Kelly, the last remaining dolphin at Marineland, performs
at the Friends of Marineland Open Day, Napier, in this July
file photo. Photo by NZPA
Marineland's elderly dolphin Kelly has died after 34
years in the limelight, marking the "end of an era", Napier
Mayor Barbara Arnott said today.
Kelly, 38, had been ill for several days and died last night.
Mrs Arnott said Marineland did not open for business today
and the council, which owned the park, would hold a special
consultation process with the community to decide whether it
would continue without its trademark dolphins.
"For Napier and New Zealand it's the end of an era. For
Marineland staff they are really grieving for a member of the
family who has been there for 34 years."
Marineland nearly closed two years ago after the death of
another dolphin, Shona.
"We were originally going to shut it after Shona died, but
because Kelly was happy to carry on it remained open," Mrs
Arnott said.
"(We were) thinking Kelly would be really lonely without
Shona but she soldiered on. "So two 1/2 years after Shona
died, Kelly -- at the great age of 38 -- has succumbed." Both
dolphins had been at Marineland since 1974.
The Marineland website said the normal life expectancy for a
common dolphin was 15 to 18 years.
