The Miami Seaquarium saga takes another twist as a judge halts the controversial theme park’s immediate eviction, keeping the spotlight on its troubled operations.
After mounting scrutiny over USDA inspections focusing on its years of failing animal care, the Seaquarium was officially evicted by Miami-Dade County in 2023, but its story is far from over.
The county cited shocking breaches of the park’s lease, with reports revealing alarming animal welfare issues, including an Atlantic Bottlenose dolphin discovered with a two-inch nail in its throat and filthy, bacteria-infested waters. Astonishingly, only one veterinarian was tasked with caring for the entire animal population, raising serious concerns about the park’s practices.
While the park was given an April 21 deadline to vacate, it remains operational today. Its owner, The Dolphin Company, has filed a lawsuit arguing that Miami-Dade County violated the lease by pursuing eviction.
In a recent ruling, a Miami-Dade County judge focused solely on unpaid rent, stating the Seaquarium wouldn’t be evicted immediately, despite missed or late payments.
Jeffrey Roth, the park’s attorney, attributed the delays to a bank holiday in Mexico, where The Dolphin Company is based, saying, “You should know Monday, September 16th was a bank holiday in Mexico. That was the major reason for the fund hitting my trust account. I know that sounds like the dog ate my homework.”
The county’s response was swift. “In that footnote, they admit, we know when it was due. We know the amount that was due. And we paid it late. Whether it’s 12 hours or the next day. Late is late,” countered Melanie Spencer, the county’s attorney. Meanwhile, the Seaquarium’s legal team claimed that the county was hindering its operations.
“The county has somewhat sabotaged MS Leisure from performing its duties for the Miami Seaquarium,” stated attorney Hilton Napoleon II, alleging that the county refused to issue necessary permits for repairs.
Executive Director Edwin Gonzalez defended the marine park’s commitment to animal welfare, asserting that recent USDA audits had resulted in “perfect audits,” leading to the renewal of their operating license. Amid this chaos, the Miami Seaquarium has scaled back its operations, now open only Wednesday through Sunday.
A poignant aspect of the park’s history is the death of Lolita, also known as Tokitae, in August 2023. This marked a heartbreaking end to a long and bitter fight for her freedom. Activists had spent decades battling to liberate her from the cramped “whale bowl,” where she lived alone for years after the death of her companion, Hugo.
Tragically, Hugo passed away in 1980 due to a brain aneurysm, spending his final months violently thrashing and ramming his head against the tank walls.
The legal battle is far from over, with both parties scheduled to meet for mediation on October 21.
Stay tuned for the latest updates on the drama around the Miami Seaquarium.
