TheMirageLV is in business w @Seaworld for breeding #SeaworldSucks pic.twitter.com/M76Emm5Bqi (Tweet This!)

 

Maybe if someone big like U @SteveO speaks @TheMirageLV will fix #DolphinDeathPool chipping paint #MojaveDolphins pic.twitter.com/F6us1VCuWH (Tweet This!)

 

.@SteveO ever visited Vegas in summer? Can U believe @TheMirageLV won’t provide shade 4 working #MojaveDolphins? pic.twitter.com/OcbbokgRYO (Tweet This!)

 

 

.@SteveO #MojaveDolphins driven INSANE in Vegas @TheMirageLV waiting 24 years 4 some1 to help them. Will it be U?? pic.twitter.com/Yijh0dAwko  (Tweet This!)

 

Pox appears @TheMirageLV after SW transfer. #SeaworldSucks 4 infecting #MojaveDolphins, right @SteveO? pic.twitter.com/rgSZamakPd (Tweet This!)

 

Look into Mavericks eye @SteveO & visit MojaveDolphins.Com to join the fight for #MojaveDolphins trapped in Las Vegas pic.twitter.com/x14CKuWFWR (Tweet This!)

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If you happen to be attending Steve-O’s tour, try to ask him about the dolphins in Las Vegas.

  • 9/27 – Joilet, IL
  • 10/3-4 – Toledo, OH
  • 10/9-12 – Lexington, KY
  • 10/16-19 – Louisville, KY
  • 10/23-25 – Knoxville, TN
  • 10/27 – Cullowhee, NC
  • 11/6-9 – West Vallet Vity, UT
  • 11/20-22 – Bloomington, IL

Dolphin Pox Running Rampant

At the beginning of this week, an anonymous follower of our cause was able to get into Seaworld Orlando and photograph and ID several dolphins which are infected with pox. The whistleblower is quoted saying

I just got back from the park, got you a few pictures of some of the dolphins with pox. A lot of them at Cove have it, some really bad. Out of all of the ones I laid eyes on for sure, there were only a handful that I didn’t see any marks on. Can they contract that disease from each other? I saw a small spot on the juvenile female Haley. She is constantly pursued by an older male, Lagos, who is one that has the pox pretty bad. So I was just wondering how it spreads, if it’s contagious, etc.

I did not see any in Nursery that had it. But two, possibly three in the stadium (Baretta, Clyde, Marble) have it. I was not able to get great pictures of them but I got one that at least shows it on Baretta.

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