Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said her concerns about Miami Seaquarium only increased after she learned that its head veterinarian has resigned.
“Today’s news reaffirms the county’s concerns and the urgency to determine next steps in the best interest of the animals residing at the Seaquarium,” Levine Cava said in a joint statement with Commissioner Raquel Regalado.
County officials found out earlier in the week that lead vet Dr. Jessica Comolli had quit. She leaves after a series of USDA inspection reports finding inadequate animal care, animal deaths, inadequate medical staff and equipment.
Levine Cava’s office has put Seaquarium on notice, saying it is in violation of its lease – first for poor animal care and then later for allowing its accreditations to lapse. Miami-Dade County has said the park is behind on its rent and not up to code for some of its buildings.
Dolphins and manatees have been shipped to other facilities. The Virginia Key park’s killer whale, Lolita, died last year amid an effort to move the orca to a sea pen in Washington State.
Still, Miami Seaquarium on social media taunted Levine Cava, saying it invited the mayor to come out and visit and she has yet to take the park’s owner – The Dolphin Co. – up on the offer.
“It is a shame to see that information about the animals at MSQ is used for political purposes, misleading people who truly care,” the park posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
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JOHN PACENTI is the executive editor of the Key Biscayne Independent. John has worked for The Associated Press, the Palm Beach Post, Daily Business Review, and WPTV-TV.