The beloved Atlantic bottlenose died 15 Years after undergoing groundbreaking kidney surgery


Dottie the dolphin Credit: Mike Aguilera/SeaWorld San Diego via Getty

NEED TO KNOW

o Dottie the dolphin, SeaWorld San Diego's famous long-term resident, has died at 39

o Dottie was born at SeaWorld Orlando and relocated to California in 1999

o She was the first dolphin to undergo dialysis and kidney stone removal in 2010

Dottie the dolphin, SeaWorld San Diego's famous long-term resident, has died at 39.

The Atlantic bottlenose dolphin was born at SeaWorld Orlando in Florida and relocated to SeaWorld San Diego in 1999. The beloved dolphin's death was announced by the amusement park in an Instagram post on Sunday, May 31.

“With heavy hearts, we share the passing of Dottie, an extraordinary dolphin who lived to the impressive age of 39,” SeaWorld San Diego wrote, alongside a couple of photos of Dottie in the water.

“Born at SeaWorld Orlando before making her long-term home at SeaWorld San Diego, she became deeply known to her care team and guests alike. She was the devoted mother of four calves, and was especially known for her strong personality and curiosity,” the park continued.

Dottie went into acute kidney failure in January 2010 due to complications from kidney stones. She became the first dolphin to be put on dialysis and have her kidney stones removed, PEOPLE previously reported.

SeaWorld San Diego said that Dottie had an "exceptionally close bond with her care team" over the years and during her treatment.

"These relationships supported the trust needed for voluntary diagnostic behaviors that helped maintain her health, particularly when diagnosed with kidney stones," the park wrote. “After a groundbreaking procedure by the SeaWorld veterinary team, she [thrived] for another 15 years."

UC-San Diego Medical Center director Dr. Roger Sur, who treated Dottie, told PEOPLE in 2010, “I was really thrown. [The prospect] was challenging, exciting – and scary. If at any point she decided to kick me, I was right next to her fluke – 500 lbs. verses 160, but she didn't really fight me very much. She had nothing really left in her to fight.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Luckily, Dottie recovered from her illness and returned home later that year. “She'll probably be the one I'll never forget — it's not every day you operate on a dolphin,” said Sur.

SeaWorld San Diego added on Instagram that Dottie “will be deeply missed” by the team and the “countless guests who were able to connect with her over her remarkable life.”

Source