Miami Seaquarium sea lion dies before it could be taken by USDA NBC 6 South Florida [Video]

Another animal has died at Miami Seaquarium, just months after the United States Department of Agriculture said it had plans to confiscate it from the facility.

The sea lion, Bud, was around 20 years old and may have been suffering from kidney disease at the time of his death last last month, according to court documents.

The Executive Director of The Dolphin Company, which owns the Seaquarium, told NBC6 that Bud was considered geriatric and had been treated in December for acute renal failure and a subsequent respiratory condition. 

“He continue to decline and refuse food in the last few weeks despite treatment and supportive care. He was humanely euthanized due to poor prognosis on March 28, 2024,” Executive Director Edwin Gonzalez stated. “A necropsy was conducted by independent experts at a local university, results are pending.”

Veterinary advocacy non-profit organization, Our Honor, said in a press release on Monday that the Seaquarium’s former veterinarian had …