Wometco Enterprises, the company that owns Miami Seaquarium, is planning to build another aquarium, in Sunny Isles, Florida. Their other park, Seaquarium, is in very poor conditions and the animals are living, for the most part, in completely unnatural, barren, cement pools. For example, their killer whale, Lolita, has spent the past four decades living in a tank so small, it violates APHIS (USDA) guidelines for size. Wild killer whales can swim up to 100 miles a day and travel at speeds of up to 35 miles an hour. Lolita can only swim in cramped circles. Other animals at Seaquarium live in equally appalling conditions.
Additionally, the facility is in a state of disrepair with broken railings, leaking saltwater, rust on almost every tank, cracked stairs and sidewalks - and in 2003, Seaquarium was found to have 127 safety and fire violations.
Please do not let Miami Seaquarium (Wometco) build a new facility in Sunny Isles, while their other park and animals are left in their current state on Rickenbacker Causeway. Thousands of people around the world are boycotting Seaquarium until they release/retire their whale, Lolita, so it would be a poor financial choice to have them construct another entertainment venue.
Thank you for your time.
Dear Mayor Edelcup,Please do not allow Wometco Enterprises to build a new facility in Sunny Isles, Florida.
Their current theme park, the Miami Seaquarium, is in very poor conditions and the animals are living, for the most part, in completely unnatural, barren, cement pools. For example, their killer whale, Lolita, has spent the past four decades living in a tank so small, it violates APHIS (USDA) guidelines for size. Wild killer whales can swim up to 100 miles a day and travel at speeds of up to 35 miles an hour. Lolita can only swim in cramped circles. Plus, wild orcas remain with their family pods for life, but Lolita has not been allowed to see another of her own kind since 1980. Other animals, such as dolphins, at Seaquarium live in equally appalling conditions.
Additionally, the facility is in a state of major disrepair with broken railings, leaking saltwater, peeling paint, rust on almost every tank, electrical hazards, cracked stairs and sidewalks - and in 2003, Seaquarium was found to have 127 safety and fire violations.
Please do not let Miami Seaquarium (Wometco) build a new facility in Sunny Isles, while their other park and animals are left in their current state on Rickenbacker Causeway. Thousands of people around the world are boycotting Seaquarium until they release/retire their whale, Lolita, so it would be a poor financial choice to have them construct another entertainment venue. If Seaquarium won't even improve the lives of the animals they already own, how can they be trusted with a new, more expensive project?
Consider having a different company install said restaurant/museum project or install a manatee or sea turtle rehabilitation facility, so that the public could view these Florida icons as they are recuperating to be returned to the wild.
Thank you very much, in advance, for your time and consideration.
