Miami's Seaquarium is Unfit For Animals

Several members of the theme park's staff have quit in protest of the conditions in which animals are held captive,  In their resignation letter they cited managements dismissal of staff concerns for animal welfare and keeping the park understaffed.  Public pressure is mounting for Dade County, which owns the site to terminate Dolphin Company's lease, after USDA issued citations for animal welfare violations,.  The company is also behind on rent payments.  In February the park lost its certification from the American Humane Society.  Its county lease requires this certification be maintained.  If the county proceeds with evicting the Dolphin Company for non-payment and lease violations Seaworld would be over.

Not a moment too soon. Readers may recall the tragic story of orca  Lolita  held in North America's  smallest tank that died last year. One veterinary staff person who resigned told management that, "These animals deserve better than this and it breaks my heart every night knowing there’s not even a fight in any of you to TRY!” Seaworld is over seventy years old, one of the first ocean aquariums to be established. in the USA.  Seaworld is loosing money and management is cutting corners on animal health care. It has been sued ten times in the last two years for debts. [credit: AP]

USDA inspectors have visited the park multiple times and have found unhealthy conditions.  For example, a young dolphin with pieces of plastic and a large chunk of concrete in its digestive tract, and another with multiple bilateral rib fractures.  An animal welfare group flew a drone over the site and discovered a manatee named Romeo swimming in circles in a small, filthy tank.  The video was exposed on the Internet prompting the US Fish & Wildlife Service to remove the sixty-seven year old captive to a sanctuary.  A bottlenose dolphin named Sundance died in December after USDA inspectors raised concerns about his health.  They found four other animals in need of urgent care on their return visit in January.  So far the Dolphin Company has been able to dodge eviction and animals confiscation by taking what one animal advocate organization called "superficial" remedial action.  For the sake of the animals held captive, it is time to take effective action and close Seaworld for good and all.