The Miami Sea Aquarium, the old Florida-style tourist attraction that was home to Lolita, the beloved orca who died last year, is being evicted from the waterfront property it leases from Miami-Dade County.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniela Levine Cava cited a “long and alarming history of violations” in a lease termination notice sent Thursday to the chief executive of the Dolphin Company, which owns the Sea Aquarium. .
The company was told to vacate the premises by April 21, according to a letter from the mayor’s office.
“Animals are subject to ongoing violations, including deterioration of their habitat, lack of veterinary staff, and lack of other experienced staff,” Levine Cava said at a press conference Thursday. .
“Our top priority remains the safety and welfare of the animals,” the mayor said.
Sent by aquarium officials letter Last month, I invited Levine Cava to come to the park to see for herself the health of the animals.
The county notified the park in January that it was considering terminating the park’s lease following a review by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which regulates the treatment and care of captive animals.
Dolphin Company CEO Eduardo Alvar appeared at the press conference and told reporters that he did not understand why the mayor had refused the invitation to visit the aquarium.
“How can you say you’re worried about the animals when you haven’t been to the Miami Aquarium in two years?” he asked.
Levine Cava said at a news conference that representatives from the county Parks Department have been visiting the park regularly over the past year and a half.
“The current situation at the Miami Aquarium is unsustainable and unsafe,” Levine Cava said.
Aquariums may still be able to resist eviction. A judge would have to declare the park in accordance with the lease.
Alber said Thursday that she plans to have a lawyer respond to the eviction notice.
“I let my lawyers protect our rights. I let my lawyers protect our rights because I’m uncomfortable talking about my people,” Alvar said.
The action follows a series of federal inspections that found multiple problems at the aquarium, including unsafe buildings and structural defects.
“U.S. Department of Agriculture reports from 2022 onwards consistently find that some structures are not properly maintained, creating dangerous conditions and often resulting in injuries. “We have identified them,” the mayor said.
Dolphin Company is based in Mexico. agreed to help relocate Lolita to a natural marine enclosure in the Pacific Northwest. When we take over ownership of Sea Aquarium in 2022.
Lolita, also known as Tokitae or Toki, passed away on August 18th at the age of 57.
Animal rights activists have long called for Lolita’s freedom.
Killer whales spent most of their lives in tanks measuring 80 feet by 35 feet and 20 feet deep. I stopped appearing on the show. At the aquarium in 2022.
A coalition that included Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay worked on a plan to bring Lolita back to the Pacific Northwest.
a autopsy Renal failure was cited as the cause of Lolita’s death.
An autopsy revealed that Lolita had acute and chronic bronchial interstitial pneumonia and chronic heart disease suggestive of renal degeneration, as well as heart valve degeneration.
“At last, authorities are beginning to take action against persistent animal welfare violations at the Miami Sea Aquarium,” said Dr. Naomi Rose, senior research scientist in marine mammal biology in the Animal Welfare Institute’s Marine Biology Program. Told. “This dilapidated facility has plagued Miami for far too long. I hope that you will do everything in your power to do so.”
Overlooking Biscayne Bay, Sea Aquarium opened in 1955 and was one of the first theme parks dedicated to marine life. It gained international attention in the 1960s when the television series Flipper was filmed there.
