In an unfortunate turn of events at the embattled Miami Seaquarium, a 20-year-old sea lion named Bud has passed away shortly before a planned confiscation by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Bud's death is the latest in a series of setbacks for the facility which had been instructed to vacate the premises by April 21 following a lease termination notice that cited a history of violations, as reported by NBC6 Miami.
The Seaquarium's former vet had raised concerns about Bud's health, suggesting a CT scan for his kidney infection, but the procedure was not scheduled in time, sparking further scrutiny from the USDA which had included Bud among four animals designated for removal; this information was detailed in a press release by veterinary advocacy group Our Honor, chronicling deficiencies in the Seaquarium's practices leading to legal actions detailed in court documents which found its management in hot water over the care of its wards, according to World Animal Protection US.
Bud, who had been suffering from acute renal failure and a respiratory condition, was euthanized on March 28 due to his poor prognosis, Edwin Gonzalez, Executive Director of The Dolphin Company which owns the Seaquarium, told NBC6. Despite the Seaquarium's claims of improvements, animal rights advocates are outraged—World Animal Protection US has accused the Seaquarium of lacking compassion and urged for the immediate removal of all animals from the facility, stating, "Now Bud is dead, and more animals will continue to die until this facility is shut down forever."
Amid the controversy, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava had taken action earlier, sending the aforementioned lease termination letter to The Dolphin Company's CEO, the termination which was previously set for 2044 has been drastically cut short, the long and troubling history of violations levied against the Seaquarium stands as a grim testament to the contentious relationship between the Seaquarium and its critics including the USDA and animal welfare organizations looking for a resolution that ensures the health and safety of the remaining animals.
