Review after dolphin dies in collision

Officials at an aquatic theme park in Florida are reviewing training techniques after a dolphin died during an acrobatic stunt.

Sharky, a 30-year-old female bottlenose, suffered head injuries when she hit another dolphin as they both leapt out of water at Discovery Cove in Orlando on Sunday.

The other dolpin, Tyler, a 13-year-old male, was unharmed. The pair had performed the same trick dozens of times in the lagoon.



Sharky died in the arms of her trainers, who were in the water nearby. "This is an unfortunate, random incident," said Becca Bides, a park spokesman.

"While it is not unusual to have two animals performing at the same time, we are reviewing the situation to ensure even such a random incident does not occur again. We never had animals collide before."

Some animal rights groups have complained that the theme park - and others, including Sea World, which is owned by the same company - is promoting the suffering of animals for human entertainment.