MIAMI SEAQUARIUM

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service confirmed Monday that it is working with “an experienced team of manatee rescue and rehabilitation experts to assist with the transport effort of manatees from Miami Seaquarium.”

Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces sent a letter to the Miami Seaquarium on Wednesday in the wake of a Local 10 News report documenting the troubling findings outlined in the USDA’s most recent inspection report.

The United States Department of Agriculture has outlined troubling findings at the Miami Seaquarium, indicating numerous facility failures and a dolphin with rib fractures while another had cement in its digestive tract.

The Miami Seaquarium released results of a necropsy, nearly two months after the death of killer whale Lolita

The Miami Seaquarium moved out a Pacific white-sided dolphin — the companion of the orca that recently died in Virginia Key — on Sunday.

The Miami Seaquarium has reportedly chosen not to renew its earned accreditation for its trainers.

The remains of Lolita will be cremated and soon be delivered back to her home in the Pacific Northwest, sources told Local 10 News on Thursday.

South Florida is still mourning the Miami Seaquarium’s orca Lolita, who died last week, and now activists are hoping her death spurs the release of the Seaquarium’s last remaining dolphin that shared a tank with Lolita and SeaWorld’s Corky.

The Miami Seaquarium reopened on Sunday after closing the park on Saturday to deal with the aftermath of the death of the captive orca whale Lolita, also known as Tokitae and Toki.

Officials at the Miami Seaquarium provided the latest health update on their orca Lolita Tuesday as they prepare to eventually move her to her home waters in the Pacific.

Efforts to move Tokitae, the orca known as “Lolita” and “Toki,” out of the Miami Seaquarium to a seaside sanctuary in the Pacific Northwest continue, but that process is mired in legal red tape that could take months to iron out.

Tokitae is as majestic and powerful as ever. Jessica Comolli, the director of the Miami Seaquarium’s animal health department, said Tokitae is doing great.

Three women who worked with famed orca Lolita at the Miami Seaquarium panned Thursday’s announcement that the attraction’s owners plan to return the captive whale to her “home waters” in the Pacific Northwest.

The Miami Seaquarium's famed killer whale could soon be on the move as there are plans in the works to free Lolita from captivity.

The health and future of the beloved captive orca at the Miami Seaquarium was the focus of discussion during a meeting Tuesday at the Intercontinental Hotel in downtown Miami.

After the U.S. Department of Agriculture made public a report that the Miami Seaquarium’s dolphins were more aggressive due to drastic food cuts, Miami-Dade County officials issued the park a formal notice of noncompliance.

Dozens of PETA supporters protested outside Miami Seaquarium Saturday.

The General Manager of Miami Seaquarium who watches over Lolita, a 56-year-old orca had encouraging news on Wednesday about her health on Wednesday.

A July 6 report that the U.S. Department of Agriculture made public on Friday details how inspectors said the Miami Seaquarium drastically cut the diets of nine dolphins to get them to perform better — but instead this resulted in angry dolphins fighting back.

A July 6 report that the U.S. Department of Agriculture made public on Friday details how inspectors said the Miami Seaquarium drastically cut the diets of nine dolphins to get them to perform better — but instead this resulted in angry dolphins fighting back.

The environmentalist and philanthropist who watches over Tokitae, also known as the Miami Seaquarium’s Lolita, had encouraging news Thursday.

Concern is growing over the health of Miami Seaquarium's Lolita the orca.

The attack happened during the Flipper show in front of an audience of families and young children.

Lolita, also known as Tokitae, will no longer be performing shows for profit. The theater and tank where she lives in captivity will be closed to the public. This is giving animal advocates hope that the 20-foot long female orca that has lived at the Miami Seaquarium since 1970 cold one day know freedom and make it back home.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture cleared the way for the Miami Seaquarium to transfer its lease to The Dolphin Company, Miami-Dade County’s mayor announced on Thursday night.

Lolita, the ailing orca at the Miami Seaquarium, could be on the move soon, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava tells Local 10 News.

Businessman and environmentalist Pritam Singh is committing $1 million toward the care of the Miami Seaquarium’s beloved orca Lolita, sources tell Local 10 News.

USDA inspectors were back at the Miami Seaquarium Tuesday following last June's scathing 17-page report citing numerous serious animal welfare violations.

The Seaquarium confirmed to Local 10 News that the famed whale is receiving around-the-clock care.

Miami-Dade County commissioners voted Tuesday to assign the job to The Dolphin Company, a Cancun-based operator of other aquatic parks in Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe.

The Miami Seaquarium will change ownership later this year.

Miami Seaquarium has seen an uptick in sick manatees coming to their rehabilitation center.

VIRGINIA KEY, Fla. – Nine-year-old Jay Weiskopf has about 120 stitches after surviving a shark attack on Sunday in South Beach. The dental battery of the shark also left trails of cuts on his right arm and side. Right after arriving from Minnesota, Jay and his parents walked to the beach, east of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Ocean Beach Park’s playground, and north of the South Pointe Park Pier. “All I was focused on was getting him help.”A 9-year-old boy from Minnesota was treated at Jackson Memorial Hospital after a shark attack on Sunday in South Beach. Ad“A shark tried to eat me at the ocean,” Jay said after his release.

KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. – The Miami Seaquarium has released two sea turtles back into the ocean after being rescued over a year ago. According to the Miami Seaquarium, the two male sea turtles, Yule and Buoyance, were rescued off the coast of South Florida after suffering nearly fatal injuries over a year ago. The larger sea turtle, Yule, was rescued from Black Point Marina in Dec. 2019 when he was discovered in dire shape. “He came with hooks, fishing hooks lol over his body,” says Julie Heyde, who is part of the Miami Seaquarium team who took care of the two sea turtles. “Floating on his back end just bobbing around from impaction.”According to Heyde, they’ve already rescued at least 12 sea turtles this year alone.

MIAMI, Fla. – Divers with Miami Dade Police responded to a marina near the Miami Seaquarium on Wednesday afternoon after reports of human remains near the north side of the Bear Cut Bridge. Police said they met with a man around 2:25 p.m. who said he spotted human remains in the water. The search is now a joint investigation of the Miami Dade Police, Key Biscayne Police and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. This was the area where the United States Coast Guard was searching for a boater who vanished after a collision. Miami Dade Police did not say on Wednesday if they had plans to return and continue the search.

VIRGINIA KEY, Fla. – A protest is underway at Miami Seaquarium in the latest call to free Lolita, the 20-foot-long, 7,000-pound orca who has lived at the Miami tourist attraction for 50 years. Activists say the tank in which the whale lives is not fit for her size. “She needs us to speak for her,” said Patty Leon, a protester with the group the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). The indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest said that under their inherent rights, the whale belongs to them. In October 2018, a federal appeals court rejected a petition to reopen a lawsuit over the Seaquarium’s treatment of the killer whale.

We have a right to call her home,” said Squil-Le-He-Le Raynell Morris of the Lummi Nation. Lummi Nation tribe members traveled from the Pacific coast to Miami to demand that the Miami Seaquarium free their sister Tokitae. (Local 10 News)The Lummi Nation has vowed to bring her home as their sacred obligation and they believe after 50 years, it’s time for her to retire. Lummi Nation members and their supporters continue their efforts to save Lolita from confinement at the Miami Seaquarium. Lummi Nation members and supporters continue to visit the Miami Seaquarium to demand they free Tokitae.

MIAMI The Miami Seaquarium is temporarily re-closing beginning Monday due to the spike in local and statewide COVID-19 cases. The health and safety of our Guests, Team Members and the animals in our care is our top priority, a statement from the Miami Seaquarium read. The state also reported 29 new coronavirus-related deaths since Saturday across the state, including six in Miami-Dade County and 11 in Palm Beach County. Our animal care teams will continue their work while the Seaquarium is closed, including our rescue, rehabilitation and release efforts. Zoo Miami spokesman Ron Magill said the majority of the affected employees do not interact directly with visitors.

MIAMI – Jungle Island and the Miami Seaquarium are temporarily closing their doors amid the coronavirus pandemic. “During this time, our animal care professionals will continue their commitment to the health and wellbeing of animals at Miami Seaquarium,” the park stated in a message on its website. “The park’s manatee and sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation conservation program will also continue uninterrupted.”According to a news release issued Monday, all Jungle Island events, including the Kids Research Environment & Wildlife (K.R.E.W.) Click here for the latest updates on Jungle Island. “The health and safety of our guests, staff and animals is a top priority,” Zoo Miami stated on its website.

MIAMI – To help reduce traffic on the Rickenbacker Causeway this weekend, the Miami International Boat Show organizers are offering ticket holders free transportation from downtown Miami to Virginia Key. From Thursday to Monday, ticket holders will be able to board water taxis and shuttles at five stops in downtown Miami that are near to public parking lots or public transportation. The water taxis will be stopping at Bayfront Park and the AmericanAirlines Arena, where there will also be a free shuttle bus service stop. Although event organizers are discouraging attendees from driving to Virginia Key, they are providing valet parking at the Marine Stadium and parking at the event’s Lot B in the Virginia Key Beach Park area. Attendees who decide to use ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft will be using Lot C outside of the Miami Seaquarium where there will also be a free shuttle service.

KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. – The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals held a protest Tuesday morning outside the Miami Seaquarium to demand the release of Lolita. The Miami Seaquarium's last orca was captured 47 years ago in Puget Sound during a "violent whale hunt," PETA officials said in a news release. She was taken from her family, taken from her home, and that's not right. More than 65,000 school children visit Miami Seaquarium each year to learn about Lolita and the other residents of the sea. "Lolita will continue to be an ambassador for her species from her home at Miami Seaquarium."

KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. – A loggerhead sea turtle was released back to her natural habitat Tuesday after she was successfully rehabilitated. Miami Seaquarium camp keepers came out Tuesday morning to release Winnie and send her off into the ocean in Key Biscayne. Winnie is a loggerhead sea turtle who was rescued April 29 from the water off St. Lucie County. The Miami Seaquarium took her in for treatment and, in just two months, Winnie gained 11 pounds. The Miami Seaquarium has a summer camp program, in which they teach children about rescue, rehab and release, and provide them with a hands-on experience.