PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. — A dolphin rescued in June of 2015 after it was stranded in Panama City Beach, died unexpectedly in the midst of her rehabilitation.
According to Gulf World Marine Park, the dolphin, Halo, died from hydrocephalus, or fluid in the brain.
“This is a rare, untreatable condition found in wild dolphins,” the park said on its Facebook page.
The condition was likely the reason why the dolphin became stranded in the first place, the park said.
The death came as a shock to park employees.
“She was thriving with training and was socialized with the other dolphins,” the park said.
After months of rehabilitation, Halo was deemed non-releasable due to partial hearing loss and mother dependency.
Park employees were glad to have been able to give Halo a few extra months living at the park, “surrounded by a loving family … she will be missed.”