Sighting violations under the Endangered Species Act, a petition to rehear the case brought against the Miami Seaquarium has been denied by the Court in Miami. The three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit filed their decision on Tuesday 9 October.
The Seaquarium therefore has successfully convinced the court that Lolita’s conditions were not in violation of the Act, despite the fact she is living in cramped conditions for her size in the smallest orca tank in the USA, exposed to the sun, wind and rain (as was seen during hurricane Irma) and without any of her species for company. The panel determined that whilst Lolita’s case was unique due to her age and the continuing medical care present at the aquarium, there was “no threat of serious harm” sufficient to trigger a violation of the federal animal welfare law.
Meanwhile, the campaign to retire Lolita to a seaside sanctuary in her home waters continues.
