last dolphin at Marineland dies » Marineland of New Zealand, Napier

Chlidonias · **last dolphin at Marineland dies** 11-09-2008

Marineland's last dolphin dies (+pics) - New Zealand, world, sport, business & entertainment news on Stuff.co.nz

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Napier's Marineland is closed today after the death of star attraction Kelly the dolphin.

Kelly was the last remaining dolphin at the marine centre after her companion Shona died of old age in 2006.

The pair arrived at Marineland in 1974.

The cause of 38-year-old Kelly's death was unknown at this stage.

In the wild, Common dolphins usually only live for between 15 and 20 years.

The future of Marineland was now in doubt after Napier Mayor Barbara Arnott said in July that nobody would visit Marineland if there were no dolphins, making it impossible for the centre to stay afloat.

Marineland has New Zealand fur seals, Californian sea lions, little blue penguins, gannets and some other animals. It is also an animal hospital for sick or injured marine mammals and birds.

Marineland Manager Gary Macdonald said the staff would continue to care for the remaining animals for as they still resided at Marineland.

"The staff are obviously very upset, but glad that Kelly passed away peacefully and quickly."

Mr Macdonald said the last few days had been "a worrying time for Marineland staff" as Kelly's symptoms appeared to be similar to those of Shona.

Ms Arnott said that it was the "end of an era" for the people of Napier.

"It is a grief within their Marineland family and I know that everyone will be feeling for them," she said.

She said Marineland was going to be closed after Shona's death two and a half years ago, "but because Kelly was happy to carry on it remained open."

"(We were) thinking Kelly would be really lonely without Shona but she soldiered on."

Chlidonias · **Marineland closed** 15-09-2008

I saw on the news last night that Marineland has now been closed to the public by the Napier city council. I don't really understand the viewpoint that nobody will visit without dolphins, and that without the dolphins they need to close. There are fifty other animals at the facility including NZ fur seals and Californian sealions. And now without visitors there is no money coming in to look after them! There's nowhere else in NZ with the facilities to take seals except Auckland Zoo, and they wouldn't have the room because they already have their own seals occupying the pool. There is going to be a public meeting to decide the outcome, as to whether the place reopens or closes down completely. I have no idea where they expect the animals to go if they do shut it down entirely.

*ZooYouthBen* · 15-09-2008

gosh all this over one dolphin death, Can they import another one?

Chlidonias · 15-09-2008

they applied for a permit to import some captive-bred dolphins in 2006 and were refused.

*ZooYouthBen* · 15-09-2008

ok, do they not have adequate facilities?

Chlidonias · 15-09-2008

I've never been. NZ Jeremy has photos in the gallery Napier Marineland » ZooBeat Photo Gallery

dragon(ele)nerd · 15-09-2008

Seems like , a sad loss, but I guess from what I'm seeing the facilities aren't fantastic,

NZ Jeremy · 16-09-2008

I posted this in another thread:

Quote:

Originally Posted by NZ Jeremy

I was there in March... The underwater viewing is closed to the public due to structural problems (OSH closed this), the pools are tiny, old and overpopulated...

The tour guide stated the council isn't willing to spend the 10 million NZD to upgrade to a point where they would be able to get more dolphins and they are having no luck getting private investors... All in all a place going downhill...

Chlidonias · 22-09-2008

Marineland's new stars wait in the wings - New Zealand, world, sport, business & entertainment news on Stuff.co.nz

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Marineland's new stars wait in the wings
By BERNARD CARPINTER - The Dominion Post | Tuesday, 16 September 2008

Marineland staff are training sea lions and seals in the hope that shows will go on after the death of their star attraction, Kelly the dolphin.

The long-running Napier tourist attraction has been closed to the public since Kelly's death last week, but staff are hoping the city council will reopen it.

The council will hold public consultations before deciding whether it can afford to run Marineland without its key attraction.

At the zoo yesterday, Rebekah Cuthbert and Nora Tenbrock were giving lessons to seal Iha, who is almost one.

Manager Gary Macdonald said the staff were enjoying the opportunity to spend extra time working with the animals, not having to worry about the public performances.

"The Californian sea lions and New Zealand fur seals have been part of the show for quite some time, along with the dolphins," Mr Macdonald said.

"We are very capable of putting on a show just with the sea lions and/or the seals.

"For the past 2½ years, when we gave Kelly a break or she didn't want to perform, the shows went on with the sea lions and seals. In some ways the sea lions are more entertaining than the dolphins."

During shows, the smaller sea lions were taken for walks through the audience. "That has quite an impact," he said.

The zoo's little blue penguins were also very popular with the public.

One of Mr Macdonald's ideas for a revived Marineland is to incorporate Maori legends about the Hawke Bay sea.

"There is a taniwha out there, and Ngati Kahungunu believe they are related to the taniwha," he said. There was also the story of Pania of the Reef, commemorated in the statue further along Marine Pde.

Marineland has nearly 50 animals, including five sea lions, nine seals, 18 penguins and several gannets. Some could live for another 20 years.

It is unlikely that any could be released into the wild – because they are injured or were born in captivity – but Marineland's licences from the Conservation Department require it to continue to care for the animals.

NZ Jeremy · 23-09-2008

They could definitely do it... The seal shows were only slightly less entertaining... The question is should they..?

Chlidonias · 07-10-2008

Children's petition to save Marineland - New Zealand, world, sport, business & entertainment news on Stuff.co.nz

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Children's petition to save Marineland
The Dominion Post | Wednesday, 01 October 2008

A children's petition is the latest effort to save Napier's Marineland from permanent closure.

Brianna Otto, 9, is aiming to collect 1000 signatures from school pupils, asking the city council to reopen the marine zoo, which has been closed since the death of its last dolphin three weeks ago.

"We've got 466 signatures so far," Brianna, a pupil at Reignier School in Taradale, said yesterday. She believed Marineland had enough attractions even without the performing dolphins, the main drawcard since it opened in the mid-1960s.

"I think the other animals are quite good," she said. "It's not just the dolphins - I actually like the seals just as much." At a Marineland open day in August, Brianna and her sisters got to feed and touch Kelly, the last dolphin.

"She felt like a hard-boiled egg without the shell," she said. Brianna believed that visiting Marineland was an educational experience.

"You see the animals, the real thing - it's different from seeing models.

"I know children can't vote but we still have a voice. Children do have opinions and this is how we can express our opinion."

Brianna plans to present the petition to mayor Barbara Arnott.

Chlidonias · **latest news on Marineland** 27-11-2008

Marineland discussions begin today News - Yahoo!Xtra News

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Submissions will be made to the Napier City Council today on what to do with Marineland.
Some of the concepts include turning the facility into a Butterfly and Penguin House, keeping it as a marine hospital and education centre, and converting it into a museum and art gallery.
Another will suggest turning Marineland into a futuristic maze, similar to Infinity on the Gold Coast. Councillors are expected to make their way through 174 submissions in the next two days.

NZ Jeremy · 27-11-2008

I think some of those ideas are much better than what they had, even when they had an attraction like Kelly...

Chlidonias · **Marineland open again** 20-12-2008

Marineland set to open today - New Zealand's source for travel news on Stuff.co.nz

Quote:

Marineland's seals, sea lions and other animals will meet their fans again today after months of seclusion.

The marine zoo, one of Napier's top tourist attractions, closed its doors to the public in September after the death of its last performing dolphin, and it looked as though it would be wound up completely.

But public support led the city council to reopen Marineland for the summer, and look for ways to revitalise it for the future.

Animal trainer Anna Svensson said yesterday that it had been a bit strange working in the zoo without the public coming through, but the trainers had enjoyed having extra time to work with their animals. "I have been working with Iha. She's a New Zealand fur seal born here one year ago. A seal in the wild can be very dangerous but we have handled her since she was born and she's used to humans.

"She'll have two swims a day where people can interact with her in the pool. She loves being with people, she loves being held and petted."

Ms Svensson also looks after two little blue penguins, Onion and Draco, who were both brought in injured and nursed back to health, although they are not quite fit enough to go back to the wild.

Marineland hours will again be 10am to 4.30pm, but because there are no performing dolphins which used to be the main drawcard prices have been cut.

Shere_Khan · 20-12-2008

Yay! Thanks for the heads up. I guess I'll be going tomorrow!

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