Rita, Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin at Hong Kong’s Ocean Park, dies at 24

A 24-year-old Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin named Rita has died at Hong Kong’s Ocean Park after showing signs of fatigue and a loss of appetite.

The marine mammal had lived in the park for about 13 years after she was transferred from Tunisia. Investigations into her death are ongoing.

“Rita was a playful animal who got along well with her dolphin and human mates, and was a beloved animal ambassador living in the Marine Mammal Breeding and Research Centre next to the Ocean Park Veterinary Centre,” a park spokesman said.

She had refused to eat and showed signs of tiredness since Friday.

The park said that veterinarians performed thorough examinations and blood tests on the dolphin, which caretakers looked after around the clock.

But her health conditions worsened and she died on Sunday afternoon.