Japanese Dolphins Go on a Diet

Dolphins at a marine park in Japan have been put on a diet after failing to hit jumping targets and developing pot bellies.

Staff at Kinosaki Marine World in western Japan became concerned last month, when they noticed the aquatic performances of the plumper dolphins were beginning to suffer.

Keepers were confused by their apparent sluggishness and noticed the animals were having problems keeping upright while treading water.

"We were puzzled by their poor performance, then we noticed they looked rounder,'' said Haruo Imazu, the park spokesman.

The dolphins were weighed and keepers realized that all 19 had become heavier. Some had put on up to 22 pounds over the summer.

But keepers could not work out why, as their diets had not changed. The creatures were all fed from the same menu – 31 pounds of mackerel mixed with white fish. Then they discovered that the mackerel the dolphins had been eating had become fattier, hence the weight gain.

The dolphins have since been put on a low fat diet and weight loss program, including a new exercise regime.