Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced on Thursday the opening of a criminal investigation into Gulf World Marine Park after the suspicious death of a fifth dolphin at the park.
"Today, my office opened a statewide criminal investigation into Gulf World Marine Park in Panama City Beach and its Mexico-based parent company, The Dolphin Company," Uthmeier said.
The shocking string of incidents has also caught the attention of Sen. Jay Trumbull (R-Panama City). Sen. Trumbull called the deaths a "disturbing and unacceptable pattern" in a Facebook post.
"Another dolphin has died at Gulf World. This marks the second in just over a month—and it’s part of a disturbing and unacceptable pattern," Trumbull said. "These are not isolated incidents—they are signs of failure, and they demand immediate action."
Trumbull noted that his office was in touch with the USDA and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to determine the cause of the situation. Moving forward, he advised the FWC to relocate any remaining animals from the park to a safer environment, possibly including SeaWorld in Orlando.
"From the moment we were first made aware of the situation, we demanded action. We engaged with all relevant state agencies immediately to intercede in any way possible and have continued to press for swift intervention ever since," Trumbull added.
In a social media post, Gulf World Marine Park announced it would be closed the rest of the week. The park plans to reopen on June 3.
"This is no longer about protocols or paperwork—it’s about doing what is right. These animals are suffering. The public is watching. And the time to act is now," Trumbill concluded.
