Another dolphin has died at the Miami Seaquarium, an embattled marine park at the center of ongoing controversy for repeated animal safety violations and “suffering,” inspection violations, bankruptcy and an eviction battle.
The Seaquarium, owned by the MS Leisure Company, under which subsidiary The Dolphin Company operates, has been the subject of criticism and regular protests, with activist groups including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) demanding its closure for over a decade. On Sept. 16, Miami-Dade County was notified that Bimini, a 26-year-old Atlantic Bottlenose dolphin, had died due to chronic health issues.
“The loss of Bimini is felt profoundly by everyone at Miami Seaquarium and across the local community,” Steven Strom, Independent Director of MS Leisure Company, said in a news release. “It is with heavy hearts that our entire Miami Seaquarium Team remembers Bimini’s enduring legacy.”
Bimini was one of four animals marked for confiscation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in a notice sent on Jan. 19, 2024, which accused MS Leisure of failing to comply with the Animal Welfare Act…