Animal advocates protest SeaQuest at New Jersey mall over alleged abuse - New York Post

Posted: 22 Feb 2020 09:06 AM PST

Animal advocates are loaded for bear to shut down a strange animal enclosure inside a New Jersey mall.

Last week, an undercover Post team visited SeaQuest at Woodbridge Center, which operates under permits from the state Division of Fish and Wildlife. It bills itself as a "petting zoo aquarium feeding experience!"

The Peking ducks paddled through murky water that looked like it hadn't been cleaned since the Year of the Pig.

Most exhibits had concrete floors and lacked any instructional "dos and don'ts" signage.

At "Parakeet Paradise," patrons young and old are given mill and seed to hold, which attract a swarm of 120 hungry — activists say "starved" — lovebirds. A staffer instructs the adults and kids to stay seated on a bench and slide their feet so as to not squash the scurrying Australian birds.

A 12-foot python seemed far too big for its enclosure.

A group of hybrid "Bengal cats," confessed one staffer, "can bite and they do scratch." Kids, who don't always remain seated, were within paws-length of the housecat-sized animals.

Last week 35 protesters showed up outside the mall to call attention to conditions unfit for fowl, fish or feline.

"Animals do not belong in a mall," fumed Whitney Malin, of South Orange, N.J., who started an online petition to shutter the Woodbridge SeaQuest that has garnered nearly 14,000 signatures. "These aren't toys. They are exploiting animals for entertainment to make money."

Malin likened SeaQuest, which opened in late November, to a "Chuckie Cheese with real, live animals."

Denise Morgan of Sayreville, N.J., runs the Facebook page Shut Down SeaQuest.

"I won't stop until SeaQuest is shut down all over America," she told The Post.

SeaQuest seems to generate howls of protest everywhere it puts down stakes. It has eight locations in the U.S.

In Littleton, Col., it reportedly failed two-state animal-safety inspections and was the subject of an undercover investigation by the local Fox news affiliate which found "a murky tank going through a bacteria bloom; smelly, filthy enclosures including a capybara pen; and an escaped lizard wandering the concrete floor with a stampede of excited customers threatening its safety." In Lynchburg, Va., residents petitioned to prevent SeaQuest from opening.

On Jan. 2, Goats of Anarchy confirmed the Woodbridge location had closed its goat exhibit and surrendered Cora, Roxy, and Stella to the non-profit group. The trio currently resides at a goat sanctuary in Hunterdon County.

Two upstate sanctuaries are poised to have SeaQuest surrender their hairless guinea pigs and Silkie chickens.

Vince Covino, the aquarium's owner and CEO, defended his zoo to The Post, saying, "All exhibits are inspected regularly by many federal, state, and local regulatory bodies. A local licensed veterinarian supervises the work of a team of dozens of full time animal lovers to ensure all animals receive all the enrichment, nutrition, and care appropriate for their well being."

A spokeswoman for the state Department of Environmental Protection said the agency "has issued no fines or violations to SeaQuest for species managed by the Division of Fish and Wildlife."

Dominant fish refuses to let 'runt' of aquarium leave the water to feed in Secret Life of the Zoo - Daily Mail

Posted: 14 Feb 2020 03:19 AM PST

A mudskipper fish who needed 'urgent help to gain weight' after being bullied by the 'dominant' fish in Secret Life of the Zoo left viewers close to tears.

Last night's episode of the Channel 4 show focused on Chester zoo's aquarium, where strongest male Arnie refused to let 'runt' Danny feed.

And with Danny wasting away and at risk of being bullied or even starved to death, angry viewers were quick to take to Twitter.

'If this land fish thing don't start eating I might just have to cry,' wrote one, while a second penned: 'Asking for a friend, is it normal to be angry at a fish for bullying another fish?'

Staff at Chester Zoo told how mudskipper Arnie (pictured) is the 'dominant' male in the aquarium's tank, and bullies 'runt' Danny, preventing him from getting food

The staff described Danny (pictured) as the 'sweetest fish' in the entire aquarium, before explaining he spends the majority of the time at the bottom of the tank due to bully, Arnie

Viewers took to Twitter during the episode, with one commenting: 'If this land fish thing don't start eating I might just have to cry' (pictured)

Staff member Hannah explained: 'The weirdest thing about mudskippers is that they live, for most of the time, outside of the water. They breathe air and they're land-dwelling fish - and it is possible to drown a mudskipper.'

Armed with pectoral fins especially adapted for life on land, dwarf Indian mudskippers live among the fresh water swamps of South East Asia.

With a clear group structure, they signal their dominance by flashing a huge flag-like fin.

'Mudskippers are full of attitude. Very territorial,' said Andrea, another member of staff concerned for Danny's welfare. 'You always have somebody who is king of the entire tank - and then you get the one at the bottom, who doesn't do very well.'

'Danny is one of the sweetest fish we have in the entire aquarium.'

Hannah added: 'Danny is a bit skinny, a little bit runty maybe. He spends a lot of time in the water - that means he's the lowest in the group.'

The team weighed both fish, and discovered Arnie was double the size of Danny, who was wasting away (pictured together)

Viewers were quick to take to Twitter, with one suggesting: 'Separate Danny from Arnie and feed them' (pictured)

But on top of the rock, holding prime territory, is Arnie.

'Arnie is totally dominant over the rest of the group,' said Hannah. 'There's no questioning he's the mudskipper in charge.'

Andrea continued: 'All the ladies in the tank like him, all the men in the tank want to be like him - so they're all perched on the branches next to him.'

'At feeding time Arnie is straight up there, buries his face in the food and just eats as much as he wants.'

However, the one that doesn't have the courage to challenge him to actually feed is Danny.

'Whenever he tries to come up to the feeding stations, Arnie is straight on him and doesn't let him get any food,' explained Andrea.

'It gets to the point Danny is trying to leave the water to take a gulp of air and Arnie is already on him. That means he spends a lot of the time at the bottom of the tank and not getting access to the food he needs to be healthy.'

The staff explained the moment Danny (pictured) tries to leave the water to take a gulp, Arnie is already on him

After increasing the temperature of the tank, Danny finally claimed top position on the rock (pictured)

Concerned for Danny, the team monitor his weight, which is 4.2g, while Arnie is weighed for comparison, too.

'He is a bit of a beast,' said Andrea. 'Normally mudskippers weigh about 6g, but he weighs about eight. He is more or less double his weight.

'At the moment, Danny looks like his head's too big for his body because his body is so small.'

In need of urgent help to gain weight so he doesn't waste away, the staff come up with a plan - to increase the temperature in the tank.

'Hopefully everybody's metabolism will increase a little bit, which means everyone will be more active and moving around more,' explained Hannah.

'This means at feeding times, Arnie could be distracted by other mudskippers. That could give Danny a chance to sneak in and get the food he needs.'

And four days after the heater was switched on, Danny finally claimed top spot and tucked into a bumper feast of mashed blood worm.

However, those who tuned in suggested other ways in which Danny could've been fed quicker.

'Little more the team can do? Put Danny in a different tank till he gains weight. There, simple,' wrote one, while a second commented: 'Poor Danny.'

A third suggested: 'Separate Danny from Arnie and feed him then.'

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