Austin, and San Antonio (for which he The Covino Family was sent back to prison in February SeaQuest (multiple locations), San Antonio 2016). Then he was involved in the Aquarium, and opening of SeaQuest aquariums in and (for which he went back to prison again in November 2016).

Members of the Covino family—namely Documentation is available upon brothers Vince and Ammon—have been request. involved in opening a number of aquariums nationwide, including the June 3, 2021/SeaQuest, Littleton, following: Colorado: The USDA issued a critical

repeat citation to SeaQuest for failing to  2016—SeaQuest, first location, with provide a means for a wallaby named Ben multiple locations following to climb out of an aquarium tank safely at  2014—San Antonio Aquarium in the back of his enclosure. As a result, he drowned. The incident happened after the  2013—Austin Aquarium in Texas facility closed for the evening on September  2012— in 16, 2020, and Ben was found dead in the (closed in 2016) tank the next morning. While the wallabies  2011— Aquarium (Covino had access to the aquarium tank, at the involvement ended in 2014. It is time, it had no climbing structures on the currently operating as Aquarium of inside to allow an animal to climb out safely. Boise.) SeaQuest also received a citation for failing Since the first Covino aquarium opened, to store food and bedding in a manner that hundreds of animals have died either at would protect it from contamination, the facilities or during transport, deterioration, and mold. An open bag and including over 200 in a three-month another, ripped bag of bedding were in the period at the now-defunct Portland main guest area, to which the public had Aquarium. A total of 250 trout died in access. In the food preparation area, there transport to SeaQuest Littleton in was an open bag of Timothy biscuits for the Colorado. In addition, dozens of people two guinea pigs that wasn’t stored have reported injuries sustained by appropriately to protect it from deterioration direct contact with wildlife at multiple and contamination. SeaQuest locations. April 15, 2021/SeaQuest, Folsom, was sentenced in federal California: According to a Facebook review court to more than a year in prison after with photos, a toddler’s hand was badly pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bitten by an arowana fish. illegal wildlife trafficking in 2013. He was sent back to prison twice in 2016 after March 25, 2021/SeaQuest, Trumbull, violating his parole—which prohibited Connecticut: The USDA cited SeaQuest any activity involving the exhibition, for failing to handle otters in a manner that purchase, or sale of fish or wildlife. did not cause them trauma, physical harm, Despite being legally prohibited from or unnecessary discomfort. In June 2020, doing so, Ammon was involved with the an employee hit otters with a metal food operations of the aquariums in Portland, bowl when the animals jumped on and

{00339068 3} The Covino Family

around the employee, who was performing along the bottom, indicating that it couldn’t assigned husbandry duties. It was also cited be cleaned adequately) and the for failing to have an effective barrier around cinderblocks. the otters during a public feeding, which resulted in an incident in which a small child Finally, the USDA cited SeaQuest for failing was bitten in July 2020. Similarly, the to clean the area surrounding the Bengal capybara enclosure was kept unlocked and cat enclosure and failing to maintain unattended, allowing a member of the public complete records of animal acquisitions and to enter the enclosure. dispositions. These records did document that an otter had died and seven had been SeaQuest was also cited for storing food shipped off to other facilities and that the and bedding directly on the floor, which whereabouts of two capybaras who should could get wet and contaminate the supplies, have been at the facility were unknown. since aquatic tanks and equipment were in the same area. A citation was also issued November 4, 2020/San Antonio for failing to have complete Aquarium, San Antonio, Texas: The acquisition/disposition records for goats, USDA cited the San Antonio Aquarium for hedgehogs, and Bengal cats. failing to keep the painted shelter box for a woodchuck in good repair. The sides and February 3, 2021/SeaQuest, Fort Worth, entrance had been chewed, creating a Texas: The USDA cited SeaQuest for rough wood surface that posed an injury risk failing to have a sufficient barrier around the to the animal. capybara enclosure after a child, who was able to reach over the side of the enclosure, August 21, 2020/SeaQuest, Las Vegas, was bitten by an adult capybara, causing Nevada: The USDA cited SeaQuest for the child’s hand to bleed. It was also cited failing to have acquisition forms and for failing to have appropriate barriers appropriate identification for three Bengal protecting two adult Kunekune pigs and a cats. rabbit from unmonitored public contact and for not fully monitoring an “animal July 30, 2020/SeaQuest, Las Vegas, encounter” during which a member of the Nevada: Flash, a 1-year-old two-toed sloth, public attempted to pet a sloth when the died after suffering from intermittent attendant’s back was turned, resulting in the twitching, weakness, and inappetence for a sloth biting the guest. month from an undetermined cause. Various medical treatments were tried and SeaQuest was also cited for failing to subsequently failed. Flash was noted to be provide safe enclosures for animals. A sloth thin at the time of his death. was being housed in an enclosure with sheetrock walls with peeling rubber trim. March 21, 2020/San Antonio Aquarium, “Sheetrock is not an appropriate material for San Antonio, Texas: The San Antonio animal enclosures” because it “can be Aquarium was shut down by police after the easily scratched and gouged by an animal owner refused to close. The Leon Valley and cannot be adequately cleaned and Police Department had advised the facility disinfected.” The off-exhibit area for the on March 18 that it could not open to the small-clawed otter had a rotting wall, public in light of the emergency declaration exposed insulation, and a gap large enough by the state that nonessential for an otter‘s arm or leg to go through establishments should close their doors between the plywood door (which had mold because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Covino Family

The aquarium’s manager was given a Gus, resulting in bites to a visitor and an citation and ordered to close the facility employee. immediately after police arrived on March 21. Officers returned an hour later and October 22, 2019/SeaQuest, Littleton, found that there were still people at the Colorado: The USDA cited SeaQuest for aquarium and that it was "operating as if housing two rabbits with a toucan, which there was no emergency declaration in could cause the rabbits stress and spread place," according to Chief of Police Joseph disease and contamination. The facility was Salvaggio. A second citation was issued, also cited for failing to maintain in good and visitors and nonessential employees repair an enclosure holding two wallabies. were removed by police. The back wall had two holes exposing drywall, which could be a health hazard if January 13, 2020/SeaQuest, Layton, ingested by the animals. Utah: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued SeaQuest a critical repeat September 7, 2019/SeaQuest, Las Vegas, citation for allowing public interactions with Nevada: Chip, an 8-month-old small-clawed Gus, a South American coatimundi, without otter, bit an employee on the wrist. The adequate barriers or direct control of him. A animal was placed in quarantine for 10 guest and an employee were bitten by Gus days. during a public interaction session. Two coatimundis were allowed free physical August 26, 2019/SeaQuest, Layton, Utah: contact with seated guests within the An otter bit a patron’s index finger while enclosure. being fed. The animal was quarantined for 10 days because of possible rabies January 3, 2020/SeaQuest, Las Vegas, exposure. Nevada: An employee was bitten by Chip, a small-clawed otter, during a presentation. July 25, 2019/SeaQuest, Littleton, Chip was quarantined for 10 days because Colorado: The USDA cited SeaQuest for of the risk of rabies exposure. This was his failing to have acquisition records for second attack. (See the September 7, 2019, several animals and failing to have records entry.) pertaining to a sloth, two capybaras, and two Asian small-clawed otters who were no November 26, 2019/SeaQuest, Layton, longer at the facility. Utah: Vince Covino’s father was bitten on the hand by an otter. The animal was July 22, 2019/San Antonio Aquarium, placed in quarantine for 11 days. San Antonio, Texas: The USDA cited the San Antonio Aquarium for failing to have an On the same day, an employee was bitten effective barrier for an exhibit holding an by a coatimundi at this location. armadillo and an African crested porcupine. The inspector was able to “reach over the November 21, 2019/SeaQuest, Layton, door and touch the [porcupine]” easily. Utah: The USDA cited SeaQuest for failing to handle Gus, a South American June 25, 2019/Austin Aquarium, Austin, coatimundi, in a manner that would Texas: A lawsuit was filed by the parents of minimize risk to the public and the animal. a 10-year-old girl who was allegedly bitten The facility allowed public interactions by a lemur. The lawsuit alleges that the without adequate barriers or direct control of aquarium initially told the parents that the lemur was vaccinated but later informed The Covino Family

them that this was not the case, leading to April 3, 2019/SeaQuest, Las Vegas, thousands of dollars in medical expenses. Nevada: Clark County Administrative Services revoked SeaQuest’s exotic-animal June 19, 2019/SeaQuest, Fort Worth, permit because the facility possessed Texas: The USDA cited SeaQuest again for unpermitted otters and coatimundi. The failing to reduce the risk of injury to visitors permit was later reissued with additional during public encounters with an Asian conditions. small-clawed otter. Since the previous citation of February 5, 2019, there had been April 1, 2019/SeaQuest, Littleton, two incidents in which patrons sustained Colorado: Colorado Parks and Wildlife minor wounds from the otter. suspended SeaQuest’s exhibitor’s license for two years. The suspension required that June 7, 2019/SeaQuest, Trumbull, the facility send regulated animals— Connecticut: The USDA cited SeaQuest including otters, capybaras, kookaburras, for failing to have a written program of some fish, a sloth, and three types of veterinary care. snake—to other facilities. The hearing examiner’s decision states, “The best May 31, 2019/SeaQuest, Littleton, interest of regulated wildlife and public Colorado: A patron reported on Yelp that a safety is at the center of this suspension pig—located in the bird encounter—bit a 3- decision. SeaQuest has repeatedly ignored, year-old through her pants, breaking the or failed to report violations, that included skin. human injuries and wildlife care issues.”

May 29, 2019/Austin Aquarium, Austin, March 26, 2019/SeaQuest, Las Vegas, Texas: The USDA cited the Austin Nevada: In a hearing regarding a $2,000 Aquarium for failing to consult an attending fine imposed by Clark County Animal veterinarian to determine the cause of ear Control over unpermitted otters, information problems exhibited by kangaroos prior to was disclosed on a female Asian small- treating them. The manager stated that the clawed otter named Jelly, who died after animals were undergoing an ear mite one of her arms became caught in a water treatment recommended by a facility pool filtration system. A necropsy was employee. performed, and it was determined that her cause of death was drowning. May 20, 2019/SeaQuest, Las Vegas, Nevada: Dale, a 4-month-old small-clawed February 24, 2019/SeaQuest, Las Vegas, otter, bit an employee while being bathed. Nevada: According to a KTNV investigation, The animal was placed in quarantine for 10 five former SeaQuest employees came days. forward with concerns about the interactive environment and animal and public safety. April 25, 2019/SeaQuest, Littleton, One former employee stated, “Oftentimes Colorado: A pig bit a person. The animal because they let people walk around, the did not have an up-to-date vaccination and kids would stomp on the birds and kill them. was thus quarantined for 15 days. And then [staff] would throw the birds in the garbage so they didn’t have to record it or April 23, 2019/SeaQuest, Littleton, show that the birds were dead.” Another Colorado: A pig lunged at and bit a patron. former employee claimed that the same thing happened with turtles, adding that “some were actually crushed by kids.” The Covino Family

Another alleged that an octopus “cooked January 5, 2019/SeaQuest, Littleton, alive and burned to death in [his or her] own Colorado: A pufferfish bit an 8-year-old- water” overnight. child on the thumb.

February 22, 2019/SeaQuest, Las Vegas, January 5, 2019/SeaQuest, Littleton, Nevada: After a litter of Asian small-clawed Colorado: An iguana jumped onto an otters was born, Clark County Animal employee’s left shoulder and caught his or Control fined the facility $2,000 and issued it her nail in the person’s face under her eye. a citation for having unpermitted animals. SeaQuest’s permit also prohibited it from January 2, 2019/SeaQuest, Littleton, breeding the otters. The hearing clerk Colorado: An iguana trying to climb a upholding the fine stated, “Instead of patron’s leg scratched an employee’s wrist remedying this violation, SeaQuest and hand when the employee tried to Aquariums attempted to capitalize and profit remove the animal. from it” and “willfully tried to take advantage of the situation by marketing and attempting December 27, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, to exhibit the baby otters.” Colorado: An iguana bit a child who was feeding the animal. February 7, 2019/SeaQuest, Folsom, California: The USDA cited SeaQuest for December 21, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, failing to have animal records available at Colorado: A pufferfish bit the thumb of a the time of inspection for examination and patron who was feeding the animal. failing to have walls and interior surfaces constructed of materials that could be December 19, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, readily sanitized for the health and well- Colorado: Jefferson County Animal Control being of the animals. verbally warned SeaQuest about the heat lamp in the sloth enclosure, which posed a February 5, 2019/SeaQuest, Fort Worth, burn hazard. This was the second verbal Texas: The USDA cited SeaQuest for warning after a sloth named Flash was failing to reduce the risk of injury to visitors severely burned. (See the December 7, during public encounters with an Asian 2018, entry.) small-claw otter. Two visitors were injured during the month that the otter was on December 11, 2018/SeaQuest, Folsom, exhibit. California: Less than a month after opening, a patron found a dead stingray in January 18, 2019/SeaQuest, Littleton, the touch tank. According to CBS Colorado: Stormin’ Norman, a tortoise, bit a Sacramento, children were hovering around patron’s hand. the pool, touching the animal, who was lying at the bottom of the tank. January 10, 2019/SeaQuest, Littleton, Colorado: Spartacus, an Asian water December 9, 2018/SeaQuest, Folsom, monitor, jumped up and bit an employee California: Video footage received by while being fed. PETA showed a fish who had reportedly jumped out of a tank and was struggling on January 7, 2019/SeaQuest, Littleton, the floor, likely suffocating for about two Colorado: An iguana jumped onto a 6-year- minutes before an employee used a old child’s chest and “got a claw inside her sweatshirt to return the animal to the water. mouth.” The Covino Family

December 9, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, areas and redness on his face with Colorado: A stingray stung an employee. scabbing and skin sloughing, and a couple The barb became lodged in the employee’s of the wounds were oozing. According to hand, and medical attention was sought at staff, he winced when eating strawberries an urgent-care center. and his remaining food had to be cut smaller in order for him to eat. December 7, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, Colorado: Jefferson County Animal Control Jefferson County Animal Control received issued SeaQuest a verbal warning for the an anonymous tip about Flash the following otter exhibit. The enclosure had a feeding day. It visited SeaQuest and was informed tube that the otters could put their paws that the sloth had been seen by the into, potentially allowing them to come into aquarium’s veterinarian, who recommended contact with the public. SeaQuest also that staff treat the burn with coconut oil, received a verbal warning for using heat honey, and Neosporin. Animal Control lamps with inadequate screens to prevent followed up with the veterinarian, who the animals from sustaining burns. (See the stated she had not been notified of Flash’s November 8, 2018, entry.) injuries and did not prescribe any treatment. When she saw Flash on her regular visit on November 28, 2018/San Antonio November 27, 2018, the injury appeared to Aquarium, San Antonio, Texas: The San be healing. She did not know the full extent Antonio Aquarium was evacuated and shut of the injury until she spoke with a Colorado down by the Leon Valley Fire Department Parks and Wildlife officer on December 9, after a number of safety hazards were 2018. The veterinarian stated that she discovered during a routine fire inspection. would have expected to be contacted by The aquarium reopened on December 8, SeaQuest, would have wanted to see the 2018. sloth, and would have considered treatment for inflammation, infection, and pain November 25, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, control—not coconut oil and honey. Colorado: An iguana bit a patron’s finger while being fed, and a white cockatoo bit an The employee who falsely claimed that a employee’s finger. veterinarian had been consulted was charged with cruelty to animals for November 23, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, neglecting an animal by depriving Flash of Colorado: An iguana scratched an veterinary care. The employee was employee’s arm. acquitted at trial. SeaQuest and the facility’s general manager were both given warnings November 20, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, under Colorado’s cruelty-to-animals law. Colorado: An iguana bit a 4-year-old child SeaQuest was also issued a permit citation while being fed. for failing to report the injuries to Flash.

November 8, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, November 6, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, Colorado: Flash, a sloth, was severely Colorado: Spartacus, a water monitor, bit a burned by a heat lamp in his enclosure. This patron’s finger. According to the injured was the second time he had been injured by visitor's Yelp review, the bite caused what the lamp (see the October 18, 2018, entry). appeared to be serious lacerations to his The second burn caused swelling of his hand. The patron wrote that “[SeaQuest] entire face, including around his eyes, nose, handled everything so poorly but promised mouth, and lips. There were multiple raw to take care of everything and sent me to The Covino Family

their workers comp facility to treat me. After his upper incisors were broken at the gum three weeks of avoiding me they sent me a line. letter denying responsibility.” October 23, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, November 2, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, Colorado: An iguana bit a toddler while Colorado: A pacu bit a patron who was being fed. feeding the fish. October 20, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, October 28, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, Colorado: When being fed, an iguana bit a Colorado: A horn shark bit a 7-year-old patron. child while being fed. October 18, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, October 27, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, Colorado: Flash, a sloth, was burned by a Colorado: An iguana scratched an heating lamp in his enclosure. A print of his employee who was removing the animal nose was observed on the lightbulb. After from a tree outside the exhibit. the incident, staff did not cover the lamp or make it inaccessible to Flash. The attending October 24, 2018/San Antonio Aquarium, veterinarian was not consulted about the San Antonio, Texas: The USDA cited the injury, and staff treated the wound with San Antonio Aquarium for failing to use only honey, coconut oil, and Neosporin. trained lemurs under the direct control of an experienced handler during public October 17, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, encounters. An observation record book Colorado: An iguana scratched an described several incidents in which the employee who was trying to remove the lemurs had bitten or scratched members of animal from a tree in the enclosure. the public during interactive encounters. A lemur scratched a boy’s arm and then October 15, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, “jumped on [his] head grabbing him Colorado: An iguana bit an 8-year-old child aggressively.” According to the USDA while being fed. inspection report, “Three of the six [l]emurs used in public encounters have bitten or October 7, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, scratched the public.” Colorado: An iguana bit an employee, breaking the skin. October 23, 2018/SeaQuest, Las Vegas, Nevada: SeaQuest was cited and fined October 4, 2018/SeaQuest, Fort Worth, after a capybara named Wesley escaped Texas: The USDA documented a while being transported to a veterinary “Teachable Moment,” instructing SeaQuest office. He was in a dog crate in the back of to address the multiple incidents in which an open-bed pickup truck when he escaped. the capybara had bitten or scratched He was reportedly recaptured two blocks members of the public. away in a Target parking lot. Clark County Animal Control records noted that Wesley October 2, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, “had several injuries” and was “bleeding Colorado: Bella, a cockatoo, bit an quite a bit.” The veterinarian’s report stated employee. that the capybara was bleeding from his face and mouth and had a deep dermal September 29, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, abrasion, superficial wounds, a limp, and Colorado: A lorikeet bit a patron. swelling. An examination found that both of The Covino Family

September 28, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, space at the bottom of the wall in a corner Colorado: A wallaby named Ben scratched of the room that could hide “pests.” and bit an employee. September 10, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, September 27, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, Colorado: An iguana bit a 5-year-old child Colorado: Colorado Parks and Wildlife who was feeding the animal. cited and fined SeaQuest for two counts of failing to report injuries to humans. It also September 8, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, issued SeaQuest a separate warning for Colorado: An iguana scratched an three additional counts of failure to report employee. human injuries. September 4, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, September 27, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, Colorado: An iguana scratched two Colorado: A wallaby “grabbed” an employees when they tried to remove the employee’s arm “and scratched & kicked animal from a tree next to the enclosure. causing the employee’s right arm to bleed.” The report also noted that “occasionally [the September 3, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, wallaby] does jump or nip.” Colorado: An iguana scratched an employee who was removing the animal September 15, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, from a visitor’s leg. Colorado: A bamboo shark bit a patron while being fed in the shark lagoon. August 31, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, Colorado: Colorado Parks and Wildlife On the same day, a water monitor named cited and fined SeaQuest for failing to report Spartacus scratched an employee when he the death of a regulated kookaburra. (See was being transferred to a holding the August 2, 2018, entry.) container. Colorado Parks and Wildlife also issued September 14, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, SeaQuest warnings for the following: Colorado: A Burmese python named unlawful importation and possession of six Barbosa struck and latched onto an wood ducks, unlawful importation of a employee’s hand as the person tried to fill caiman and wallaby, five counts of failing to the animal’s water. report injuries to humans, and failing to report the deaths of 250 trout. September 13, 2018/Austin Aquarium, Austin, Texas: The USDA cited the Austin August 27, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, Aquarium for failing to have an effective Colorado: A patron was bitten on the hand barrier around the coatimundi enclosure that by an iguana. would ensure the safety of the animals and the public, failing to have a public barrier in On the same day, porcupine pufferfish bit a front of the red ruffed lemur enclosure, patron when she put her finger in the failing to provide coatimundis with a safe animal’s enclosure. According to the enclosure—an open hook at the top could incident report, the patron flung the fish out cause an animal to be caught or entangled of the tank when she was bitten but caught —and failing to maintain the room holding the animal before he or she touched the the kinkajou enclosure. There was black ground. The woman’s husband later debris along the walls and doorframe and a reported that she had called 911 to report The Covino Family

numbness and difficulty breathing as a an employee. Long pieces of material were result of the incident. found in the back of the bird’s throat, but it was uncertain whether they were the cause August 26, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, of death. Colorado: While talking to patrons, an employee was bitten by a sulcata tortoise August 1, 2018/SeaQuest, Fort named Stormin’ Norman. Lauderdale, : U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch asked the USDA to open an investigation August 22, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, into allegations of animal mistreatment by Colorado: An iguana bit a toddler on the SeaQuest, which planned to open a new finger as she fed the animal. location in Fort Lauderdale in November 2018. August 17, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, Colorado: Bossk, a red tegu, “was getting a July 31, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, little rowdy” when he was being carried back Colorado: The USDA documented a from a birthday party, and he scratched an “Teachable Moment” regarding excess employee’s arm. feces in a wallaby holding unit.

August 15, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, July 28, 2018/San Antonio Aquarium, Colorado: Colorado Parks and Wildlife San Antonio, Texas: Three visitors cited and fined SeaQuest for failing to smuggled a horn shark out using a stroller. comply with the conditions of its zoological The incident was captured on security park license by not reporting the cease and footage, and the public disclosure of it led to desist order and importation violations the retrieval of the shark two days later. issued by the Colorado Department of Agriculture. July 23, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, Colorado: The Colorado Department of August 14, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, Agriculture issued a cease and desist order Colorado: Twelve trout died while being to SeaQuest, ordering it to stop “operating transported to SeaQuest. as a pet animal sanctuary and retail aquarium facility without possessing a valid August 4–5, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, license.” SeaQuest had applied for the Colorado: SeaQuest stored approximately license in May and requested a temporary 80 parakeets in an underage teenager’s exemption from the licensing requirement garage after the company was ordered to so that it could operate until a license was shut down the interactive . (See the issued. That request was denied, yet July 23, 2018, entry.) The teenager’s family SeaQuest continued to operate. then advertised them on Facebook as being available for free, and most of the birds June 26, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, were given away in a hardware store Colorado: A lizard bit a person during parking lot. According to Colorado feeding. Department of Agriculture records, SeaQuest’s transfer of the birds to the On the same day, a total of 250 rainbow teenager and the public violated the July 23, trout fingerlings died in transit to SeaQuest. 2018, cease and desist order. June 23, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, August 2, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, Colorado: Colorado Parks and Wildlife Colorado: A kookaburra was found dead by cited and fined SeaQuest for unlawful The Covino Family

importation and possession of a two-toed March 14, 2017/Boise, Idaho: The Idaho sloth and failure to obtain a zoological park Department of Finance fined Vince Covino license for the animal. SeaQuest was also and SeaQuest $5,000 for failing to disclose issued warnings for the unlawful importation his previous securities disciplinary action and possession of two capybaras. Officials while selling membership interests in had found the sloth and capybaras in the SeaQuest to investors. basement of a SeaQuest manager’s home. Ten days after SeaQuest was told that they November 30, 2016: After Ammon Covino weren’t to be moved to its facility until a was involved in opening two SeaQuest license had been issued, officials found all aquariums—in Layton, Utah, and Las three animals on display. Vegas, Nevada—a federal judge ordered him back to prison again because he had June 14, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, violated his parole. Colorado: SeaQuest failed a Colorado Department of Agriculture pre-license February 24, 2016: A federal judge ordered inspection by failing to meet all the Ammon Covino back to prison after he necessary requirements. Issues remained engaged in activities at the Austin, documented during the inspection included Portland, and San Antonio aquariums—a unlawfully transferring koi without a license violation of the terms of his parole. The and allowing the public to walk through the warrant indicated that, when discovered, main bird enclosure while birds were on the Ammon had lied to his probation officer ground, creating “a safety concern for the about the violation. birds as they are small enough to be stepped on.” There were also several issues April 2, 2015/Boise, Idaho: The Idaho related to the physical condition and attorney general released the findings of an sanitation of the bird enclosures. investigation into the Idaho Aquarium, which had been opened by Ammon Covino and June 5, 2018/SeaQuest, Littleton, run by him for several years. The report Colorado: A patron kicked and stomped on noted that the aquarium had engaged in birds in the aviary, resulting in the deaths of questionable use of charitable funds and five birds and injuries to others. In addition, poor recordkeeping, including the following: a sloth bit an employee on her arm while  Recordkeeping practices were so poor she was attempting to move the animal to a that it was impossible to determine to crate. what extent the company’s charitable assets had been misappropriated. May 4, 2018/SeaQuest, Las Vegas,  Ammon had been paid excessive Nevada: A female Asian small-clawed otter compensation and benefits in 2012, died. The necropsy stated that the death when he dedicated substantial time to may have been caused by the “stress of opening the Portland Aquarium. He shipping to Vegas, introduction to a new received payments totaling $140,500, in environment and caging during addition to thousands of dollars’ worth of construction.” employment benefits, including payments for cell phones, gas, April 6, 2018/SeaQuest, Las Vegas, insurance, food, and other personal Nevada: Clark County Animal Control expenses. issued a warning letter to SeaQuest for  The company engaged in deceptive illegally housing otters and a coatimundi solicitations for charitable contributions without the required permits. to support its mission and to fund The Covino Family

specific projects, including a river otter April 2013/Idaho Aquarium, Boise, Idaho: exhibit. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service confiscated  The Idaho Aquarium allegedly three puffins from the Idaho Aquarium, purchased animals for the Portland which didn’t have a federal migratory bird Aquarium, of which Ammon had a 40 permit. The aquarium had obtained four percent stake. birds, but one died before the others were  Ammon used money from the Idaho taken away. The facility had applied for a Aquarium to purchase a car and permit in June in an attempt to recover the subsequently took that vehicle with him birds, but the application was denied when he moved to Austin, Texas. because the staff had no experience in  More than $11,000 was paid to Chris caring for puffins, there was no adequate Conk—who was involved in Ammon’s puffin enclosure, and a permit couldn’t be wildlife trafficking—to reimburse him for issued to anyone with a federal wildlife the loss of his pickup truck to federal violation. authorities. July 18, 2013/Austin Aquarium, Austin, December 17, 2013/Idaho Aquarium, Texas: Vince Covino was issued a warning Boise, Idaho: The U.S. Fish & Wildlife for code violations related to the building of Service confiscated a green sea turtle from the Austin Aquarium, including housing the Idaho Aquarium. The facility had a animals in the building without a certificate permit for the animal, but it was revoked of occupancy and installing water tanks following Ammon Covino’s conviction on without obtaining prior site-plan approval. December 4, 2013. February 9, 2012: Vince Covino consented December 4, 2013/Boise, Idaho: Ammon to a $5,000 fine and 30-day suspension Covino pleaded guilty to a federal Lacey Act from the Financial Industry Regulatory violation for conspiracy to traffic wildlife Authority for borrowing money from a client illegally. He was sentenced to a year and a to purchase a home, in violation of its rules. day in prison and two years of supervised Vince didn’t register or associate as a release. As part of his probation, the judge broker-dealer agent after his suspension ordered him “not [to] engage in any activity ended. that involves exhibiting, importing, exporting, transporting, selling, receiving, acquiring or purchasing in interstate or foreign commerce any fish or wildlife.”

August 19, 2013/Portland Aquarium, Portland, Oregon: The Oregonian published the death log from the Portland Aquarium. According to the documents, over 200 marine animals died in a three- month period. Causes of death were reported as starvation, getting caught in a drain screen, being “[r]ipped apart,” being attacked by other animals, and more. The Portland Aquarium closed down in early 2016.