Wellington- Kelly, the last dolphin in captivity in New Zealand, has died at 38 at the Marineland marine park in Napier on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island, the City Council said Thursday.

Kelly, who died Thursday night after a short illness, lived almost twice as long as the normal life span of a common dolphin in the wild.

She had entertained thousands of visitors at Marineland since 1974 when she was taken there with her pool mate Shona, who died in April 2006.

Marine experts thought she would not live for very long on her own but she surprised them by thriving until falling ill a few days ago, a council statement said.

Marineland closed September 5, and although it still has New Zealand fur seals, California sea lions, little blue penguins and gannets and remains a hospital for sick and injured marine mammals and birds, its future is in doubt.

The dolphin was the star attraction, and Mayor Barbara Arnott said in July that nobody would want to visit Marineland if there were no dolphins, making it impossible for the centre to remain open. (dpa)