The 'educational' dolphin habitat at the Oklahoma City Zoo.

© Helene O'Barry


Abolishing the Killing Tanks at the Oklahoma City Zoo

 Report by Helene O’Barry

In the fall of the year 2000 dolphin freedom advocate Nora Sinkankas of the Captive Dolphin Awareness Foundation launched a campaign to put an end to the controversial captive dolphin display Aquaticus at the Oklahoma City Zoo, where at least eight bottlenose dolphins have died since the show opened its doors in 1986. The Oklahoma City Zoo has been leasing its dolphins from Marine Animal Productions, a company that makes its living capturing, selling, and leasing marine animals to the captivity industry.

As of February 2001, only two dolphins remain alive at the Aquaticus exhibit. In February 2001 Richard O’Barry, wildlife consultant for the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), and Mark Berman of Earth Island Institute (EII) traveled to Oklahoma City to call for the closure of the Aquaticus dolphin exhibit, urging the zoo and the Mayor of Oklahoma City to not renew the contract with Marine Animal productions when it expires in November 2001.

BACKGROUND:

The Oklahoma City Zoo has been renting its dolphins from one of the world’s biggest and oldest dolphin traffickers, Marine Animal Productions (MAP) of Gulfport, Mississippi. MAP is run by Moby Solangi and is responsible for the capture of about 200 dolphins in Mississippi Sound. Since 1956, MAP has sold and leased its dolphins and sea lions to various amusement parks and road shows in America. MAP has also captured many of the dolphins that have ended up as so-called “Advanced Biological Weapon Systems” in the US Navy Dolphin Program. The majority of the dolphins captured by Marine Animal Productions are now dead. Among the causes of death are pneumonia, gastric ulcers, dead during capture, stress, anorexia, and capture shock.

According to information we have obtained, the Oklahoma City Zoo, which is owned by the City of Oklahoma, is paying MAP $16,500 a month for a package that includes a dolphin and sea lion show, food, supplies, veterinarian supervision, and a trainer.

No doubt, the dolphin display draws a significant audience to the Oklahoma City Zoo, and the paying audience readily applauds as the dolphins go through their repertoire of trained behaviors. But the theatrical surface of the captive dolphin spectacle covers up a litany of death: Since 1986, at least eight dolphins have died in the small, chlorinated tank at Aquaticus. When the dolphins died, the Oklahoma City Zoo simply rented more.

In 1990, Venus died from chronic abscessing pneumonia. In 1998, Sally and Turbo died of the Streptococcus zooepidemicus bacteria, and the Aquaticus exhibit was closed for most of 1999. During that time, the zoo restored the ozone system and repaired the dolphin tank, spending $212.500 in renovations.

In March 2000, the dolphin show opened again with three dolphins, Sandi, Teri, and Harley that were leased from Marine Animal Productions in November 1999. On June 7, 2000, 5-year-old Harley was found dead on the bottom of the tank. He had died from heart failure caused by the same Streptococcus zooepidemicus bacteria that claimed the lives of Sally and Turbo just two years earlier.

On May 31, 2000, Sandi gave birth to a female calf that was named Lily. The calf became ill in October, and while she was treated to a round of antibiotics, the show was closed. Lily died in November, and the show resumed shortly thereafter. City Zoo officials have acknowledged that a possible cause to Lily’s death might be the Streptococcus zooepidemicus bacteria. Today, the only surviving dolphins at the Oklahoma City Zoo are Sandi and Terry.  

Marine Animal Productions’ contract with OKC expires in November 2001. While the zoo maintained that all is well with its program, the public had clearly had enough of the unnatural dolphin display and the continuing deaths of these remarkable creatures. The goal of our campaign was to make sure that the contract was not renewed.


WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT MARINE ANIMAL PRODUCTIONS:

Marine Animal Productions -- operated by Dr. Moby Solangi -- leases its dolphins to amusement parks around the country.

Marine Animal Productions is responsible for the capture of many of the dolphins used in the US Navy Dolphin Program.

According to the Marine Mammal Inventory Report (MMIR), Marine Animal Productions has captured 77 bottlenose dolphins for public display in the period 1966-1989.

Of the 77 dolphins captured, 75 are dead.

A total of 94 dolphins are listed in the Marine Mammal Inventory Report for Marine Animal Productions. The origin of four of them is listed as 'unknown.' They are all dead. 15 dolphins are listed as captive born. They, too, are all dead. Of the 94 dolphins, only two survivors remain.

Among the causes of death are stomach impaction, pneumonia, gastric ulcers, foreign body ingestion, dead during capture, stress, anorexia, and capture shock.

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE AQUATICUS DOLPHINS:

Since the Marine Mammal Protection Act was implemented in 1972, the captivity industry has been obliged by law to provide information concerning their marine animals, whether they were captured from the wild or born in captivity. The data, which includes the date of capture or birth and the subsequent disposition of the animal, is sent to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) of the United States -- an agency under the Department of Commerce -- who gathers it in the so-called Marine Mammal Inventory Report (MMIR.)

MMIR is available through the Freedom of Information Act and provides documentation to some of the damage inflicted on marine animals by the captivity industry. However, it is important to note that the information in the various versions of MMIR is conflicting. For example, according to MMIR dated 11/08/2000, a dolphin named “Toni” was transferred to the Oklahoma City Zoo in December 1997. But Toni is not listed in MMIR dated 11/09/2000.

Two other dolphins listed in MMIR dated 11/08/2000 do not appear in the 11/09/2000 version. They missing dolphins are “Teri” and “Sandi,” the two last surviving dolphins at the Aquaticus exhibit.

Due to the irregularity in the data provided by the dolphin captivity industry, I want to emphasize the following: The information below is based on combining the data found in MMIR dated 11/08/2000 and MMIR 11/09/2000:

Venus' origin is listed in MMIR as “unknown,” and whether she was caught from the wild or born in captivity remains a mystery. Her original captive date is listed as January 1968. She arrived at Aquaticus in November 1986 where she died in May 1990.

Amber was captured in July 1986. In November 1993, she was sent to Aquaticus where she died in April 1996.

Sally was captured in September 1987. In November 1990, she was sent to Aquaticus where she died in October 1998.

Turbo’s origin, too, is listed in MMIR as 'unknown.' He was transferred from Marine Animal Productions to Aquaticus in February 1995 where he died in October 1998.

Teri was captured in July 1987. He was sent to Aquaticus in November 1999. Teri is still alive.

Harley was born in captivity in July 1994. He arrived at Aquaticus in November 1999. He died in June 2000.

Calypso was captured in July 1986. She was sent to Aquaticus at a date unknown to us. In January 1998, she was sent back to Marine Life Oceanarium, an affiliate of Marine Animal Productions, where she died three weeks later. (According to information from one of our Oklahoma-sources, Calypso was returned to Marine Animal Productions becaused she banged her head repeatedly against the wall of the tank.)

Sandi was captured in august 1987 and transferred to Aquaticus in November 1999. She is still alive.

Toni was born in captivity in March 1988 at the Oklahoma City Zoo. In December 1997, she was sent to Marine Life Oceanarium. According to MMIR, she is still alive.

As mentioned earlier, not all dolphins that have been kept at Aquaticus are listed in MMIR. Most of the following information is based on various newspaper clippings reporting the many dolphin deaths at Aquaticus. (Available upon request.) Some of it is based on statements from our sources in Oklahoma City:

Sandi has been transferred between parks 9 times during her 12 years of captivity. She was 6 months pregnant upon arrival at Aquaticus. According to the zoo, no notification was given with regards to Sandi’s pregnancy. According to a woman who worked as a volunteer at the zoo at the time, Aquaticus staff assumed that Sandi was simply overweight and withheld her food. Eventually, it was discovered via ultrasound that Sandi was pregnant. She gave birth in May 2000.

Lily was born at Aquaticus May 30, 2000, by Sandi. She died in November 2000, just five months old. The cause of death is still under investigation.

Patti was born in Aquaticus on March 17, 1988. She was born to 16-year-old Kelly. In an article by Ellie Sutter -- dated March 30, 1988 -- Dr Joseph Alexander, dean of the college of veterinary medicine at Oklahoma State University, states that Patti was the third calf born to Kelly. Kelly and Patti are not mentioned in the MMIRS dated 11/08/2000 and 11/09/2000. We have not been able to find any mention of the two other calves born to Kelly, either.

Ralph died of pneumonia in June 1987. We have not been able to find any mention of Ralph in the above-mentioned versions of MMIR.

THE DOLPHINS’ AGE AT CAPTURE:

Amber’s estimated birth date is January 1984. If the estimated birth date is correct, she was just a little over two and a half years old when captured.

Sally’s estimated birth is January 1984. If the estimated birth date is correct, she was less than four years old when captured.

Teri’s estimated birth date is January 1984. If the estimated birth date is correct, he was a little over three and a half years old when captured.

Sandi’s estimated birth date, too, is January 1984. If the estimated birth date is correct, she was a little over three and a half years old when captured.

Calypso’s estimated birth date is January 1984. If the estimated birth date is correct, she was two and a half years old when captured.

CONSIDER THIS:

Amber, Sandi, Teri, Sally, and Calypso were all captured at a very young age. They were dragged away from their mothers, kicking and screaming, regardless of the fact that a young bottlenose dolphin will normally stay with his/her mother for as long as five years. In fact, the most intimate relationship within a dolphin community is that between a female dolphin and her baby. The two of them can be seen swimming very closely together, sharing a relationship characterized by deep affection. The violent and permanent separation is a traumatic experience for both mother and calf, and it is hardly surprising that dolphins have died from shock at capture.

In order to avoid any confusion regarding the exact number of dolphins kept at the Oklahoma City Zoo, we have sent a letter by fax and regular mail to Executive Director of the Oklahoma City Zoo, Dr. Connie Mack McCoy, requesting a complete list of all dolphins that have been kept at the Aquaticus exhibit since its opening until present. The letter was sent February 22. When we finally received a reply several months later we are told that Mobi Solangi of Marine Animal Productions, who is not subject to the Oklahoma Open Record Act, is holder of these records. In other words, the public will never be told the truth about the dolphins deaths at the Aquaticus exhibit.

Based on the information listed above, we have concluded that at least eight dolphins have died at the Oklahoma City Zoo since 1986. Despite this extraordinarily high mortality rate, both the zoo and MAP maintain that all is well with the Rent-a-Dolphin program. In fact, veterinarian Alexander maintains that Aquaticus is a “fine facility” with more than adequate protections for the dolphins. (Source: Article by Steve Lackmeyer, dated 07/10/2000.)

According to the very same article, Alexander 'praises Marine Animal Productions, which has leased dolphins to exhibits and parks since 1956. The company boasts that it works with 13 percent of all dolphins in captivity in the United States and Canada, providing them to more than 40 private and public institutions in 18 states and 11 foreign countries.'

Alexander has been connected with Aquaticus since 1986. He also makes a living as the consultant for MAP.

Mobi Solangi of MAP agrees with Alexander’s appraisal of Aquaticus. Solangi has called the exhibit “one of the best in the country.” (Source: Article by Scott Cooper, 11/23/2000.)

The public, however, has clearly had enough of the continuing deaths of these remarkable creatures. The goal of our campaign is to make sure that the contract between the Oklahoma City Zoo and MAP is not renewed when it expires in November 2001, and that no dolphins will endure confinement at Aquaticus in the future.

The following describes our visit to Oklahoma City from February 9 throughout February 15:

INSPECTING THE AQUATICUS EXHIBIT

On February 9, Nora Sinkansas, O’Barry and I visit the Oklahoma City Zoo to inspect the dolphin exhibit at Aquaticus and observe the dolphin show. The moment we approach the dolphin tank, we are struck by the strong smell of chlorine. The dolphin captivity industry claims to perform valuable research on their dolphins. To our knowledge, not one captive dolphin facility has researched the effect that chlorine has a dolphin’s eyes and skin.

The tank that Sandi and Teri are kept in consists of an indoor holding tank and an outdoor show tank. The holding tank is so small, the dolphins can hardly move. It does not provide complete protection from the cold air, as the only thing that separates it from the outdoor show tank is an iron gate. O’Barry believes this is the only tank in the United States where dolphins are kept in warm water and have to perform shows in cold air. We can’t help but wonder what effect this has on the dolphins’ health.

During the cold winter days, Teri and Sandi perform twice a day on weekdays and four times a day on Saturday and Sunday. In the summer, the dolphins’ work schedule is increased to four shows a day on weekdays and five shows a day on Saturday and Sunday.

The dolphin show consists of the usual captive dolphin circus tricks: targeting, vocalizing on command, and waving at the audience. The show is filmed by a CBS Channel 9 film crew who also interviews O’Barry regarding his strong opposition to the dolphin exhibit.

“The Oklahoma City Zoo officials will tell you that displaying dolphins like this serves the purpose of being educational. This is simply untrue. The show that I just witnessed was a spectacle of human dominance over nature. It does not teach the audience anything about the importance of wildlife conservation. On the contrary, it teaches them that abusing nature is OK,” O’Barry says and adds:

“Sandi and Teri are not really living. They are merely surviving. Living is doing things. In the wild, these dolphins would swim up to 40 miles every day, socializing, foraging, and navigating. Here, all they can do is swim in small circles and look into the barren walls of a concrete box. Is that educational? Of course not. Is it unusual and cruel? Certainly.”

“What do you want the Oklahoma City Zoo to do?” the journalist asks.

“We want them to stop the show. We want them to finally add some quality to Teri and Sandi’s lives, by taking them out of this tank and readapting them in a more natural environment where they can live out their lives free from human exploitation.

PROTESTING THE AQUATICUS DOLPHIN EXHIBIT

On February 10, about 50 people representing the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), the Dolphin Advocates of Oklahoma, the North Eastern Oklahoma Animal Helpers (NOAH), Defending Animal Rights in Tulsa (DART), and the Dolphin Project gather outside the Oklahoma City Zoo to demonstrate our concern for the last two surviving dolphins at the Oklahoma City Zoo and ask the zoo to finally put an end to the captive dolphin exhibit. Animal right activist Gwen McKenna has come all the way from Canada to participate.

Four different news channels cover the event, and through interviews we are able to get the word out to the public: Dolphins are free ranging, sonic, and complex wild creatures that do not belong in a concrete tank.

DEBATING THE EDUCATIONAL VALUE OF DOLPHIN DISPLAYS.

The dolphin captivity industry is encouraged in the United States by the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act, the legislation that promotes the display of dolphins as a way to educate the public about the importance of wildlife conservation.

But how can the violent capture and lifelong confinement of dolphins teach the public about the importance of preserving wildlife?

And how is the theatrical content of the captive dolphin spectacle supposed to sensitize the audience to respect wild animals?

These are essential questions in a debate about the captivity of dolphins, and prior to our visit in Oklahoma City; O’Barry sent a letter to the Oklahoma City Zoo’s Executive Director, Dr. Connie Mack McCoy:

“I believe the Oklahoma City community has a right to all the information on this very important issue. I hereby challenge you to a public debate about the educational value of captive dolphin displays.”

McCoy never answers the letter, and during the discussion, which takes place February 12 at 7:00 p.m. in at the Eleanor Auditorium of the Omniplex Science Museum, McCoy is not present. Neither are any of the other Oklahoma City Zoo Trust Board members that have been asked to participate.

Berman and O’Barry are obviously disappointed that the zoo has chosen to decline from this opportunity to have a public discussion about the dolphin captivity issue.

“The public deserves a chance to hear this issue from both sides and then make up their own minds,” they say.

When Berman shows the audience an excerpt from “A Fall from Freedom” -- a video that documents the capture of dolphins for amusement parks -- the audience is shocked to see how violent these captures really are.

“This is how the dolphins at the Oklahoma City Zoo were captured,” Berman says. He points out the fact that although the dolphin captivity industry routinely makes the claim that the capture and confinement of dolphins is done for the benefit of education and conservation, this very same industry has never done anything to resolve the tuna-dolphin issue.

'The two dolphins at Aquaticus were captured in the exact same way that dolphins are captured in tuna nets. They were chased and harassed. Aquariums are no different than the tuna fishing industry that has killed between 7 and 10 millions dolphins in their nets: Both industries are consumptive users of marine mammals.

By leasing dolphins from Marine Animal Productions, the Oklahoma City Zoo is supporting a company that has captured 200 or more dolphins from Mississippi Sound and sentenced them to lifelong confinement in amusement parks and the US Navy. The Oklahoma City Zoo is part of the problem,” says Berman and concludes: “It’s a problem that we have to solve if we want to save what is left in the oceans.”

During his talk, O’Barry presents the audience with the Marine Mammal Inventory Report of 11/08/2000:

“The Marine Mammal Inventory Report is the captivity industry’s own data regarding their captive dolphins. This data tells you whether the dolphin was captured from the wild or born in captivity. It tells you if the dolphin is still alive or dead and -- if the dolphin is dead -- when it died and from what. I want to show you the Marine Mammal Inventory Report for Marine Animal Productions, the company that the Oklahoma City Zoo leases its dolphins from. This report lists a total of 115 dolphins. 85 of those were captured from the wild. 25 were born in captivity, and 5 are of unknown origin. Of the 115 dolphins, 94 dolphins are dead.

This report does not include dolphins that were captured by MAP and sent to the US Navy, nor does it include the dolphins that have been sold by MAP to other facilities. If you included these dolphins, the number of dolphins captured by MAP in Mississippi Sound would be 200 or more, as pointed out by Berman. Most of them are dead. Among the causes of death are gastric ulcers, stress, and capture chock.

Why is Marine Animal Productions doing this? Why are they capturing and killing all these dolphins? And why has the Oklahoma City Zoo chosen to become part of this industry?

If Solangi and McCoy were here, they would tell you that they do it to educate the public. They would tell you they have to take these free ranging creatures from the wild and confine them in a tank so that they can sensitize you -- the public -- to the importance of wildlife conservation. That’s the big lie that this industry is built upon. The truth is, there is nobody bothering these dolphins, except the very people who capture and confine them.”

At the end of their talk, Berman and O’Barry encourage people to get involved and send letters to the Oklahoma City Zoo and the Mayor of Oklahoma City, calling for the closure of the Aquaticus dolphin exhibit.

ATTENDING THE ZOO TRUST BOARD MEETING

February 14 at 2.30 p.m., we attend the Zoo Trust Board meeting that is open to the public and held at the Conservation Education Center at the Oklahoma City Zoo. Among the members of the Zoo Trust Board are Executive Zoo Director Mr. McCoy and Trust Chairman Mr. Rainbolt. Present is also News Channel 4, which is an NBC affiliate owned by The New York Times.

Reinbolt informs O’Barry that the Zoo Trust Board has granted him five minutes to voice his concerns. O'Barry immediately raises a question:

“Would it be alarming to you if you had three or four dead silverback gorillas? Would you close the gorilla exhibit?”

“Of course we would,” says Reinbolt.

“You have not three but eight dead dolphins at your zoo. I think it’s because habitat dictates behavior, and I think the veterinarian would agree with me. If you look at the snake exhibit, you will notice that a cold-blooded snake with a very small brain is given more consideration than the dolphin. The snake has grass and a tree limb to climb on. It has rocks to hide under. But the dolphin that is a sonic, complex, and intelligent creature is trapped in a small, concrete, chlorinated box. To my knowledge, the Aquaticus exhibit is the smallest dolphin tank in America. I also think it’s the only one that is an outdoor facility in an area where it snows in the winter. When the water that the dolphins are kept in is warm and the air that they breathe is freezing cold, you have a setup for pneumonia, an illness that some of your dolphins have in fact died from.”

O’Barry goes on to show the Zoo Trust Board the Marine Mammal Inventory Report of 11/08/2000:

“I would like to show you the Marine Mammal Inventory Report for Marine Animal Productions where the dolphins at Aquaticus come from. Marine Animal Productions have had Rent-a-Dolphin shows all over America. Today, there are only two left: Hershey amusement park in Pennsylvania and the Aquaticus exhibit. Please take a look at this report. For your convenience, I have highlighted the dolphins that are dead. As you can clearly see, these are disposable dolphins for our disposable society: Out of a total of 115 dolphins, 94 dolphins are dead.

“The idea, as I understand it, is that you are doing this to educate the public to the importance of preserving dolphins. This is all about education and conservation, you say. But nobody is bothering any of these dolphins in Mississippi Sound except Mobi Solangi of Marine Animal Productions. Solangi has captured at least 200 dolphins to meet the demand for dolphins in facilities like yours. To have eight dead dolphins is absolutely unacceptable, and it is ludicrous to think that this is somehow conservation,” says O’Barry. He makes a plea to the trust to cancel the contract with Marine Animal Productions:

“Is it possible that you would agree that your dolphin exhibit is a failed experiment and cancel the contract with Marine Animal Productions when it expires in November?”

Reinbolt does not wish to give a clear answer but does say that the Zoo Trust Board shares O’Barry’s concern about the dolphins and will discuss the situation over the next couple of months.

“Let me ask you another question,” says O’Barry. “Do you really believe that the dolphin show is educational? I have seen the show and must say that any intelligent person would have to conclude that what they had just witnessed was a spectacle of dominance. It has nothing to do with education. It is all about amusement and money.”

Again, neither Reinbolt not any of the other board members wish to answer O’Barry’s question. Reinbolt advices O’Barry to simply give the Zoo Trust Board whatever information he has and adds: “You have one more minute left.”

O’Barry asks the board to consider the fact that 80 percent of the dolphins captured for the dolphin captivity industry are young females that are taken away from their lactating mothers.

“How that affects the gene pool of the wild population, nobody knows, and nobody seems to care.”

“I think that’s a false assumption,” Reinbolt replies. With these words, O’Barry’s five minutes are up, and the Zoo Trust Board spends the next hour discussing marketing tragedies, the budget, health insurance, paid vacation, and whether to purchase new ticketing software.

At no time during the meeting does anybody say, “By the way, how are the animals?” and when the board reaches the item “Marine Mammal Report” -- one of the topics listed on the agenda -- they skip it and move on to “New Business.”

At 3.30 p.m., the Zoo Trust Board members gather their papers and rush for the door.

“Are you not going to discuss the marine mammals?” O’Barry asks.

“The meeting is over,” says McCoy.

“What about the marine mammals?”

Nora Sinkankas, too, wants to ask some questions in order to once and for all clarify the exact number of dolphins that have died at the Oklahoma City Zoo. She is never given a chance to speak, and McCoy's last words are,

'The meeting is over. Everybody out.”

MEETING WITH MAYOR KIRK HUMPREYS

February 15, O’Barry meets with the mayor of Oklahoma City, Mr. Kirk Humpreys, who is a member of the trust that owns the Oklahoma City Zoo.

O’Barry explains to him why it is simply not possible to confine dolphins in a concrete tank without neglecting their most basic needs. He urges Humpreys to ensure that the contract with Marine Animal Productions in not renewed.

Humpreys seems unaware of the high mortality rate at the Aquaticus dolphin exhibit and says that he will carefully consider the information given.

UNCOVERING THE ACTIVITIES OF MARINE ANIMAL PRODUCTIONS

February 19, News Channel 4 runs a very powerful account of the activities of Marine Animal Productions. We think this will put further pressure on the Oklahoma City Zoo and the mayor to do the right thing and not renew the contract with the company's rent-a-dolphin program.

OBTAINING THE RECORDS OF THE AQUATICUS DOLPHINS

Pursuant to the Oklahoma Open Records Act, Lundi Makohin, a lawyer who has donated her legal services to the campaign, sent a letter to the Oklahoma City Zoo requesting the medical records of the dolphins that have been kept at the zoo from 1986 until present. Makohin has been informed that the zoo doesn't have the records. Again, the Zoo states that Mobi Solangi of Marine Animal Productions is holder of these records and the Zoo has no obligation to reveal any information.

THE CAMPAIGN CONTINUES

February 21, O’Barry sends a letter to Mayor Kirk Humpreys in which he states:

“The campaign to put an end to the cruel captive dolphin display at the Oklahoma City Zoo will continue until the zoo has found a cruelty-free form of entertainment to replace it.

On behalf of the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and our more than 300 member organizations in 70 countries, I am hereby formerly urging you to ensure that the contract between the Oklahoma City Zoo and Marine Animal Productions is cancelled, and that no dolphins will have to endure confinement at the Aquaticus exhibit in the future.”

Hundreds of people from around the country have sent letters  the Mayor of Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma Zoo Director, urging them not to renew the contract with Marine Animal Productions when it expires in November 2001.

UPDATE MAY 2001:

One of the two white tigers at the Oklahoma City Zoo dies May 14. The veterinarian describes his behavior as 'lethargic and depressed.'  Not surprisingly, the local news broadcast brings up the issue of the Aquaticus exhibit where four dolphins have died in the last four years. The Oklahoma City Zoo announces that a decision on whether or not to renew the contract with Marine Animal Productions will be made in September this year.

 UPDATE JUNE 2001:

The Oklahoma City Zoo cuts the dolphin show in half. Teri and Sandi are now made to perform twice a day  on weekdays and three times a day during the weekends.

UPDATE AUGUST 2001:

Victory: The Oklahoma City Zoo announces that a decision has been made to discontinue leasing dolphins from Marine Animal Productions. Although the Zoo will honor their contract with MAP until its expiration on 17 November 2001 the captive dolphin spectacle has ceased and the dolphins Sandi and Teri will be returned to Gulfport as soon as possible.

UPDATE OCTOBER 2001:

Campaign organizer Nora Sinkankas receives information that Sandi and Teri have been sent back to Gulfport, Mississippi on October 7. According to Dr. McCoy it was at Mobi Solangi's request that no one be alerted when the dolphins were being moved. 

With the closure of the Aquaticus exhibit, Marine Animal Production only has one rent-a-dolphin operation left, in Hershey Park of Hershey, Pennsylvania.