San Antonio Aquarium

The San Antonio Aquarium is a for-profit aquarium located in San Antonio, Texas. The facility features a number of interactive exhibits where touching the animals is permitted.[1]

Not to be confused with San Antonio Zoo and Aquarium.
San Antonio Aquarium
Location6320 Bandera Road
San Antonio, Texas


Controversies and violations

On July 30, 2018, two robbers abducted a female grey horn shark named Miss Helen and transported her to their house. The thieves kept the shark alive and it was rescued by San Antonio police officers and returned alive and well to the aquarium.[2][3] Following the shark abduction, a public petition of more than 17,000 (61,000 as of January 2020) signatories requested the aquarium to close its touch pool containing a variety of aquatic animals.[4] The petition cited the dangers of touch pools can have on the animals, namely due to the stress and potential injury inflicted by aquarium guests.

In October 2018, the United States Department of Agriculture cited the aquarium for the use of untrained lemurs due to the numerous instances of biting and scratching facility visitors.[5]

In November 2018, the Leon Valley Fire Department shut down and evacuated the facility due to a number of safety hazards related to electrical and mechanical systems.[6]

During the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, Leon Valley Police twice shut down the facility for violating emergency orders prohibiting groups of 10 or more.[7][8]

See also

References
  1. "Animal Encounters at the Aquarium: Exciting Hands-On Interactive Exhibits".
  2. "Shark abducted in pram from Texas aquarium is returned".
  3. Katz, Brigit. "After Being Stolen in Baby Stroller, Miss Helen the Shark Is Back at San Antonio Aquarium". Smithsonian. Retrieved 2019-02-02.
  4. "San Antonio Aquarium responds to petition for change".
  5. https://www.peta.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/CovinoFamilyFactsheet.pdf
  6. https://www.sacurrent.com/the-daily/archives/2018/11/29/san-antonio-aquarium-temporarily-shut-down-for-multiple-code-violations
  7. https://www.kens5.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/san-antonio-aquarium-cited-for-remaining-open-in-defiance-of-bexar-county-emergency-declaration/273-d0e1ba50-7def-44f9-b858-869c3c9e1a6e
  8. https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/Police-close-San-Antonio-Aquarium-twice-on-15148557.php

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