A dolphin named Honey has died while living alone in a tank at an abandoned Japanese aquarium, according to advocacy organisation Dolphin Project.
The bottlenose dolphin first made headlines in 2018 after she was left in a small pool at the Inubosaki Marine Park Aquarium in the city of Choshi, east of Tokyo, along with 46 penguins and hundreds of fish and reptiles.
Animal rights charity Dolphin Project said it had made attempts to rescue Honey, who was reportedly taken to the park in 2005 after being captured, however they weren't able to get a deal in place in time.
Announcing the news of the dolphin's death on its website, a statement said: "In late February of this year, we reached out to our Japanese colleagues once again in attempts to purchase Honey in order that she could be retired in peace and dignity.
"These conversations ended in early March when it became apparent Honey was unlikely to survive.
"Later that month on March 29, Honey died in her tank."
Honey’s plight had attracted worldwide attention, the Dolphin Project said, and it sparked a huge movement from within Japan.
The organisation said: "While tragically, she wasn’t able to escape the manmade enclosure she suffered in, Honey will remain the face of dolphin captivity for many years to come."
Inubosaki Marine Park Aquarium closed in January 2018 following a drop in visitors, but the animals continued to be fed by one paid employee.
Footage filmed on a drone by the Dolphin Project shows the plight of Honey, who was forced to live in a tiny tank for two years.
The organisation said it has encountered similar situations in other countries.
The statement continues: "Dolphin Project has encountered dolphins in the United States, South Korea, Haiti, Indonesia, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Colombia and Brazil whom were all in similar situations as Honey.
"In many instances, we were able to successfully rehabilitate and re-release these mammals."
