Miami Seaquarium or Seaprison  
Lolita alone at the Miami Seaquarium

       

Animal Cruelty Animal Rights

Rectory

get involved
miami-seaquairum-images
 
 
 

Sign Up for our
E-Mail Alert List

If you are employed by Wometco or the Miami Seaquarium we would love to hear from you. Share your stories and opinions with us. CONTACT US
You can help us help the animals by making a tax deductable contribution below.
Or mail a check to:
Lolita Rescue Project
C/O RTC Productions
1126 S. Federal Hwy.,
suite 288
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316


Make check payable to:

Rattle the Cage Productions


Florida 501(c)3
News

Injured Manatee spotted at the Ocean Reef Club. 04/15/06 Seaquairum was contacted about the animal with fishing line wrapped around its pectoral fin but they were too busy with their annual easter egg hunt to respond. PICS

Top Deck Dolphin Show

Are the repairs safe?
IMAGES
Read the complaint to APHIS 04/09/06
Read reply from USDA/APHIS

Seaquarium reopens and we are there to welcome visitors. 02/11/06 If you were in the Seaquarium today or on South Beach all you had to do was look up to feel our pressence. Our banner plane circled the park all day letting patrons and employees know exactly how we feel about them neglecting Lolita.

Seaquarium capturing more fish from the bay. 02/06/06
Curator Robert Rose boastes he and other employees reeled in over 2000 tropical fish from Biscayne Bay, all of which will be dumped into the various tanks around the park to spend the rest of their lives on display.
"Some of them get away, but hey, that's fishing," says Rose as he prepares the inventory for the park's reopening.

Miami Herald Story

The park claims to have lost it's entire inventory of fish, sharks, and sea turtles during Hurricane Wilma last october when pumps failed. Investigations show the park suffered minimal damage from the storm. (It was already in terrible condition). Fish are easily replaced
and were probably sacrificed; a perfect opportunity to drain and clean the tanks. It's no wonder they died, the place is a pit. Look at these IMAGES

Miami Seaqaurium is closed.
Scheduled to reopen on Feb, 11
01/01/06
According to their official site www.miamiseaquarium.com the park is closed as a result of Hurricane Wilma. The entire fish population died when pumps failed in the shark mote and tanks. But Seaqaurium saw this as an opportunity to expand under the guise of hurricane repairs. Our investigators documented the new tank they are installing next to Lolita's; only it's not for her. The park is expanding it's dolphin swim program. Aerial Photos But what happened to the new tank Seaquarium has been promising for Lolita since 1980? They told the media they couldn't build it due to lack of funds yet they can afford the multi-million dollar swim with expasion. What's wrong with swimming with dolphins? Click Here

Aerial Photos

Seaquarium Shops for Lolita's Replacement 12/26/05
Lolita is Dying and Seaqaurium owners know it. Head trainer Robert Rose spent much of last year traveling the globe in search of another orca. Fortunately no one will sell them one.

Miami Seaquarium Busted for Selling Alcohol to Minors Wednesday, April. 27, 2005
Tipped off by animal activists, an undercover investigation discovered the Seaqaurium repeatedly selling beer to a 19-year-old. Full Story

The Seaquarium Threatens Filmmakers and Activists with Civil Liberties Law Suit
Wednesday, March. 23, 2005

Man Suffers Head Injury from Swimming with Dolphins
Thursday, Oct. 7, 2004
Time and again the Miami Seaquarium has been charged with major safety violatins and has been cited for failure to provide proper safety fencing.

This wednesday night a man snuck into the facility and attempted to swim with the dolphins. Failing to realize that these animals are very strong and under a lot of stress he entered the water and was promptly headbutted by an upset animal.

While dolphin attacks and incidents happen regularly at facilities like the Seaquairum the marine parks are not required to report them. So swim at your own risk and remember, dolphins are wild animals and can be very agressive when under extreme stress of captivity.

More on swimming with dolphins.

The Park is a Mess
Friday, Feb. 27, 2004
•Dolphin Show cancelled. The "Top Deck Tank" remains closed. We are patiently waiting for the structural report from the Dade County building inspector.
•The top of the round tank is unsafe and closed
•The first floor of the manatee is closed and appears to be crumbling.
There are still quite a few electrical hazards and around the park.

Top Deck Dolphin Show Closed Sunday, Feb. 1, 2004
The 50-year-old dilapidated round tank has been drained and closed for repair. Whether the repairs meet 2004 building code remains to be seen. The crumbling salt-infected structure is not being addressed, only the corroded leaking window frames. Five dolphins were relocated while the repairs are being made. The state of the dolphins is unknown at this time. We do know the pools in the back are getting very crowded.

Whale Stadium Re-Opened
Monday, Dec. 21, 2003
The Lolita stadium re-opened one month after being closed for life safety hazards. Unfortunately the stadium still does not meet minimum safety requirements. The emergency exits will not be sufficient at full capacity. And one exit is still blocked off with a chain and not wheelchair accessible. Apparently Miami Seaquarium cares as much for their patrons as they do for their animals.


Write to the Miami Dade Fire Marshal and ask why the Seaquarium does not need to comply to minimum standards. [Click Here]

Life Safety Inspection Report.
Monday, October 20, 2003
Dolphin Freedom Foundation hired an outside Safety Inspector to investigate the Seaquarium for potential hazards.
Although the Seaquarium claims to have made 90% of the repairs, certified Safety Inspector John Wallace, CSP MBA believes the facility is in dangerous shape.
[SAFETY REPORT]
(you need Adobe Acrobat to view this document) [GET ACROBAT HERE]

Seaquarium in hot water with
Fire Marshal

Source - Miami Herald, Sat, Oct. 11, 2003

Miami Seaquarium's operators, cited for 36 safety violations by Miami-Dade County fire inspectors, said Friday that they would add an emergency exit at the stadium housing Lolita the Killer Whale to avoid having to reduce seating capacity.

127 SAFETY VIOLATIONS Sept. 2003
Miami building inspectors descend upon the Seaquarium after receiving undercover video from the Dolphin Freedom Foundation. County officials closed sections of the dilapidating park on Friday and threatened to shut down the entire attraction if correction aren't made.

Miami Seaquarium cited for code violations
Tipped off by an animal rights activist, Miami-Dade County building inspectors cited the Miami Seaquarium for a number of code violations that the attraction must fix during the weekend or face being shut down.
Posted September 13 2003

CODE VIOLATIONS
Seaquarium completes most-urgent repairs
The aging park now must submit a plan to Miami-Dade County building officials to take care of other problems within 30 days.
Posted on September 16, 2003

SEAQUARIUM PLANS TO PAVE PUBLIC GREEN SPACE
Without Warning, Miami-Dade County has leased more than six acres of lushly landscaped, publicly owned green space on environmentally sensitive Virginia Key to the Miami Seaquarium, which plans to pave it over for a 500-car parking lot.

Seaquarium Workers Ate Protected Sea Turtle A protected leatherback sea turtle that died at the Miami Seaquarium was made into soup by Seaquarium employees.
http://www.click10.com/news/448066/detail.html - size 38.7K

Miami Seaquarium Attempts to
re-capture Keiko
to put him on display with Lolita.

[VIDEO]
WPLG Channel 10 News Editorial

An alarming number of safety violations at the Miami Seaquarium (AVI-1.2mb)

[VIDEO]
WPLG Channel 10 Animal Activists deliver evidence of serious disrepair to Dade County Building Inspector
(AVI-1.8mb)

[VIDEO] THE TAPE
that brought down the house.
Miami Seaquarium Unsafe for Visitors (AVI-6mb)

>NOTE: Videos make take
1-5 minutes to download depending on connection speed.

Seaquarium
Photo Album

Poncho's Stomach Contents Revealed

Seaquarium Announces New Stadium for Lolita
Unfortunately it Never Happened

Lolita: Slave To Entertainment

The Award Winning Documentary an Entire Industry Doesn't Want You To See.

Lolita: Slave to Entertainment takes a disturbing look into the dark secrets of the multi-billion dollar aquarium industry (specifically the Miami Seaquarium) and questions human ethics in relationship to animals in entertainment. It is the tragic and compelling life story of Lolita, a Killer Whale on display in Miami Florida.

Check out the Official Movie Site and Get your Copy

Are Orcas Self aware?
Dolphins (orcas are the largest dolphin) are self-aware. The research determining this was reported at the last marine mammal biennial conference in Vancouver in 2001.

• Scientific American: Dolphin Self-Recognition Mirrors Our Own

• PBS Frontline: A Whale of a Business Debate
• Mayor Pinelis Abandons Lolita to die
• Dolphins For Dollar Scheme
• Keiko "Free Willy" news
• Successful Release
• Stomach Contents of a dead MSQ Dolphin

  VIDEO: Too Ugly for Show Business
(dolphin capture) ©CBS-Hardy Jones
1 minute (2.5mb AVI)
 
 

VIDEO: Behind the Fence. (Sea Lion enclosures at Miami Seaquarium 07/30/03).
The Sea Lion Enclosures. This is the harsh reality of a captive sea lion's world in between show times at the Miami Seaquarium. (1 minute, 1.5mb AVI)

     

Miami Seaquarium Spotty History
Seaquarium stadium


Illegal Tank Size
Education Versus Exploitation
Structural Hazards
•Failure to Provide Shelter
•Human Perks over Animal Care
•5 Sea Lions Electrocuted

Bottlenose Dolphin Swallow Wrench

Animal Protection Groups Stand Together
The number of animal protection organizations condemning
the Seaquarium for Animal Cruelty is Growing.

Zoocheck Canada
Humane Society of United States
Dolphin Project
Orca Network
Orca Conservancy
•Dolphin Freedom Foundation
Captivity Stinks
ASPCA
•Keiko, "Free Willy" Foundation
Earth Island Institute
•Stop Animal Neglect and Exploitation
All-Creatures

Marine Connection
Lolita's Legion
Captive Animal Protection Soc.
Center For Whale Research
Whale & Dolphin Conservation Soc.
WSPA
Last Chance for Animals
Progressive Animal Welfare Soc. (PAWS)
In Defense of Animals
Born Free Foundation
•Compassion Over Killing



Sponsors Abandon Seaquarium

Paul Mitchell hair products pulled their sponsorship of the Miami Seaquarium
in 1996. Spokesperson Linda Martens writes, "I hope your [Seaquarium] operation will improve or close down... I don't think they're doing what's right for the animals."

Coca Cola and Kodak are both proud sponsors of the Miami Seaquarium.

Princess Cruises currently endorses the Seaquarium. We are attempting to encourage them do the responsible thing and pull their sponsorship.

Click here to ask Princess to join the good fight.

Concerned Floridians Take Stand

Mother's Day2003 Activists lined up at the Seaquarium and WSVN FOX Channel 7 Was There.
______________________
"This park is a relic of the past and is in serious disrepair...."
~Val Silidker

Seaquarium News
Sea lion at Miami Seaquarium
 

Home
| Orca Network | Dolphin Project | Slave to Entertainment | Rattle the Cage | Center for Whale Research