Two-year-old dolphin dies at The Mirage

Staff

16 years ago

Sgt. Pepper, a 2-year-old dolphin at Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat, died Wednesday night of complications from a lung infection.

Officials at The Mirage attraction said the dolphin’s health had been deteriorating since the infection was discovered in December.

He is the 14th dolphin to die at the habitat since it opened in 1990. Five of the deaths involved stillborn or newborn calves, MGM Mirage spokeswoman Yvette Monet said.

"It is a time of mourning at the habitat for Sgt. Pepper," Monet said. "The mood at the habitat is very somber. This is a very sad loss for us."

Sgt. Pepper was born to two other Mirage dolphins, Dutchess and Lightning, on June 8, 2007. Monet said Sgt. Pepper’s lung infection was being treated with antibiotics and antifungal medicine and habitat curators believe his illness will not affect the other five dolphins.

A necropsy will be performed to determine an exact cause of death.