This photo was recently povided by a former Seaquarium employee. It has been hidden from the public since 1982.

In Sepetember 1982 the Seaquarium's performing dolphin named Poncho died of intestinal failure. His intestines literally exploded. Now we know why. This photo was presumably taken by Miami Seaquairum Vet. Greg Bossart. In Poncho's stomach were found:

• 2 Deflated Footballs
• 31 Coins
• 21 Stones
• 1 Trainers Whistle
• 1 Ten Penny Nail
• 2 Screws
• 1 Metal Tag
• 1 Piece of Wire
• 1 Metal Staple
• Several Other Unidentifiable Objects

"They get bored in captivity," says former dolphin trainer Russ Rector, "They pop the footballs and swallow them whole."

According to marine biologists dolphins living and dying in the wild rarely have anything other than fish in there stomachs but in captivity this is a common occurance.

"People seem to think the dolpin tanks are wishing wells and throw coins in. The dolpins snatch them up and swallow them," says Rector, "At Ocean World (now closed) one of our dolpins died of zinc poisoning from swallowing too many pennies."