Health problems found in other animals at the Miami Aquarium

Lolita the killer whale has suffered for years at the Miami Marine Aquarium, but the unnatural conditions and social isolation also cause physical and psychological damage to other animals. The cramped, barren reservoirs and cells of this object are not suitable for any animal. A recent visit showed how those at the Miami Saltwater Aquarium languish with isolation, an apparent lack of proper veterinary care, and general stress. Among them are bottlenose dolphins, yellow-crested cockatoo, sea turtle and several manatees. None of them belong to the Miami Marine Aquarium.

Bottlenose dolphins: mouth pain and worn teeth

PETA noticed that one of the bottlenose dolphins in the Miami Marine Aquarium has teeth that are completely worn out – right down to the gum line. When the sensitive inner pulp cavity is exposed, it can be painful and prone to infection. Unnatural captive conditions are more likely to harbor infectious bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant strains, due to the regular use of antimicrobial drugs and keeping in above-ground tanks, resulting in higher concentrations of faeces and pathogens from hands or dirt person. … Dental infections can cause a number of other diseases, including heart disease, diabetes and pneumonia, which is the most common cause of death in captive dolphins.

Although some tooth abrasion occurs in wild dolphins, it occurs as a result of feeding, hunting, catching prey, and exploration. In marine parks, dolphins are unable to engage in these basic behaviors, but are instead confined to hard artificial surfaces, such as concrete walls and metal bars, and often bite them due to stress or frustration. The dolphins kept at the Miami Marine Aquarium do not receive natural enrichment from the environment. Instead, they are expected to perform tricks and swim with visitors, so they are more likely to come into contact with germs that can cause infections.

Yellow-crested cockatoo: this bird has no one to gather with

Although birds need the companionship of other birds and the ability to fly freely to thrive, PETA observed that the lone cockatoo was constantly flipping its head – neurotic and abnormal behavior common to captive birds.

Yellow-crested cockatoos form strong, often lifelong, paired bonds in their natural habitat. They have large and dynamic social networks within their packs that come together to feed and sleep. They are highly emotional and communicate with each other through complex language and body language, strengthening their intimate bonds through physical affection, often preening and caring for their partners. Their deep emotional lives make them especially vulnerable to suffering when left alone in cages.

Sea turtle: inadequate habitat, inadequate life

Sea turtles swim thousands of miles each year in the ocean between feeding grounds and the beaches where they hatch. They have remarkable navigational abilities using the earth’s magnetic fields, sun and currents, and they cannot engage in any of the natural behaviors inside an aquarium like the Miami Aquarium. Sea turtles belong to the ocean. If they cannot be released, they should be housed in a natural or natural environment that provides ample space, natural diversity and enrichment.

Manatees: cramped conditions without enrichment

In their natural habitat, manatees roam freely along rivers, estuaries, canals and coastal areas for thousands of miles. Four inmates at the Miami Aquarium are forced to live in two small tanks made of concrete and metal. This artificial environment enriches them little and leaves them unprotected from the weather, and this is simply an unacceptable habitat for these animals. Rescued manatees that cannot live in their natural environment should be sent to coastal reserves and not kept in cramped reservoirs.

The Miami Aquarium will never be able to provide Lolita and other animals with everything they need for a happy and healthy life. Don’t visit it or any other marine park and help Lolita by convincing parent company Miami Seaquarium to retire her to a seaside reserve:

Help deliver Lolita to the seaside sanctuary