On May 14th, 2012 the Minnesota Zoo published a press release on their website titled "Minnesota Zoo Receives $4 Million in 2012 Capital Investment Bill."  In it, it is clear that the decision has been made to discontinue exhibiting Atlantic bottlenose dolphins.

There are currently only four zoological facilities in the Midwest region of the United States that have the privilege and honor to care for dolphins.  Dolphins alone have received remarkable special attention and admiration for thousands of years.  Few animals in existence can claim popular recognition by cultures as far back and renown as the ancient Greeks.  So to discontinue the display and firsthand education of dolphins from the the Minnesota Zoo will not only inevitably affect the status and reception of the zoo by the public, but remove an ambassador species that has played an unprecedented role in the inspiration for others to act on behalf of animals and the environment.

This decision by the Minnesota Zoo is not only upsetting in its own right, but what is more upsetting is that there were no published resources addressing the public that this was a possible outcome contingent on funding provided by the Minnesota State Legislature.  The blame cannot be placed on the Minnesota State Legislature alone for inadequate funding, but is shared by the leaders of the Minnesota Zoo including, but not limited to, Minnesota Zoo CEO Lee Ehmke.  It would be impossible that the Legislature and the leaders of the Zoo did not acknowledge the possibility of discontinuing the display of dolphins before the 2012 Capital Investment Bill was signed.  To not inform the public before the bill was signed of the possible removal of a species that has played an integral part of the Minnesota Zoo for over thirty years is largely irresponsible and in some ways, insulting.

This petition was established so the public can voice what they did not get the adequate chance to do: voice their support to keep dolphins at the Minnesota Zoo so that we may admire and learn of such an amazing species while retaining prestige for the Minnesota Zoo.

While the decision is ultimately the Minnesota Zoo's, it is apparent that this decision was based on funding provided in the bill passed by the state House, Senate and signed off by the Governor. So if a change is to be made, it will require involvement of all parties.

UPDATE (5.15.12): See "Petition Updates" section for an update relating to an article published by the Star Tribune.  In the article Gov. Dayton and Rep. Larry Howes express frustration for not knowing of this possible outcome before the bill was signed.