Rough-Toothed Dolphin Rex Dies Unexpectedly At Clearwater Aquarium

CLEARWATER, FL — There's more sad news from the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

The aquarium announced that Rex, the resident rough-toothed dolphin, has died at the age of 8.

On March 6, the aquarium announced that the dolphin began showing signs of discomfort last week and was placed under the round-a-clock care of the aquarium's veterinarian and animal care team.

Despite their efforts, the dolphin suddenly died on Monday.

Rex was found stranded on St. George Island in Franklin County on April 19, 2019, and became a resident at CMA in August 2020.

"It was our privilege to care for Rex," veterinarian Dr. Shelly Marquardt said. "He was loved by our CMA family and guests from around the world. The knowledge, research and lessons Rex taught us will help us care for his species in the future."

The aquarium has a working marine animal hospital that provides care to marine animals that need recovery and rehabilitation before being released and serves as a permanent home to those that cannot be released due to physical limitations.

Rex came to the aquarium in 2020 with health challenges and was found to have significant hearing loss, making him vulnerable and ineligible for release.

For several years, his health remained stable, but last week animal care staff noticed a change in Rex’s behavior, including a lack of appetite. When his condition worsened, animal care staff began monitoring him 24 hours a day, providing veterinary care and keeping him comfortable, said Marquardt.

Rex's unexpected death has left the animal care staff shaken. Team members were still recovering from the death of dolphin Hemingway in January due to a gastrointestinal condition when Rex died.

Related:

• Sudden Death Of Dolphin Hemingway Leaves Aquarium Staff Devastated
• Amidst Tragic Loss Of Winter, Aquarium Finds Reason To Celebrate
• Winter The Dolphin's Death Mourned By Fans, Aquarium Staff

The Atlantic bottlenose dolphin was estimated to be about 37 years old. He was found stranded in shallow waters off Fiesta Key in July 2019. After Hemingway underwent extensive rehab for pneumonia, veterinarians discovered he was deaf, which would put him at a serious disadvantage in the wild. He's lived at the aquarium since June 2020 and died on Jan. 23.

Four months earlier, in October, the team had to deal with the loss of PJ, the oldest dolphin living at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, at the age of 51.

Also a bottlenose dolphin, PJ was rescued on Aug. 21, 2018, and came to live at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium in March 2019, eventually becoming the pod partner for Hope, whose former pod partner, Winter, died in November 2021 at the age of 16.

PJ was found stranded in shallow water in Old Tampa Bay, and it was determined she couldn't be released back into the wild due to medical issues, including severe hearing loss, vision loss, worn teeth and arthritis.

The aquarium said every death of one of the aquarium's residents hits the animal care staff especially hard. They work closely with the animals, feeding them, caring for them and providing them with enrichment activities that are as much fun for the staff as the animals.

Marquardt said every loss is like losing a member of the family for the team members, who have become especially close due to the recent grief they've experienced.