PETA wants feds to probe dolphin death

The people who run PETA, the animal rights group, want a federal investigation into Saturday's death of a dolphin at The Mirage.

"We certainly have concerns," said Lisa Wathne, a captive exotic animal specialist with the group.

PETA, which said it was contacted by a whistle-blower, wants the U.S. Department of Agriculture's animal care division to investigate.

MGM Mirage officials reacted with disdain.

"We find PETA's request unnecessary and their accusations to be inaccurate, poorly timed and in very poor taste. This sadly follows the death of a much loved animal," the company said in a statement.

The statement also said the hotel's staff already had been working with USDA inspectors, "long before PETA injected itself into the process."

Wathne acknowledged that PETA has no direct evidence suggesting anything untoward went on at The Mirage, where the 11-year-old dolphin, named Sage, died.

"It's concerning," she said, "any time an animal dies at one of these facilities."