A former diver who captured over 100 dolphins at Miami Seaquarium and "participated in abuse" admits he feels "vindicated" after it was ordered to close following a scathing safety report into the care of its animals, saying the news is "personal" to him.
The Miami Seaquarium is being evicted from the waterfront property it leases from Miami-Dade County. The old-Florida-style tourist attraction was home to Lolita, the beloved Orca that died last year, sparking outrage.
Mayor Daniella Levine Cava cited a “long and troubling history of violations” in a lease termination notice sent to the chief executive officer of The Dolphin Company, which owns the Seaquarium. The company was told to vacate the property by April 21, according to the letter from the mayor’s office.
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Richard captured 100 dolphins until he turned against the industry (Ric O’Barry)“They have been the subject of continuous violations, including decaying animal habitats, lack of veterinary staff, and a lack of other experienced staff,” Mayor Levine Cava said during a news conference. “Our number one priority continues to be the safety and wellbeing of the animals."
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According to a report by the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in January, an inspection on October 16 found cases of animals being neglected. A dolphin named Ripley was found with a 2-inch nail, mangrove pods, and small pieces of shell in his throat. Another dolphin, Bimini, was found with a broken bolt in her mouth.
At least 120 dolphins and whales have died in captivity at the park, according to the Dolphin Project. Richard O'Barry, a former animal trainer at Seaquarium, captured over 100 dolphins in the 1960s and early 1970s. He was the head trainer of the five dolphins who together played "Flipper" on the popular American show along with Hugo the Killer Whale.
The Miami Seaquairum has faced multiple animal neglect concerns (Universal Images Group via Getty Images)However, it was when he was training Kathy, who played "Flipper" most often, he decided to rally against the industry he had been working in after she died in his arms in the 1970s. Kathy failed to resurface from the air and at this point, Mr O'Barry believed she had committed suicide after she kept banging her head against the walls.
Following on from years of campaigning against the industry, Mr O'Barry exclusively told The Mirror "the eviction notice was very personal to me". He said: "I spent some of the most important years of my life inside those tanks with the dolphins. I was the head trainer for the dolphins and orca known as Hugo the Killer Whale.
"I experienced everything they were experiencing. As a result, I turned away from the industry that I helped create and started working on tearing it down."
The former animal trainer admits when he first quit the Miami Seaquarium he was the only one outside the gate protesting against the industry as there was "no opposition to dolphin and whale captivity." He explained: "When I walked out of the Miami Seaquarium I didn’t go far; just outside near the front gate with my very first protest sign “Free Flipper”.
"In any case, this was the beginning of a movement. Historically, there was no opposition to dolphin and whale captivity before the first Earth Day in 1970. So yes, it takes a long time for justice to come. Especially when the government which is charged with protecting the animals is actually profiting from their captivity. And the mainstream media who do not want to offend their clients: The Miami Seaquarium."
Lolita the killer whale performing its 40th anniversary performance at Miami Seaquarium (Universal Images Group via Getty Images)The 84-year-old has admitted he "participated in the abuse" and "captured about 100 dolphins" which enabled him to see firsthand the lives of captive dolphins and their bleak experiences.
He said: "I participated in the abuse: Violent dolphin captures, I captured about 100 myself. Food deprivation; all captive dolphins experience this. Bad water. Bad food. Extremely boring living conditions. The two most important aspects of their life were taken away from these captives: 1. Their family. 2. The world of sound (sound is their primary sense)."
Despite Seaquarium being deemed "unsustainable and unsafe", the company plans on appealing the decision. Eduardo Albor, CEO of The Dolphin Company, expressed appreciation for "the strong support received from our staff and guests who enjoy Miami Seaquarium."
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He added: "We are highly confident that all animals will continue to receive top-notch care from the professional specialists at the Miami Seaquarium, as they have since day one under The Dolphin Company's operation and will continue for the remaining duration of the lease."
Mr O'Barry, who runs the Dolphin Project, admits he finally feels "vindicated" over the decision to terminate Seaquarium's lease. He added: "People thought I was crazy protesting dolphins and other whales in captivity. Even the mainstream animal welfare industry laughed at me; 'Dolphins, in captivity isn’t a real issue' they would say.
"So for years I protested alone. Nobody would show up. I stood there for years all alone. "
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