SeaQuest, an interactive aquarium and zoo chain in the United States, permanently closed its Roseville, Minnesota location on February 18, according to KSTP.
The closure follows SeaQuest Corporation’s filing for bankruptcy in December and a yearlong investigation by ABC News and 5 INVESTIGATES. The investigation exposed multiple occurrences endangering employees, guests, and animals.
In April 2023, managers at the facility were informed their otters were overdue for rabies shots. However, several sources told 5 INVESTIGATES that guest interactions with the otters persisted during that period, and posts from the facility’s Facebook page showed that it was still actively promoting these encounters.
Since Seaquest opened its first facility in 2016, 76 incidences of visitors “being bitten or scratched by the animals” have been reported. In the last five years, SeaQuest has been cited over 80 times by the USDA for concerns about disease transmission, physical harm to people, and poor animal care.
In images and videos obtained by employees at the Roseville location, animals were reportedly shown injured and dead on numerous occasions. Photos allegedly revealed pigs with skin ailments, a sloth trembling in distress, and reptiles who were bleeding.
One employee spoke out regarding the living conditions of the wallabies at SeaQuest Roseville.
“They’re in a very small pen where they only get let out about ten minutes per day,” the employee stated. “They’re in a mall with no sunlight and just have to sit there and let people pet them.”
Thanks to investigation efforts like these, only four SeaQuest locations remain.
Lady Freethinker celebrates the closure of this location and is grateful to see action taken for these innocent captive animals. We hope they will be relocated to sanctuaries where they will receive proper care and live in a natural environment.
