Notchfin the Dolphin (1962-2025)
Obituary
Notchfin passed away after spending decades in a small tank after being taken from the ocean in the seventies.
/ui/CMS/Content/our-work/wildlife-friendly-travel,,60686/?epieditmode=falseNotchfin, a 63-year-old bottlenose dolphin, died at SeaWorld Antonio in March 2025. She was the oldest-living dolphin held in captivity.
Notchfin spent fifty miserable years trapped in a small tank. She was stolen from her family and her home in the Atlantic Ocean in 1975. SeaWorld described her as a “founding member” of the park when it opened in 1998, even though Notchfin did not choose to stay at SeaWorld. She was imprisoned there.
In its memorial, SeaWorld also claimed that Notchfin contributed to “dolphin health and conservation.” This is a lie perpetuated by the marine amusement park industry. Most studies on marine mammals in aquariums focus on captive care or reproduction. The goal is to increase the number of animals on display. Little research or information is relevant to dolphins in the wild or protecting their habitat.
Everything about marine amusement parks is designed for the paying guest—not the animals stuck inside. Tanks are built so people can see dolphins easily. They’re generally smooth, featureless, and light-colored—nothing like the vast and dynamic ocean that dolphins enjoy in the wild. Frustrated and bored, many dolphins grind their teeth against tanks resulting in broken teeth and other dental problems not seen in dolphins in the wild.
The cruelty will not end with Notchfin. SeaWorld forced her to reproduce many times so her babies could be sold and similarly exploited. Maine mammal captivity must be banned to prevent more dolphins from suffering in the future. World Animal Protection urges everyone who loves dolphins to avoid zoos and enjoy them in the wild.
