Dolphins were dying at Vegas attraction. Now it’s closing, but not due to the deaths

An iconic attraction on the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada will permanently close down its wild animal exhibits to make room for a guitar-shaped Hard Rock hotel, officials said.

MGM is selling the Mirage hotel and resort to Hard Rock International. Hard Rock’s leadership team plans to “wind down” and permanently close the Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat to make way for the Guitar Hotel and other planned renovations, according to a memo sent to Mirage employees on Tuesday, Nov. 22.

The dolphin exhibit has been temporarily closed since September, after three bottlenose dolphins died within five months of each other. The seven remaining dolphins would stay there while experts inspected the facility, McClatchy News previously reported.

Now they will be permanently relocated to a new home, as will the facility’s big cats, including white tigers, white lions and leopards.

“Both MGM and Hard Rock are committed to finding new homes for the animals that meet our required high standards of care and give each animal an opportunity to thrive,” according to the memo from Mirage and Hard Rock executives.

The Mirage’s review of the enclosure was nearing completion, but the team has “not yet determined when the facility will reopen or in what capacity,” the statement says.

The facility has been running for more than 30 years since opening in 1990.

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