Stop Throwing Coins in Koi Pond!
- by: Virginia Mendez
- recipient: Jacqueline Fletcher, Director of Turnberry for the Arts
Aventura Mall in South Florida is the second most visited shopping center in the United States. Aventura Mall provides an amazing shopping, dining and entertainment experience. It also created Turnberry for the Arts, a cultural initiative which displays works of art by contemporary artists and gives back to the community in numerous ways. One of these impressive works of art is Florida’s Soul by Jaume Plensa, a stainless steel and stone sculpture which measures 107 x 74 x 103 1/8” tall and sits in the middle of a koi fish pond. As shoppers walk by it, they stop to rest and admire it and of course…..throw coins in the fish pond! (Turnberry for the Arts)
Koi are very sensitive to the copper contained in pennies and quarters. Copper affects the blood cells and increases mucus production in the gills, both of which makes it more difficult for the koi to breathe and absorb oxygen. The metal in the coins can breakdown in the water and eventually the fish and plants. Symptoms of copper toxicity include gasping at the surface and disorientation, it could mean a very slow, painful and cruel death.
Please sign my petition asking Jacqueline Fletcher, the Director of Turnberry for the Arts, to clean the pond and remove the coins, add clean water, and place a sign asking visitors to not throw anything into the koi pond! This sign must be in English, Spanish & Portuguese, since this is largely a South American visiting spot. Some people think it’s ok to throw in coins as if it is a wishing well. This is dangerous to the fish! You may poison them! Save your coins for actual shopping!
Dear Ms. Fletcher,
the Turnberry for the Arts program is wonderful. It is supposed to engage visitors, support artists & inspire the community. What it is not supposed to do is hurt animals in the process. I am sure this was not the intention, however, in the case of Jaume Plensa's Florida's Soul which sits on a koi pond, the koi fish are the ones who are suffering. As shoppers walk by it, they stop to rest and admire it and of course…..throw coins in the fish pond!
Koi are very sensitive to the copper contained in pennies and quarters. Copper affects the blood cells and increases mucus production in the gills, both of which makes it more difficult for the koi to breathe and absorb oxygen. The metal in the coins can breakdown in the water and eventually the fish and plants. Symptoms of copper toxicity include gasping at the surface and disorientation, it could mean a very slow, painful and cruel death.
Ms. Fletcher, I urge you find a way to clean the pond and remove the coins, add clean water, and place a sign asking visitors to not throw anything into the koi pond! This sign must be in English, Spanish & Portuguese, since this is largely a South American visiting spot.
Koi are believed to be symbols of love and friendship and are believed to bring good luck and feng shui . They have an average lifespan of 20 years, so if we treat them with care and respect, they will give us years of joy! As the cultural representative that I believe you are, I urge you to give art a good name and prevent this from continuing to happen. Thank you.
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