Hundreds of Animals Die at the Portland Aquarium—and Austin May Be Next
In just three months at the Portland Aquarium, more than 200 animals have reportedly lost their lives. Bamboo sharks, sea horses, stingrays, garden eels, and many species of fish have died from starvation, infections, a power outage, attacks by incompatible tank mates, getting caught in drain screens, being hit by falling rocks, escaping from their tanks, and unknown causes. A marine biologist at the facility stated that it was “cutting corners to save money” and that “so many deaths … were … preventable.”
The Oregonian newspaper reported that since February—almost seven months ago—the aquarium has not had a veterinarian on contract to care for the approximately 10,000 animals it confines. Also according to The Oregonian, the aquarium owners, Ammon and Vince Covino, “acknowledge that the facility has gone without regular veterinary services.” The Oregon Humane Society has launched an investigation, and PETA has asked it to pursue criminal cruelty-to-animals charges against everyone responsible, including the Covinos.
Meanwhile, we’ve turned our attention on the new aquarium that the Covinos want to open in Austin, Texas. Even though they apparently haven’t obtained all the required building permits, reports indicate that they have started construction and may already be holding animals at the site, including sharks, iguanas, lizards, a kinkajou, and possibly a crocodile. PETA has contacted Austin Animal Services and asked it to conduct an inspection to determine whether the animals are suffering as a result of abuse, neglect, or stress from the loud construction noise.
We’re also calling on the City of Austin’s Health Authority to get involved because the agency is charged with enforcing Austin’s prohibition on keeping dangerous animals, which the law defines as any animal who is “capable of inflicting serious bodily injury to a human.” Iguanas can suddenly charge and bite without warning, sometimes causing serious injury, and captive kinkajous are also known to bite and scratch humans. Crocodiles are reported to be 168 times more dangerous than sharks, killing 2,500 people every year. PETA is urging the City of Austin’s Health Authority to take custody of all the dangerous animals being held at the site.
What You Can Do
While we go after marine-animal prisons through legal channels, you can help go after them via the accountant’s office by never buying a ticket.
