Miami-Dade County officials are investigating a string of alarming issues at the Miami Seaquarium, including a dolphin with a nail in its throat and a sealion suffering from painful cataracts, according to a recent inspection report by the United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. The report from an October inspection unearthed troubling conditions at the long-standing marine attraction. Responding to the findings, a spokesperson for the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department told NBC6, "we are currently in the process of reviewing the report, and, as such, we are still analyzing the details of the recent findings."
Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has voiced serious concern over the state of animal care, as documented by the USDA. "The safety and well-being of all the animals that are currently under the care of the Miami Seaquarium continue to be of utmost importance for my administration," Levine Cava stated in a release covered by NBC6. The Miami-Dade County, citing USDA reports, is looking to terminate its lease with the Seaquarium, a move that underlines the gravity of the situation.
Among the disturbing findings detailed in the USDA inspection, a dolphin named "Ripley" was found with foreign objects in his throat, another, "Bimini," had a broken bolt in her mouth, while sealion "Sushi" was in need of cataract surgery due to significant eye pain which led to a refusal to eat. Additionally, the Seaquarium's facilities did not escape critique either — they housed ants in the vet clinic, and exhibited poor conditions such as stagnant and algae-filled water in a flamingo enclosure. CBS Miami posted on X about the distressing discoveries, highlighting the issues found during the routine inspection.
Disturbing discoveries at Miami Seaquarium https://t.co/x8NKedhpVa
— CBS News Miami (@CBSMiami) February 8, 2024
Despite the troubling findings, the Seaquarium denied any wrongdoing or maltreatment of animals. In a statement, the Seaquarium insisted, "Miami Seaquarium is in compliance with federal Animal Welfare Act regulations," and pointed to ongoing improvements under The Dolphin Company since it assumed operations. They also claimed to have addressed concerns for four complex animal cases with the USDA. Moreover, the statement expressed disappointment at Miami Dade County for allegedly misusing information about the facility's animal health issues, as reported by NBC6.
The Seaquarium's track record has been far from spotless, with the past year seeing the deaths of its famed killer whale Lolita and a dolphin named Sundance. As the county pushes to sever ties with the long-running marine park, the future of the facility — and the safety of its marine inhabitants — hangs in the balance.
