Latest news with #SeaQuest
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Toucan relocated from SeaQuest to Denver Zoo euthanized after medical battles
DENVER (KDVR) — A toucan was euthanized last Friday after just over a year of medical care at the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance. Mango, a 6-year-old keel-billed toucan, was one of over 100 animals that were given a second chance and relocated to the zoo after the closure of SeaQuest in Littleton last January. The zoo said she quickly became a fan favorite among staff, volunteers and guests. Free days at Denver museums, zoo, parks and more in 2025 The zoo said in a post on Facebook Thursday that its Animal Care and Veterinary Medicine teams have been managing Mango's health conditions since she arrived, including severe hemochromatosis and an iron storage disease, which ultimately led to severe and terminal liver disease. 'Throughout her time at DZCA, our teams worked diligently to manage Mango's health and ensure she had the best possible quality of life. After a series of significant changes in her condition, she was placed on a quality-of-life watch,' the zoo said. Mango's caretakers made the 'difficult but compassionate decision to humanely euthanize her' last Friday due to her continued decline. The zoo said she died peacefully with all the people who loved and cared for her nearby. 'Mango loved to people-watch at her exhibit window, and I often saw her playing 'peek-a-boo' with guests and staff as she hopped between perching and the rockwork. Her vocalizations were fun to hear throughout Tropical Discovery, as she would often sing to Animal Care staff, guests, and her reflection in the mirror. I had been working on crate training with her and this training empowered her to voluntarily participate in the radiographs that showed her hemochromatosis condition was progressing significantly. She was loved and will be greatly missed,' Animal Care Specialist Vega said. The zoo said its veterinary medicine team will conduct a full postmortem exam to better understand her illness. According to the American Bird Conservancy, the keel-billed toucan is known for its colorful beak, which takes up about a third of the bird's length. The bird is native to tropical areas of Central America, and though it is fairly common in that range, many populations face threats of habitat loss, the ABC website states. The toucan is also captured for the pet trade and is sometimes hunted for its meat and colorful feathers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Popular zoo faces permanent closure after officials confiscate 25 animals: 'Taking a firm stand now'
This popular zoo could shut down for good after complaints aboutut animal abuse. New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Fish & Wildlife removed several animals from the SeaQuest animal center in Woodbridge after thousands of complaints. The Department of Environmental Protection "received more than 3,500 complaints regarding potential violations under the Endangered and Nongame Species Conservation Act and the Exotic and Nongame Wildlife Regulations," according to reporting from My Central Jersey. Twenty-five animals, including a sloth, otters, four birds, and several reptiles, were rescued from the facility and sent to new homes for proper care. SeaQuest Woodbridge's license to display exotic animals was revoked, although non-protected animals are still at the zoo — for now. The violations ranged from negligence, such as forgetting to lock an otter's sleep box and allowing it to escape, to cases of improper care, including lack of medical treatment, keeping animals in small cages, and deadly humidity levels. The investigation also found falsified veterinary documents and omissions of animal deaths from quarterly reports. This isn't the first time a SeaQuest has been cited with animal violations. In August of 2023, the SeaQuest in Trumbull, Connecticut, was permanently closed following animal welfare violations, and the SeaQuest in Fort Worth, Texas, followed suit in October of 2024. Only two SeaQuest locations remain — Layton, Utah, and Woodbridge, New Jersey — and these repeated violations, along with filing for bankruptcy last year, may prove to be SeaQuest's downfall. Local activists in Woodbridge were glad the animals at SeaQuest were finally in good hands but wary that another animal center could step in to fill SeaQuest's spot. Nicole Paternoster, an activist for Stop SeaQuest Woodbridge, told local news site TapInto that the city has "an opportunity to be on the right side of this issue by taking a firm stand now and setting an example for other towns across New Jersey." Should the U.S. government ban all products tested on animals? Absolutely No way Only certain kinds of products Let each state decide Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Paternoster continued: "Woodbridge can lead the change for ethical, humane, and productive policies." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Aquarium employees speak out about disturbing practices behind the scenes: 'It's time for legislators to stand up'
Former SeaQuest employees in California have called out animal welfare concerns and exposed key instances and practices that lead to animal neglect and harm. SeaQuest is a chain of interactive aquariums and animal attractions that offer visitors hands-on experiences with animals. Allegations include animals being overworked in customer interactions while receiving inadequate care and even being starved in certain cases. KXTV reported that employees estimated that over 1,000 animals have died at SeaQuest's Folsom location since it opened in 2018. Local California Assembly member Nick Schultz has jumped into action after hearing former SeaQuest employees' concerns. He is proposing a bill aimed at protecting captive wild animals by banning public interactions with certain species like sloths and otters at facilities like SeaQuest. This bill, AB 892, seeks to end harmful practices of companies like SeaQuest that favor profit over animal welfare even to the end of neglect and cruelty. While California is known to be a state often leading the way with animal rights laws, there is room to grow. "Now it's time for lawmakers to stand up and say we can do better in California," Schultz said, per ABC10. A former employee stated that SeaQuest "is run by business people, not animal experts." Unfortunately, SeaQuest's practices are not isolated incidents, as the fight for profits in animal tourism settings has often led to the mistreatment of animals. SeaWorld, Edinburgh Zoo, and elephant sanctuaries have also come under scrutiny. Visitors engaging in animal tourism at a facility such as SeaQuest want to trust that its practices place the animal's well-being first, but unfortunately, this is not always the case. The bill is still in the early stages but has been introduced in the California legislature and is awaiting further discussion and review. It represents a growing movement toward ensuring better treatment and protection for captive animals. Schultz said the bill is just the beginning of a bigger conservation and that action from the public will likely determine its fate. Should the U.S. government ban all products tested on animals? Absolutely No way Only certain kinds of products Let each state decide Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "Call your lawmaker. Call your assembly member. Call your senator's office," he said. This advice carries beyond this bill, too. Using your voice and voting for pro-climate candidates to begin with is a powerful way to take climate action. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
CBS News
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
More than 1,000 animals find new homes after SeaQuest Roseville closes, files for bankruptcy
Hundreds of animals are finding new homes around the Twin Cities metro after SeaQuest Roseville closed its doors and filed for bankruptcy. Cisco and Chubbs are two newly acquired wallabys at the Minnesota Zoo. "They were probably hand-raised by people, so they don't fully understand that they're wallabys," Dr. Anne Rivas, director of animal health at the Minnesota Zoo, said. They are just two of the more than 100 animals taken in by the zoo after SeaQuest's bankruptcy. The newly acquired animal arsenal also includes reptiles and sugar gliders. "We've got a sloth and an armadillo that folks can see if they go out on our Tropics Trail," Rivas said. All the animals are in stable health, Rivas said. Cisco and Chubbs are still working their way out of quarantine. They came in with a few wounds but are gaining weight and healing well. Over at Sea Life inside Mall of America, tiny spotted garden eels are just a tiny sampling of the roughly 600 animals Sea Life took in, including a shark, rays and other sea creatures. Those at Sea Life said animal care teams and marine biologists will be giving top notch care. The vast majority of the animals are in quarantine. "Of the hundreds of animals we got, they arrived in varying conditions. Some were in great condition, good health, others needed a little bit more medical attention," Drew Turner, senior aquarist at Sea Life, said For most animals, Sea Life and the Minesota Zoo are now their official brand new homes. "To be able to provide placement for all of these unique diverse animals in a fairly short amount of time and get them there safely and tip top shape, has been really a phenominal effort to get to be a part of," Rivas said.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Vulnerable animals find new homes after Roseville aquarium closure
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. Business | Six months after devastating fire, Vietnamese restaurant Khue's Kitchen is open in St. Anthony Park Business | Ramsey County probation officers, county reach tentative agreement Business | St. Paul man sentenced in 2023 shootout at White Bear Lake bar Business | Vikings to help launch women's college flag football league in East Metro Business | 'Purely evil': Man sentenced to 40 years in prison for killing, dismembering 2 women 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.
