Protest continues as Gulf World dolphin removal is delayed
A video shows that preparations for the dolphin's removal are underway.
Protesters camped outside Gulf World all Friday night, and say they haven't seen the dolphins leave yet.
Protestors say they just want the dolphins removed, but not to another facility owned by the Dolphin Company.
Gulf World Marine Park dolphins potentially being moved within the next 24 hours
The park reportedly has 11 dolphins left.
According to the latest update from Neal Dunn's office, there are still four living rough-tooth dolphins without permits for removal.
'We are begging, begging, begging. Please. We know that you guys have a permit to get these Southern Bottlenose dolphins out. There are still four rusty dolphins in there. We need all the dolphins. Like, we are concerned for the safety of every single living creature there,' protester Jamie Marghany said.
After hearing confirmation that a fifth dolphin died on Wednesday, protestors want state-level action.
'It's inhumane. It's animal abuse on the highest level. And I am so sad that our Governor Ron DeSantis, our attorney general, has not done anything to step up and save these animals,' protester Cheryl Cargile said.
The park closed unexpectedly on Wednesday and is said to remain closed until June 3rd. However, tickets were still available for purchase online the day before.
Now, ticket-buyers are struggling to get a refund.
'We went online and Tuesday to look for the tickets. We put it up here because I've always wanted to run the Dolphins here, and it shows open not to fortnightly. So we've been coming down through here, and it shows daily, and it shows right here on their little sign, their little advertisement of everything. The people that's beside me from Georgia bought their tickets online they bought their tickets online. But when you go to call my brother Justine, they hang the phone number so they won't even speak,' Gulf World customer Amy Killian said.
Gulf World employees were on-site, but did not provide refunds. Protesters believe Gulf World is hiding what conditions the animals are living in.
'We know for a fact that they are Photoshopping pictures because we had someone go in the same day that they posted a photo. Theirs is perfectly blue, clear water, and the actual photo is green. So the dolphins all have abnormalities and issues. They're shocking with granular chemicals because the numbers are broken. It's just not a good situation,' Marghany said.
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They believe Gulf World is leaving a negative impact on tourists visiting Panama City Beach.
'I have a two-year-old grandbaby that's still crying, wanting to go in there, baby, we can't go in there, honey. They're not alive. And how do you explain that to a two-year-old?' Killian added.
The fight isn't just for the dolphins. Protestors want all of the animals to be removed from Gulf World.
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