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| - Sigh. I've been here several times when friends or family are in town. I like to support animal facilities when they are done right, but this place upsets me everytime I'm there. And I decided the last time we visited will be the last.
There isn't a whole lot to the place. There are two pools with dolphins, an underwater viewing area, and a few enclosures with big cats. You can be in-and-out pretty quickly, but kids love it so you can be here longer if you want to.
First off, the dolphin tank is FILTHY. I noticed it pretty quickly since my husband cleans tanks as part of his job, but even our friends noticed it right away as well. And it's been filthy all four times I've visited. Get some divers in there daily if need be, don't make these poor animals uncomfortable.
Secondly, the dolphin tank is SPARCE. There are one, maybe two, "coral" structures at the bottom of the pool and that is it. We are talking about some of the smartest animals on Earth being stuck in what I would consider to be a condo with a kitchen table and nothing else.
I would also like to mention that the dolphins we saw in the underground viewing area all had scratches and what appeared to be skin conditions covering their bodies. I'm sure some of it (the scratches in particular) are natural, but I can't imagine it all is.
Lastly, the big cats look bored and cramped. At least their enclosures are a bit more interactive and clean than the dolphins', but I'm pretty sure those cats are trying to plan their escape.
I'm sure the employees mean well and it has more to do with how much money the casino is providing them to make improvements (I'm guessing none), but it doesn't change the fact that I feel awful when I'm there. I would recommend skipping it.
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