Fuji, the dolphin with the first prosthetic tail dies

Discovery News reports that Fuji the dolphin has died at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Japan. Fuji was first dolphin in the world to receive a prosthetic tail fin at about the age of 45.

Fuji arrived at the aquarium in 1976, after having been captured off Ito City, on Japan's eastern shore.

In 2002, an unknown disease caused 75 percent of her tail fin to rot. She was fitted with a rubberized prosthetic tail fin and was able to swim and dive again, and even re-learn how to jump.

It's sad to hear about a dolphin being captured and placed in captivity. Let's hope that particular aquarium is no longer doing so.