A whale has died at SeaWorld after years of ‘persistent health problems’ for years.
Fredi, a pilot whale, was one of 24 rescued from a mass stranding in the Florida Keys in 2011.
She became the fourth whale to die at the park in Orlando, Floria, in three years and her death leaves just three pilot whales left at Shamu Stadium.
A spokesman for SeaWorld Orlando, said: ‘Whales and dolphins that strand, full recovery is not always guaranteed.
‘This pilot whale faced continued health issues since her initial stranding.
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‘In recent months her condition progressed, requiring advanced monitoring and care by the SeaWorld veterinary and animal care teams.
‘Despite that full effort, her health and quality of life declined recently and she was no longer responding to treatment.”
‘Fredi had inspired millions of guests and her care team, and she will be forever missed.’
More than four million people travel to SeaWorld each year but animal rights activists have called for the park to be shut after a number of high profile deaths.
Tilikum – the whale made famous in the 2013 documentary Blackfish – died at the park in 2017.
The documentary had criticised the park’s captivity practices and said SeaWorld was putting the animals and their trainers performing in live shows in danger.
Tilikum, who had a familiar floppy fin, was linked to the deaths of trainers Dawn Brancheau, Keltie Byrne and Daniel Dukes.
In January, another Orca, Kayla, died after her health also deteriorated and she started showing signs of discomfort, according to the park’s officials.
Kayla was born in captivity at SeaWorld San Antonio in 1988 before moving to Orlando in 2006.
Her death led to fresh calls from the public to close SeaWorld’s killer whale programme.
