Vulnerable animals find new homes after Roseville aquarium closure

Yahoo

06-03-2025

A Duluth zoo has been tapped to help assess animals that were formerly kept at the now-shuttered SeaQuest aquarium in the Rosedale Center shopping mall.
SeaQuest Roseville, an interactive aquarium chain that was investigated by state and federal agencies before filing for bankruptcy, closed abruptly last month, leaving the fate of its main attractions up in the air.
The animal care team from the Lake Superior Zoo, which was asked by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to evaluate the needs of the animals, will travel to Roseville this week to assess and transport the animals back to Duluth, the zoo posted on social media.
'Upon their arrival in Duluth, they will be given time to rest before undergoing thorough examinations, testing, and essential husbandry and medical treatment,' according to the post.
An August 2024 report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that SeaQuest Roseville kept animals in hazardous enclosures, failed to clean accumulated mouse feces and let animals go months without regular visits from a veterinarian, according to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
'Other repeat violations include failing to provide animals with basic enrichment necessary to their psychological well-being and failing to adequately clean the facility,' PETA states.
An investigation into SeaQuest was also conducted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and presented to the Ramsey County Attorney's Office for prosecution review.
'Without our intervention, these animals could face euthanasia — but here, they will not only receive a second chance at life but the highest standard of care,' Haley Hedstrom, the executive director of the Lake Superior Zoo, said on a fundraising site dedicated to the SeaQuest animals.
Some of the animals may find a permanent home in Duluth, but others could be transferred to other accredited zoos depending on their needs and the available resources.
Bengal cat brothers Flynn and Ferguson were relocated from SeaQuest to the Wildcat Sanctuary in Sandstone, Minn.
The brothers, who were born in 2019, will undergo an evaluation by the sanctuary's veterinarian and be quarantined before joining the other cats in the sanctuary's new Catio Town, according to the nonprofit.
Catio Town has 10 heated, indoor rooms, each with a different theme like 'Under the Sea,' 'Log Cabin' and 'PAWSH,' which resembles a Barbie Dream House. Each of the rooms have access to outdoor areas with skywalks, water fountains and cat grass beds.
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SeaQuest, which now operates four locations in California, Nevada, Utah and New Jersey, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December.
The aquarium chain reported over $15.2 million in revenue for 2023, a sharp decline from the $27.1 million it reported in 2022. According to the Dec. 2 bankruptcy filing, the company has at least $500,000 in assets and between $10 million and $50 million in liabilities.
At the time of its closing, the Roseville location was home to a variety of animals including sea-dwelling fish, fresh water fish, stingrays, a Giant Pacific Octopus, a sloth, an otter, a Goldenchild Cow reticulated python and several birds, according to court documents. When it first opened in 2019, SeaQuest Roseville housed 1,500 animals.