The San Antonio Aquarium has a troubling history of animal welfare and public safety issues. Run by Crysty Covino, the wife of convicted wildlife trafficker Ammon Covino, the San Antonio Aquarium has garnered multiple citations from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for unethical treatment and failure to meet animal care standards established by the federal Animal Welfare Act.

Various citations from the USDA, spanning from Oct. 24, 2018, to Aug. 1, 2023, highlight the urgent need for this facility to transition to an animal-free model and halt animal cruelty practices.

Reasons for these citations include animals attacking guests, ineffective enclosure barriers, poorly maintained animal enclosures, lack of auxiliary ventilation or contingency plans, loose tools and electrical cords and frayed ropes that could entangle animals. The negligence also resulted in the death of an African crested porcupine due to the failure to separate the animals properly.

The list of violations underscores the unethical treatment and endangerment of animals within this establishment. Exploiting animals for entertainment is both cruel and unjust. These creatures deserve proper care and living conditions that do not pose a threat to their well-being.

The San Antonio Aquarium has a troubling record of exploiting animals for profit-driven entertainment. Animals are often confined to small, unnatural enclosures that fail to meet their physical and psychological needs. These animals endure stress and suffering as they are forced to perform tricks or interact with visitors for entertainment.

The aquarium’s business model prioritizes profit over animal welfare, leading to neglect and mistreatment. Animals are subjected to stressful conditions, inadequate nutrition and cramped living spaces.

The Covino family’s disregard for ethical standards in animal care is exemplified by their history of locking up animals in extremely small exhibits devoid of proper enrichment and stimulation. Such practices not only compromise the physical health of these animals but also inflict psychological harm, depriving them of the ability to engage in natural behaviors.

Despite mounting criticism and regulatory interventions, the Covino family continues to operate the aquarium, perpetuating a cycle of exploitation and cruelty. Their actions demonstrate a blatant disregard for the well-being of animals and underscore the urgent need for stronger regulations to protect vulnerable species from exploitation.

The San Antonio Aquarium should be held accountable for its mistreatment of animals and close for good. It is imperative that companies prioritize the welfare of animals over profit-driven exploitation, and take decisive action to end the cycle of cruelty by businesses like the San Antonio Aquarium.