Three Dolphins Who Died Imprisoned by Casino Deserve Justice

Target: Joe Lupo, President of the Mirage Hotel & Casino

Goal: Demand the Mirage release its remaining captive bottlenose dolphins after a third dolphin died at their facilities within a 6-month period.

K2, a bottlenose dolphin who spent his entire life at Las Vegas’ Mirage casino died in early October, making him the third dolphin to die at the Mirage within the last past 6 months. While dolphins in the wild have an average life expectancy of 20 to 30 years—with a maximum ranging upwards of 65 years—the three who died were all between the ages of eleven and nineteen.

Dolphins are highly social, free-ranging animals and being isolated from their friends and kin has damaging effects on their physical and psychological health. It has long been known that dolphins in captivity suffer stress and depression, resulting in appetite loss, ulcers, and increased susceptibility to various diseases. In fact, within the last 31 years, 16 dolphins have died at the Mirage alone.

Sign this petition to demand that the Mirage casino dedicate their efforts towards preparing the remaining dolphins to be released into the wild. No more dolphins should suffer this grim fate for their profit.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Mr. Lupo,

Early this October, an 11-year-old bottlenose dolphin died at the Mirage Hotel and Casino, making it the third to die at this particular facility within the past 6 months. Over the course of the 31 years that the Mirage has been running, a total of 16 dolphins have died. Clearly, this is not an adequate setup for the dolphins–which can live up to 65 years in the wild. When in captivity dolphins grow extremely stressed, which can make them more susceptible to appetite loss, ulcers, and various diseases.

We are asking you, Mr. Lupo, to prevent any future acquisition of dolphins at your facility and work towards rehabilitating and releasing the dolphins currently in the Mirage’s possession.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: marcp_dmoz


31 Comments

  1. Julia Edinger says:

    I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THE PERSON’S COMMENT!!

    This is inexcusable and should be punishable by LAW!
    How dare anyone profit from these little angels’ agony! Enclosing them for life ..causing them agony and heartbreak. This is animal cruelty. …in this case 3 counts of MURDER!
    Stop going to Las Vegas or anywhere to see caged beings!!!!
    Release the remaining dolphins NOW! and shut down this negligent casino. Fines and prison time is due to all responsible!

    • You’re 1000% right Julia! ONCE AGAIN, here we all are signing petitions when THERE ARE ALREADY LAWS TO PROSECUTE ANIMAL ABUSE, the petitions are useless- INSTEAD, we need to pressure prosecutors to ENFORCE THE ANIMAL PROTECTION LAWS, and stop ignoring abuses or at best, issuing “slap on the wrist” responses to these mutants who brazenly exploit animals for their greed.

      • JULIA I DEFINATELY AGREE WITH YOUR COMMENTS.

        “This is inexcusable and should be punishable by LAW!
        How dare anyone profit from these little angels’ agony! Enclosing them for life ..causing them agony and heartbreak. This is animal cruelty. …in this case 3 counts of MURDER!
        Stop going to Las Vegas or anywhere to see caged beings!!!!
        Release the remaining dolphins NOW! and shut down this negligent casino. Fines and prison time is due to all responsible”!

  2. Release these poor animals!!!!

  3. This is so cruel and evil. These dolphins SHOULD NOT BE LIVING AT A CASINO!!

  4. Animals are not here for our entertainment.

  5. If the time we spend signing petitions was instead spent directly pressuring prosecutors to ENFORCE THE LAWS ALREADY ON THE BOOKS, MAYBE THIS BLATANT EXPLOITATION OF ANIMALS FOR PROFIT WOULD STOP!!

  6. If there’s a demand, there’ll be a supply… People need to be educated as to the dangers of keeping captive animals… And, must be encouraged or persuaded NOT to pay to view, or pay to ride, or pay to see perform. If just one tourist pays, then the owners know there’s a demand and will continue exploiting their animals. It’s basic business practices!

  7. Dolphins are beautiful animals that don’t need to be in a casino and caged up, that’s cruly to animals and u should be punch to the extent to the law. I hope they fine these people that did that.

  8. Humans have no right to imprison living things. Stop relying on disgusting practices to line your pockets.

  9. HORRIFIC — transfer All DOLPHINS to Natural Habitat and/or Sanctuary — SHUT DOWN this ZOO — Even “good” zoos are HELL-HOLES for Dolphins — Dolphins are clearly SUFFERING and DYING — they’re living a life of MiSERY — shame on you for your insanity, ignorance & hate

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