Bankruptcy Judge Approves Transfer of Eight Duck Key Dolphins to SeaWorld

A Delaware bankruptcy judge has ordered the transfer of eight bottlenose dolphins from the Dolphin Connection at Hawks Cay Resort in Duck Key to SeaWorld in Orlando, a ruling that signals the end of a local attraction that has operated since the early 1990s. Judge Laurie Selber Silverstein issued the approval in court the morning of January 28, 2026, saying, “There really is, quite frankly, no option,” and that “the animals need to find a home somewhere else” while noting that “SeaWorld is an appropriate transferee.”

The decision is part of a larger Chapter 11 restructuring involving Leisure Investments Holdings LLC and related Dolphin Company entities, a bankruptcy case that traces back to filings shown for March 31, 2025. Court orders in November and December 2025 set in motion multiple animal transfers, with specific documents dated November 12, December 4, and December 16 authorizing sales and transfers of certain animals. Those filings outline a plan that would wind down Dolphin Connection and relocate the eight dolphins to Orlando if no formal objections were filed by a January 2 deadline.

Courtroom testimony emphasized coordinated removal and animal welfare. A courtroom participant said, “We’re working to cooperatively facilitate the removal of the animals at the same time in a way that’s not only safe, but also doesn’t interfere with the operations of the resort … although many people here in the courtroom said it would probably be fun to watch.” Local officials have signaled oversight interest: Miami-Dade Chief Utilities and Regulatory Services Officer Roy Coley said the county “remains committed to prioritizing the safety and welfare of the animals” and that “The Dolphin Company is in charge of preparing a plan to ensure the safe and orderly transition of the park and the animals in its care.”

The Duck Key transfer is one piece of a broader relocation effort. Elevenflo summaries show 73 animals will move to nine facilities across the United States under court supervision. At Marineland most animals will remain under new ownership while three dolphins will relocate to Theater of the Sea in the Florida Keys. Law360 reporting also records judge-approved sales of dolphins, sea lions, sharks and other animals tied to the case (Case No. 1:25-bk-10606).

For Monroe County residents and visitors, the ruling ends decades of on-site dolphin encounters at Hawks Cay and shifts responsibility for animal care to accredited facilities. The court said the eight dolphins will be kept together during transport, and debtors’ representatives have told the court no animals will be moved to other Dolphin Company parks.

Next steps include obtaining the written Jan. 28 court order for the precise transfer conditions, confirmation from SeaWorld on timing and care plans, and any required federal approvals for interstate animal transport. The broader bankruptcy docket also still requires a Miami-Dade County Commission decision on the Miami Seaquarium lease transfer, a $22.5 million assignment approved by the bankruptcy court on Oct. 17, 2025, with a projected transfer deadline no later than May 15, 2026.