Miami Seaquarium REFUSES to leave waterfront home after city ordered attraction to close in wake of heartbreaking reports of animal abuse

The Miami Seaquarium has refused to shut down despite the city ordering it close last week due to its 'complete disregard for the safety of the animals.' 

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava wrote to the park to terminate its lease, citing a 'long and troubling history' of abuse and neglect after 120 animal deaths and a string of high profile reports of abuse.

The Seaquarium made headlines in recent years for the neglect and eventual death of the 'world's loneliest whale', Lolita the orca. 

An elderly manatee filmed swimming forlornly in his tank after being separated from his mate and a two-inch nail found in a dolphin's throat also caused public outcry. 

But CEO of The Dolphin Company, Eduardo Albor, rejected calls to close in a nine-page letter, saying the allegations were 'unfounded' - and vowed to take the county to court if necessary. 

He wrote on X: 'The truth always prevail. And those who wonder how I sleep…. Like a baby…. Actions speak louder than words….'  

CEO of The Dolphin Company, Eduardo Albor, rejected calls to close in a nine-page letter

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava wrote to the park to terminate its lease last week

Mayor Levine Cava has ordered the aquarium to leave its property by April 21. 

She told CBS: 'I think that this is something that had its day, that obviously this was something that was enjoyed by many over many years and unfortunately, the facility is now dilapidated and the care of the animals is in jeopardy.

'The situation is not something that happened overnight and it cannot be repaired overnight.'

But Albor claimed that the Seaquarium has presented the county with evidence of improvements on numerous occasions. 

He said: 'The Seaquarium took immediate steps to correct all noncompliances listed in the Inspection Reports from July 6, 2022 to January 9, 2024. 

'Therefore, it is completely misleading to suggest that the Seaquarium’s noncompliances are “ongoing.”'

He added: 'The prospect of terminating our lease does not only jeopardize the future of this beloved institution but also has far-reaching implications for the community we serve and the dedicated team that makes our mission possible.' 

Dozens of animals remain at the facility and it is not yet clear where they will be moved to, or what will happen if the case goes to court. 

If the Seaquarium does not agree to leave it could lead to a legal eviction process. 

The eviction order follows a years-long campaign to shut the aquarium down, after heartbreaking footage of dolphins, manatees and whales living in squalid conditions went viral.

Phil Demers, who led the campaign, told DailyMail.com: 'It’s a day of vindication for those of us who have steadfastly fought against the Miami Seaquarium’s cruelty, but it’s an even better day for their animals.'

The Seaquarium made headlines for the neglect and eventual death of the 'world's loneliest whale', Lolita the orca last year, but since opening in 1955, non-profit The Dolphin Project says over 120 animals have died in the park. 

Lolita, the 'loneliest whale in the world', has died aged 57

Experts and concerned individuals had long protested against Lolita's conditions in captivity, including the size of her 80-foot long and 35-foot wide tank

Lolita performed for decades before stopping in 2022 due to illness. She was the longest living whale in captivity at the age of 57 

Experts and concerned individuals had long protested against Lolita's conditions in captivity, including the size of her 80-foot long and 35-foot wide tank, the smallest of its kind in the US. 

Just 10 years after Lolita arrived at the aquarium, her companion Hugo died of an aneurysm that was caused by repeated head trauma from banging his head against the tanks walls, leaving her all alone. 

Then last year, the aquarium was in the news again for their treatment of Romeo the manatee. 

Video of 67-year-old Romeo swimming forlornly in his tank - estimated to be just 30ft wide - went viral last year and surfing legend Kelly Slater backed a campaign for his release, which quickly gained more than 20,000 signatures. 

Romeo had been kept at the facility since 1956 and spent many of those years alone in the tiny tank, separated from his previous mate, Juliet. 

After public outcry, Romeo, Juliet and another manatee, Clarity, were rescued and taken to another facility for medical treatment. 

Their cases followed a series of damning United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports which revealed deteriorating conditions in the aquarium. 

In October, federal inspectors found a dolphin named Ripley with a two-inch nail in its throat and another named Bimini with a broken metal bolt in its mouth. 

Romeo had been kept at the Seaquarium since 1956 and campaigners said he had been alone since at least April of this year

Romeo had been at the Miami Seaquarium since 1956. He is now 67 years old

They also found a sea lion named Sushi had been holding her eye closed and rubbing both her eyes because she needed cataract surgery and was in pain. 

She had started refusing food due to the pain but the cataract surgery was still not scheduled. 

The veterinary clinic lacked basic supplies and the entire site was crumbling with peeling paint and mold found in the enclosures. 

Inspectors also found a colony of ants living in the vet clinic and inside medicines and vitamins. 

They found peeling paint in the penguin enclosure, a 'strong noxious odor' in the parrot area and 'stagnant murky water with green algae' in a flamingo enclosure. 

On top of the neglect, nonprofit the Dolphin Project claims at least 120 dolphins and whales have died in captivity in the park. 

The causes of death listed included trauma, skin cancer (likely due to lack of shade), killed by another animal and entrapment in pool fencing. 

As well as their abuses, the park was behind at least $180,000 in rent. 

The Miami Seaquarium first opened in 1955 and has been at the center of a string of care scandals in the decades since

There were two protests in Miami last month calling for the seaquarium to be shut down

Campaigners have been calling for its closure for years

It is not yet clear where the animals will be moved to if the park closes. 

Demers told DailyMail.com: 'Hopefully they will be relocated to sanctuary settings or in the least, far better facilities. 

'It’s time to end the Seaquarium’s near 70 year existence. Can’t happen soon enough.'

Last month two protests were held calling for the Seaquarium's lease to be terminated. 

The Seaquarium then released a statement saying they were working with the USDA to address concerns. 

They said: 'Miami Seaquarium is in compliance with federal Animal Welfare Act regulations. It's important to clarify that, there was no confiscation, and MSQ’s professional staff continues to care for its animals with the same passion, knowledge and dedication they do every day.'

DailyMail.com contacted the Miami Seaquarium for comment.