We, the undersigned parents and guardians, call on all San Antonio schools to cancel or refuse field trips to the San Antonio Aquarium and any other non-accredited, interactive animal facility.

We believe our children deserve safe, science-based, and ethical learning experiences, not dangerous hands-on attractions where animals and kids have repeatedly been hurt.

Why We’re Concerned

The San Antonio Aquarium is part of a nationwide chain of “interactive aquariums” owned by members of the Covino family, who also operate SeaQuest locations across the U.S.

Over the years, these facilities have been linked to dozens of serious injuries, federal citations, and animal deaths. Many of these problems have happened when children or guests were allowed to touch or feed animals with little to no supervision

FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW

July 2025 – San Antonio Aquarium
 A 6-year-old boy was grabbed by a giant Pacific octopus during a “touch-tank” experience. His arm was covered in suction-cup bruises, and no medical help or incident report was offered.
 (Source: MySA News, KSAT)

2018 – San Antonio Aquarium
 USDA inspectors documented that three lemurs bit or scratched guests including a child during interactive encounters. Staff had not taken corrective action.
 (USDA Inspection Report)

2022–2023 – San Antonio Aquarium
 Federal inspectors cited unsafe temperatures (near 90°F in a rabbit enclosure), animals kept in disrepair, and even a porcupine death caused by enclosure neglect.
 (USDA Inspection Records, PETA Fact Sheet)

2018–2019 – SeaQuest Littleton (Colorado)
At least 30 guest injuries were reported in seven months, including bites from sharks, claw injuries from iguanas, and stingray punctures.
 (Denver7 Investigation)

Multiple SeaQuest Locations (Nationwide)
More than 75 guest injuries have been recorded since 2016, including children bitten by otters and birds. Several animals have died after being left unsupervised or improperly housed.
 (ABC News 5 Investigates)

SeaQuest Roseville (Minnesota)
Internal records showed otters used for guest encounters were past due for rabies vaccinations, but staff allowed public contact anyway a clear violation of the Animal Welfare Act, according to a veterinarian’s warning.
 (KSTP 5 Eyewitness News)

 Multiple SeaQuest Locations (Nationwide)

Former employees and guests reported animals suffering from shell-rot, missing feathers, infections, and neglect. Wallabies were kept in tiny pens with no daylight. Some animals reportedly died after being left untreated or mishandled during public encounters.

(KTNV 13 Investigates, Employee Testimonies)

What We’re Asking For

We urge all San Antonio schools to:

Cancel any planned field trips to the San Antonio Aquarium.

Adopt a campus rule that schools only visit AZA accredited aquariums, zoos, or programs run by qualified animal experts.

Why It Matters

Our children trust us to keep them safe. We can teach about animals and science without putting lives and health at risk. Let’s choose the safer path. Let’s choose a field-trip destination that reflects our highest standards of care for the children, and for the world we’re teaching them to steward.