Mote resident dolphin Moonshine dies

Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium announced that resident male dolphin, Moonshine, died Tuesday morning.

Moonshine came to Mote after being stranded on a beach in 2003 in the Florida Keys with severe sunburns. His sunburns healed after several months of treatment by the Marine Animal Rescue Society of Miami and Mote Marine Laboratory’s Dolphin and Whale Hospital. Mote became home for Moonshine after he was pronounced non-releasable due to his young age and liver abnormalities.

Mote released a statement Tuesday that Moonshine’s health had been declining recently and that he was uninterested in care and food. At the moment the cause of death is unknown at this time. However, an animal autopsy and additional tests will be conducted to determine the cause.

The dolphin lagoon at the Marine Mammal Research and Rehabilitation Center at Mote will be closed to visitors for the rest of the week. Donations can be made in memory of Moonshine to Mote’s Dolphin and Whale Hospital by visiting mote.org/donations.