Ocean Park’s oldest dolphin, Jessie, has died aged about 44 after almost four decades of delighting animal lovers in the park.
A report blamed a kidney problem and abdominal infection, but more tests are pending.
Jessie, an Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin, lived well beyond the maximum life expectancy of 37 years for the species in the wild, said Suzanne Gendron, executive director of zoological operations and education at the park.
“Jessie has been with Ocean Park for 38 years. She was a member of our family and she will be deeply missed,” Gendron said.
Jessie arrived in 1978 from the Penghu Islands in Taiwan.
During her 38 years at the park, she was part of the presentation and educational programmes at Ocean Theatre, Dolphin University and at the Marine Mammal Breeding and Research Centre, contributing to science and a greater understanding of her species, according to the park.