SeaQuest, the infamous chain of interactive mall aquariums responsible for the death of hundreds of animals, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protections earlier this month. Hopefully, that means its last five locations will be shut down as soon as possible.  

 This news comes after harsh criticism from FoA. We wrote an expose on the dreary conditions in SeaQuest’s Trumbull, Connecticut location and celebrated the closure of the same site.

 If Seaquest closes the rest of its locations, it will be a relief to know no more animals will be exploited or killed by the company. However we won’t be satisfied until all Seaquest’s animals land safely in accredited sanctuaries where they are not forced to interact with humans.

While writing our expose, FoA staff couldn’t stop thinking about how stressful the interactions with people must be to the wild animals, who normally would be trying to avoid interacting with humans. Unlike wildlife sanctuaries that are not open to the public, these interactive places don’t care if the stress kills the animals or not. They just care about raking in money. It’s so disrespectful to animals and parents shouldn’t be teaching their kids to be insensitive to wildlife or any animal.

Shame on Seaquest for caring more about creating a selfie-friendly environment for their patrons, all while neglecting the most basic needs for their residents. Encouraging visitors to manhandle and take selfies with wild animals sends the message that their purpose in life is to entertain humans and that it’s ok to disrespect them and strip them of their dignity.

That’s the wrong message! You can say no to animal exploitation and entertainment in 2025.

● Don’t give your money to or enable any petting zoo/interactive aquarium, or similar attraction. 

● Instead watch documentaries with the young people in your life that show animals in their natural habitats living their best life. 

● Grab a pair of binoculars and take them for a nature walk along the beach, in the woods or in a land trust property.  

● Plan a family vacation to a National Park.  

No matter where you observe wildlife, wildlife selfies are selfish. Professor Philip Seddon, the director of Otago University’s wildlife management program, told attendees at the International Penguin Conference in New Zealand a few years ago that the normalization of wildlife selfies was “scary” and was harming animals, including causing physical and emotional stress, interrupting feeding and breeding habits, and even potentially lowering birth rates. “We’re losing respect for wildlife, we don’t understand the wild at all,” Seddon said.