At the age of 40, Calamity the dolphin passed away in New South Wales just ten months after her life-companion, Bucky. Daily Mail reports that she died on June 2, 2020, amid a medical procedure to treat a carcinoma in her oral cavity. An autopsy revealed that her cancer had metastasized to her lung and lymph nodes.
According to Dr. Duan March, the in-house vet at the facility, progressive cancer, along with her age, meant that Calamity was no longer able to fight both the stresses of the operation and the disease itself.
The pair was part of the Dolphin Marine Conservation Park in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales. Together, they had three calves, named Jet, Bella, and Zippy.
Calamity was a rescued dolphin who was saved two times from being entangled in fishing lines. On one occasion, she ended up with 15 meters of fishing line wrapped around her tail. Calamity isn't an isolated case as many dolphins have been rescued after being entangled in fishing lines. The extent of her injuries at the time meant she would not be able to survive in the ocean, which is why she was taken into captivity in the conservation park.
Also Read: Adolescent Dolphin Victim to Plastic Pollution in Fort Myers
A Life Well Lived for Calamity the Dolphin
Calamity's 40-year life span was ten years longer than those of dolphins that typically live in the wild. She participated in conservation programs to educate people about the potential dangers of discarded fishing lines.
One program she was involved with was partnered with Melbourne Zoo to teach people about how discarded waste materials in the ocean harm marine life. Terry Goodall, the Dolphin Marine Conservation Park managing director, said that everyone at the facility would greatly miss Calamity, especially her trainers.
He added that everyone involved with her enjoyed an exceptional connection as Calamity was a 'truly amazing animal.'
Dolphins in Captivity in Australia
On March 14, 2019, the Dolphin Marine Conservation Park announced it would no longer breed dolphins and hold them in captivity. Goodall told reporters that they had not been breeding for quite some time. He says that the dolphins they have in the facility were either born there or rescued.
Additionally, he says the dolphins he handles all are doing fine and are living a fulfilled life. The park, formerly known as Dolphin Marine Magic, will instead focus on education, rehabilitation, and conservation.
Animal welfare NGO World Animal Protection has then called on the Queensland Government to ban captive dolphin breeding at Sea World. Senior campaign manager Ben Pearson says that the tide is really turning on keeping dolphins captive in entertainment venues.
With 30 dolphins, Sea World on the Gold Coast was one of only two captive dolphin sites left in Australia and one of the biggest in the world, according to World Animal Protection.
According to the World Animal Protection, the acceptability of keeping dolphins in captivity for entertainment is decreasing. Airlines and travel companies are starting to stay away from captive dolphin venues. Moreover, governments in Australia and overseas have already enacted to close them.
