URGENT ACTION NEEDED FOR ANIMALS AT MIAMI SEAQUARIUM!
From PETA press release (02/06/2022) “Breaking: Lolita Deathly Sick at Miami Seaquarium, Reports Whistleblowers”
“Beloved Lolita the orca—whose small, shallow, barren concrete tank has been closed to the public for months—is reportedly suffering from pneumonia and is in danger of not receiving adequate care. The current attending veterinarian, …reportedly possessed no orca experience …the Seaquarium fired its longtime head veterinarian after she expressed concern about the extent of animal suffering at the park.” (1)
Can you spare 15 minutes to help lone female Orca “Lolita” in the most crucial time of her over 51 years at Miami Seaquarium?
TAKE URGENT ACTION NOW!
1 Write the USDA and APHIS (details below)
2 Call Florida’s Miami Dade State Attorney (details below)
3 Politely reach out to Miami Dade County’s temporary supervisor, Miami Zoo Director William Elgar
✊TAKE URGENT ACTION (updated Feb. 11, 2022)!
Let’s contact the following with these objectives in mind.
[All are welcome to refer to any of the points above with reference links (at end of this post).]
• STATE How YOU FEEL over the PETA press release (02/06/2022) “Breaking: Lolita Deathly Sick at Miami Seaquarium, Reports Whistleblowers” and news in December of 3 additional marine mammal deaths at Miami Seaquarium (MSQ).
• Politely request that an emergency rescue team move in and take control of the care of all the animals there, most especially for Tokitae/Lolita. Make it clear that urgent actions must be taken to avoid further catastrophe.
• To ensure that the USDA investigation is rigorous, transparent, and involves the veterinarians who know Tokitae/Lolita best. Call for an immediate comprehensive medical and behavioral assessment of Tokitae/Lolita to ensure that her critical needs will be met without any further delay.
• Miami Herald reported “...firing its longtime attending veterinarian Magdalena Rodriguez in the summer....”
Politely ask to include Ms. Rodriguez for her expertise and transparent assessment of current conditions at Miami Seaquarium.
[1] Write the USDA and APHIS (The Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service) and ask them to enforce the Animal Welfare Act on behalf of Lolita. (APHIS oversees the enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act and the USDA oversees APHIS.)
Feel free to copy and paste the following, and please PERSONALIZE for a more impactful message.
USDA/APHIS/Animal Care
920 Main Campus Drive Suite 200
Raleigh, NC 27606-5210
E-mail: animalcare@usda.gov
Phone: (919) 855-7100
Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack
U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Room 200-A
Washington, DC 20250
E-mail: agsec@usda.gov
Subject: Concerns regarding welfare of Lolita the orca, and dolphin deaths at Miami Seaquarium.
Dear USDA Animal Care,
Because I am deeply concerned about the PETA press release (02/06/2022) "Breaking: Lolita Deathly Sick at Miami Seaquarium, Reports Whistleblowers" and news in December of several previous and 3 recent marine mammal deaths at Miami Seaquarium (MSQ) that in my opinion could have been avoided I am asking the USDA to take immediate action.
Miami Seaquarium’s failure to appropriately manage marine mammals in conditions that ultimately led to three very recent deaths are among my many concerns from the very troubling USDA inspection report released in September this year. Several factors from the 17 page report include not providing shade resulting in eye damage, and possible ailments due to being fed poor quality fish in state of decay. Improper water quality management resulting in parasites in some cases, and exposure to toxins including unhealthy levels of peeling paint in some tanks all point to this antiquated facility being unfit for the keeping of marine mammals. The inspection report also points to failure in preventing conflicts between incompatible dolphins, ultimately leading to their deaths.
Lack of transparency on Lolita’s current condition exacerbates my concern as the Whale Stadium where Lolita is kept has been closed to public entry since August (2021). Among my concerns for Lolita from the very troubling USDA inspection report are eye damage resulting from lack of shade at the exhibit, injuries resulting from performance demands placed on an elderly animal (her estimated age is 56 years), possible ailments due to being fed poor quality including fish in a state of decay, and reduced food hence water by close to 20%.
Lolita has spent over 51 years at the Miami Seaquarium in an undersized tank with no shade to protect her from direct sunlight and no protection from the weather, including hurricanes. Her exposure to the sun and weather violates Section 3.103(3)(b) of the Animal Welfare Act. Lolita’s tank is also 13 feet shorter than what is required by the Animal Welfare Act (Section 3.104). Lolita is 22 feet long and weighs over 7,000 pounds. Her tank is way too small for an orca of her size.
I have in good faith attempted to work directly with the current operators of MSQ and was directed by them to contact The Dolphin Company. Upon contacting the Dolphin Company I was then directed to contact MSQ. I am continuing to get the run around from both the current and future operators and would like the USDA to expedite emergency action before another death occurs.
Please involve the veterinarians who know Lolita best including long time attending veterinarian (from MSQ) Ms. Magdalena Rodriguez for her expertise and transparent assessment of current conditions at Miami Seaquarium.
Please kindly respond to let me know what action your department will be taking to ensure the welfare of Lolita and all marine mammals at MSQ.
Sincerely,
[Sign your name]
[2] Call Florida’s Miami Dade State Attorney, Katherine Fernandez Rundle.
Politely urge her to consider animal cruelty charges against Miami Seaquarium:
(305) 547-0535, M-F 8am - 6pm EST or E-mail: <katherinefernandezrundle@miamisao.com>
Please feel free to add comments from above to sample script below.
Hello Ms. Fernandez Rundle,
I am deeply concerned about the PETA press release (02/06/2022) “Breaking: Lolita Deathly Sick at Miami Seaquarium, Reports Whistleblowers” and news in December of several previous and 3 recent marine mammal deaths at Miami Seaquarium (MSQ) that in my opinion could have been avoided. This is in addition to the long history of over 130 dolphin deaths at the seaquarium.
Quoting the USDA inspection report released September (this year): “The facility’s attending veterinarian’s recommendations regarding the provision of adequate veterinary care and other aspects of animal care and use have been repeatedly disregarded or dismissed over the last year.”
PETA has been urging your office to consider animal cruelty charges against Miami Seaquarium since submitting evidence in May 2020 of the abusive conditions in which Lolita is held.
The USDA inspection in June of this year reports several violations that would be considered cruel and unacceptable for the welfare of Lolita and many of the marine mammals kept at the Seaquarium.
I am asking you to thoroughly investigate and consider filing animal cruelty charges against Miami Seaquarium.
I urge you to request an immediate comprehensive medical and behavioral assessment of Lolita, so that her critical needs can be met right now.
Please involve the veterinarians who know Lolita best including long time attending veterinarian (from MSQ) Ms. Magdalena Rodriguez for her expertise and transparent assessment of current conditions at Miami Seaquarium.
[3] Politely reach out to Miami Dade County’s designated temporary supervisor, Miami Zoo Director William Elgar
℅ Zoo Miami
12400 SW 152nd St
Miami, FL 33177
or FAX: 305-378-6381
Dear Mr. William Elgar,
I am {STATE How YOU FEEL} over the PETA press release (02/06/2022) "Breaking: Lolita Deathly Sick at Miami Seaquarium, Reports Whistleblowers" (1) and news in December of 3 additional marine mammal deaths at Miami Seaquarium (MSQ). (2)
These deaths could have been prevented. Quoting the USDA inspection report: “The facility’s attending veterinarian’s recommendations regarding the provision of adequate veterinary care and other aspects of animal care and use have been repeatedly disregarded or dismissed over the last year.” (3)
Since August (2021) the stadium where Lolita is exhibited has been closed, and public is not allowed entry to assess her current condition. Among my concerns from the very troubling USDA inspection report are lack of shade, eye damage, injuries resulting from performance demands placed on an elderly animal (her estimated age is 56 years), possible ailments due to being fed poor quality fish, and feeding reduced by close to 20%. Much of this resulted from disregarding advice from the long time attending veterinarian Magdalena Rodriquez.
Please intervene by involving the veterinarians who know Lolita best including Ms. Rodriguez. I urge you to request an immediate comprehensive medical and behavioral assessment of Lolita, so that her critical needs can be met right now.
I understand that you are very busy, but if you would please kindly respond to let me know what actions you will take I would appreciate it.
Sincerely
[include your name]
SOURCES:
1) PETA press release (02/06/2022) "Breaking: Lolita Deathly Sick at Miami Seaquarium, Reports Whistleblowers": https://bit.ly/3rw0LVp
2) Miami Herald report: New federal probe at Miami Seaquarium delays lease change 3 more animal deaths (Updated December 17 2021 7:52 PM): http://hrld.us/3spAKrU
3) NPR article on USDA inspection report: For 51 years this killer whale has lived in a tiny tank. Now her health is at risk (October 30 2021) https://n.pr/3ppJEnu
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➕✊➕✊➕TAKE ADDITIONAL ACTION!
Sign & promote our petition:
✅ ADD YOUR PERSONAL COMMENTS addressed to Eduardo Albor, CEO of The Dolphin Company (pending new owner of Miami Seaquarium) on our PETITION: http://chng.it/dLXqbn4LJ6
✅ TWEETSHEET: https://bit.ly/3kSOKoP
✅ Sign PETITION from Animal Welfare Institute: “Tell Secretary Vilsack - Tokitae Needs Help NOW!” “Several of the problems at MSQ represent blatant and extreme infractions of the regulations governing care and handling of captive marine mammals. Yet MSQ still has its USDA license to operate and hold these animals.” https://awionline.org/compassion-index#/396
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� Peggy Oki, Origami Whales Project Founder & Director
� Women of the World united against Taiji
Further information about Tokitae/Lolita: www.origamiwhalesproject.org/lolita
� INVITE/JOIN our “16425 Days A Slave” campaign (of the Origami Whales Project) FB group for �Tokitae/Lolita� to return home, and to save the Endangered�Southern Resident Orcas, including her mother (Ocean Sun), family (L Pod)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/origamiwhalesproject
✊If in Miami area on weekend(s) please join Miami Seaquarium Weekly Demos, every Sunday from 12-2pm: https://bit.ly/3bqD8VJ
SOURCES:
1) PETA press release (02/06/2022) "Breaking: Lolita Deathly Sick at Miami Seaquarium, Reports Whistleblowers": https://bit.ly/3rw0LVp
2) Miami Herald report: New federal probe at Miami Seaquarium delays lease change 3 more animal deaths (Updated December 17 2021 7:52 PM): http://hrld.us/3spAKrU
3) NPR article on USDA inspection report: For 51 years this killer whale has lived in a tiny tank. Now her health is at risk (October 30 2021) https://n.pr/3ppJEnu
#16425DaysASlave #OrigamiWhalesProject #WOWvTaiji