The Miami Seaquarium faces renewed scrutiny following a USDA inspection report that highlighted a variety of violations ranging from a sea lion struggling with untreated cataracts to a dolphin that had swallowed a two-inch nail, among other foreign objects such as mangrove pods and shell pieces.
During a routine check on Oct. 16, 2023, USDA officials also unveiled instances of poor facility conditions including rusted bird cages, inadequate marine mammal housing, and a veterinary clinic overrun with ants, these findings come on the back of earlier concerns which included a dolphin suffering rib fractures and another with cement lodged in its digestive system, in a statement obtained by Local 10 News.
The report goes in-depth on the case of "Sushi," a sea lion with cataracts, recording that from Sept. 26 to mid-October, its health deteriorated dramatically due to the lack of surgery – "she was completely refusing food, due to eye pain" – and highlighted the urgency of receiving medical care. Meanwhile, "Ripley" and "Bimini," two dolphins, faced peril from ingesting hazardous objects with "Ripley" having a two-inch nail removed from his throat and "Bimini" discovering a broken bolt in her mouth, incidents which point to concerning animal safety practices within the park.
Animal encounters at the Seaquarium have also been rough and fraught with danger, notably on August 1 when a guest's panicked movements in the water led to a dolphin named "Zo" being kicked in the mouth, a troubling event detailed in the inspection documents that underscores the risks associated with direct human-animal interactions in such environments and this wasn't the first time such incidents have been noted as CBS Miami reports the facility has been long criticized for its handling of these interactions.
Repercussions for the park's management have been significant, with Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava pushing for lease termination due to the ongoing welfare issues – despite claims by Miami Seaquarium officials of upholding "high standards of animal care" – an ongoing battle that casts a shadow over the future of this South Florida attraction and sparks a heated debate over the ethical treatment of captive marine life.
