Hemingway the 37-year-old dolphin dies in aquarium years after rescue in Florida Keys

An aquarium in Florida is mourning the loss of a 37-year-old dolphin who had been rescued off the coast years earlier.

Hemingway the bottlenose dolphin came to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium in June 2020 after he was found stranded off Fiesta Key in July 2019, according to the aquarium.

“When he was rescued by Dolphins Plus Marine Mammal Responder, the dolphin was weak and was found to have severe pneumonia,” the aquarium said.

Rescuers said Hemingway, estimated to be about 37 years old, couldn’t be released into the wild because he had hearing loss and other health issues.

So the aquarium became his new home.

“Our team did all that was possible to keep Hemingway comfortable. He will be missed by us all,” the aquarium said.

The aquarium staff first noticed Hemingway acting strange in mid-January and began to treat him for what they believed was a gastrointestinal condition, staff said. The aquarium veterinary team, veterinary experts and a radiologist helped treat Hemingway.

Hemingway died around 1:30 a.m. on Jan. 23, according to staff. A cause of death will be revealed after a necropsy.

“Our team is heartbroken this morning,” the aquarium wrote on Facebook. ”We are forever grateful for the time we had with Hemingway and are proud of our staff and volunteers for the level of care we provide to all the animals in our care. We appreciate all the love and support from our community as we mourn his passing.”

Bottlenose dolphins can live to be up to 40 years old, with some females surviving until 60, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Clearwater is about 25 miles west of Tampa.

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