Marineland's elderly dolphin Kelly has died after 34 years in the limelight, marking the "end of an era", Napier Mayor Barbara Arnott said today.
Marineland manager Gary Macdonald told NZPA Kelly had been ill for about a week but had perked up yesterday which made her death inthe early hours of this morning quite a surprise.
However, at 38 years old - about double the normal life expectancy for a dolphin - staff had been well aware she did not have long to go.
Mrs Arnott said Marineland did not open for business today and the council, which owned the park, would hold a special consultation process with the community to decide whether it would continue without its trademark dolphins.
"For Napier and New Zealand it's the end of an era. For Marineland staff they are really grieving for a member of the family who has been there for 34 years."
Marineland nearly closed two years ago after the death of another dolphin, Shona, who made it to 36-years-old.
"We were originally going to shut it after Shona died, but because Kelly was happy to carry on it remained open," Mrs Arnott said.
"(We were) thinking Kelly would be really lonely without Shona but she soldiered on.
