KMIR 6 - Palm Springs News, Weather, SportsLas Vegas Strip attraction reports dolphin death
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Associated Press - June 4, 2009 4:44 PM ET
LAS VEGAS (AP) - A hotel official says an ailing male dolphin has died at an aquatic habitat at The Mirage on the Las Vegas Strip.
MGM Mirage spokeswoman Yvette Monet says 2-year-old Sgt. Pepper died Wednesday during continuing treatment for a lung infection diagnosed last December.
Monet said Thursday that animal care officials and an independent veterinarian will conduct a necropsy.
Sgt. Pepper was the 14th dolphin to die at the Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat since the attraction opened with five dolphins in 1990. 5 of those 14 were stillborns or died shortly after birth.
The last dolphin death at the habitat was in July 2008.
The habitat offers tours, hosts birthday parties and can be rented as a setting for private events.
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