Two former employees have sued Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, saying they were fired in retaliation for raising animal welfare concerns. The lawsuit was filed Oct. 14 in Solano County Superior Court.
KNTV-TV in San Jose reports that Michael and Holley Muraco's wrongful termination lawsuit against the park says Michael Muraco told the U.S. Department of Agriculture about poor water quality in the dolphin pools.
A USDA inspection report from 2014 supported Muraco's fear that the deaths of two infant dolphins and chronic health problems in adult dolphins were related to poor water quality.
Two dolphin calves were born at the facility in 2014. Both died, and water quality appears to have played a role, according to the inspection report.
Six Flags did not return calls seeking comment. The park told a court publication that conditions are safe for animals and that the lawsuit has no merit.