A dolphin at an aquarium in Shizuoka Prefecture has set the Japanese record for longest time in captivity, the aquarium in the city of Shimoda said Oct. 4.
Nana the bottlenose dolphin has marked 15,666 days, or 42 years and 11 months, living in Shimoda Aquarium.
Shimoda Aquarium said the dolphin, whose age is estimated at 45 to 47, has lived there since it was captured in the sea off the city of Ito in Shizuoka in November 1974.
By 1994, she had given birth to eight dolphins. Nana still has a big appetite and likes to eat mackerel.
Bottlenose dolphins usually live for 10 to 15 years.
The aquarium held a ceremony for Nana on Wednesday, where Shimoda Mayor Yusuke Fukui handed a special residence certificate to the dolphin.
Nana swam and jumped with other dolphins that are as young as her great-grandchildren.
"Because we keep her in a natural bay, she may not have a lot of stress. I hope she will stay healthy and live a long life even from now," said Takumi Ishimura, an aquarium worker in charge of taking care of Nana.