Mediterraneo blames support diver for fatal lead poisoning of three dolphins
The Mediterraneo Marine Park has blamed a support diver for misplacing the weight bag that caused the deaths of three bottlenose dolphins by lead poisoning last year.
Times of Malta reported on Monday how the deaths of the captive dolphins Mar, Onda and Melita were caused by lead poisoning after lead pellets from a split weight bag ended up in the cetaceans’ enclosure.
In a reply sent after publication, Mediterraneo’s supervising manager, Pietro Pecchioni confirmed that the dolphins had died after ingesting lead pellets but denied that the weight bag had originated from within the park, saying these had been banned for many years.
He further clarified that activities that allow guests to swim with the dolphins occur on the surface and participants are not given weight belts.
“During the summer of 2021, we had an unfortunate episode due to a weight bag containing lead pellets that was presumably left unattended by a support diver who was in charge of cleaning the tanks. Weight bags are strictly forbidden at the park,” Pecchioni said.
'Scrupulous health protocols'
“This bag was probably sucked by the bottom aspiration and pushed into the pool during a reverse flow cleaning...