The Denver Zoo has acquired nearly 130 animals from the now closed SeaQuest aquarium in Littleton.
In a news release, the Denver Zoo said the aquarium “received multiple citations and complaints for animal welfare concerns and injuries to customers since it opened in 2018.”
SeaQuest closed its Littleton location on February 4 and the Denver Zoo said it was working to find homes for several species of animals including tortoises, wallabies and aquatic animals.
“Over the past week, the Zoo led efforts with Downtown Aquarium Denver to help monitor, evaluate, and place the animals, and the Zoo was able to provide new, safe homes for many of them,” said the zoo in the news release. “The animals are getting acquainted with their new habitats behind the scenes at the Zoo’s Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Animal Hospital and Tropical Discovery, and the Zoo’s animal care team reports that the new additions are settling in well and will be viewable to guests and members soon.”
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) officials had over the years investigated the aquarium and state records showed dozens of reports of injuries between 2018 and 2019, Denver7 previously reported.