Stock photo of a dolphin not the late K2.Photo: Getty
Miami Seaquarium is coming under fire after a new report found that the Florida attraction’s dolphins are underfed and underweight.
On Oct. 20, PETA, citing daily training reports from Miami Seaquarium, claimed that the park’s staff “withheld food from animals they felt exhibited poor behavior,” which PETA claims may have been a factor that caused some dolphins to break from their enclosures and attack each other.
The statement from Miami Seaquarium also addressed PETA’s claims that the park’s dolphins were given less food as a punishment to get the animals to perform better, regardless of veterinarian advice.
“At no time were adjustments, dietary or otherwise, made with the purpose of enhancing animal behavior during guest interactions,” the Florida attraction shared, adding, “At no time has the authority of the Miami Seaquarium’s Attending Veterinarian been ignored, however, there were some gaps in communication between departments this spring that were corrected.”
PETA continues to campaign for people to avoid the Miami Seaquarium, despite the park’s statement.
Jared Goodman, PETA Foundation General Counsel for Animal Law, told PEOPLE in a statement: “Even after officials promised greater oversight, this damning new federal inspection report reveals that Miami Seaquarium staff starved dolphins in order to force them to perform and made the emaciated animals perform more often than usual, causing them to attack trainers and bite members of the public.”
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“PETA is calling on everyone to steer clear of the park, for the Seaquarium to release the dolphins along with the lonely orcaLolita, and for Miami-Dade County to shut this hellhole down,” Goodman added.
Cava noted that Miami-Dade Parks & Recreation is issuing a formal Notice of Noncompliance for failing to comply with federal regulations required under their lease, including the Marine Mammal Protection Act & Animal Welfare Act. The county is also hiring independent marine mammal veterinarians for random inspections — in addition to USDA inspections.
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“I have heard and read the concerns of residents and people from around the world,” Cava wrote on Twitter. “We are committed to thehealth and safety of all our animalsat the Seaquarium — I will continue to closely monitor the progress of our oversight efforts.”
In the Miami Seaquarium’s Oct. 21 statement, the park’s general manager Patrick Pearson spoke on the care the facility provides to its dolphins.
“I want to be very clear about the Miami Seaquarium’s commitment to providing the best possible environment for the health and well-being of the animals in our care,” Pearson said, “When we assumed management earlier this year, we set out to correct decades of difficult circumstances. We know the world is watching and we welcome that attention because, in addition to providing the highest level of care for these animals, we want to be advocates for animal well-being around the world.”
source: people.com
