Latest news with #SeaQuestRoseville
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.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Embattled aquarium chain SeaQuest appears to close Roseville location
After declaring bankruptcy and failing to sell for a discounted price, interactive aquarium chain SeaQuest appears to have closed its Roseville location at Rosedale Center. SeaQuest Roseville, which was investigated by state and federal agencies, no longer appears on the SeaQuest website and according to Google is 'permanently closed.' 'Champagne corks are popping at PETA now that this blight on Roseville has finally stopped exploiting and endangering animals,' said Brittany Peet, general counsel for Captive Animal Law Enforcement at the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals Foundation, in a news release. The Idaho-based aquarium chain filed for bankruptcy in December where it reported up to $1 million in assets and at least $10 million in liabilities. Bankruptcy court records also showed the aquarium chain had dropped its revenue from $27.1 million in 2022 to $15.2 million in 2023. 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 PETA. Last month PETA filed a brief objecting to the sale of the business for $80,000 to 'company insider' Jeff Cox, who through Noveen Capital, owns a 4% stake in SeaQuest, according to court records. The motion to sell was withdrawn in January and earlier this month the judge ordered the appointment of a Chapter 11 Trustee to manage SeaQuest's estate. 'The surviving animals at SeaQuest Roseville must be transferred to accredited facilities where they can finally get the care they need and deserve. Management at Rosedale Center must ensure that no other animal-abusing business takes its place,' said Aaron Zellhoefer, Minnesota state director of Humane World for Animals, formerly known as the Humane Society of the United States, in a statement. A Pioneer Press request for comment was not immediately returned from SeaQuest or the Rosedale Center. Business | Future unclear for animals at embattled Roseville aquarium chain after January sale thwarted Business | House DFL, Republicans reach power-sharing deal, ending struggle that stalled session Business | After bankruptcy filing, embattled Roseville aquarium chain to potentially sell for $80K Business | Made in St. Paul: Plastic trash becomes detail collaged portraits by 'junk art junkie' Sonja Dapper Business | Former Washington County Sheriff's Office deputy sues for alleged sexual harassment
