MIAMI — The Miami Seaquarium is once again under the microscope of the U.S. Department of Agriculture after the agency’s latest inspection report found a sea lion refusing to eat because of untreated cataracts and a dolphin with a two-inch nail in its throat.
In its latest inspection report, which was published on January 9, the USDA has cited the South Florida marine life facility with multiple violations, including inadequate veterinary care, along with inadequate facility conditions, animal handling, sheltering, and sanitation.
The Miami Seaquarium has been the ire of criticism of both local lawmakers and animal rights activists, especially over the last several months in the wake of the deaths of two of its beloved animals: Lolita the orca and Sundance the dolphin . Despite the calls for permanent closure, the USDA said last month that the facility’s operators have taken the “necessary corrective action to into compliance” following a threat to remove the housed animals.