Target: Guillermo Montenegro, Mayor of General Pueyrredón, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Goal: Order immediate rescue, independent veterinary examinations, and maximum penalties for any parties found to be abandoning marine mammals in filthy, deteriorating enclosures.
Images and eyewitness accounts reportedly show dolphins and a sea lion languishing in green, foul-smelling water behind closed gates at an abandoned aquarium for months following the facility’s shutdown. Local residents have described animals “starving” and tanks in “putrid” condition. A respected wildlife foundation’s director reviewed footage of the premises and characterized what he saw as clear abandonment, citing visibly neglected pools and spaces that appeared severely deteriorated.
Officials have announced a criminal complaint and an on-site inspection, while representatives tied to the former facility have publicly claimed the animals are in good condition and that the water’s color is due to microalgae. These competing narratives underscore the urgent need for transparent, independent veterinary assessments and for authorities to secure the animals’ safety now. If neglect or abandonment is confirmed, those responsible must reportedly face the strongest consequences allowed by law.
Meaningful accountability protects both animals and the public’s trust. Immediate removal to qualified sanctuaries or accredited rehabilitation centers should be prioritized if expert evaluators deem conditions unsafe. Comprehensive, unannounced inspections and enforceable caretaking standards must follow to ensure no animal is again left in apparent limbo. Prompt action is needed to safeguard the affected dolphins and sea lion and to deter any future neglect.
PETITION LETTER:
Mayor Montenegro,
Viral photos and testimonies reportedly show dolphins and a sea lion confined in dirty, green, foul-smelling tanks at the abandoned aquarium in Mar del Plata for months after the facility’s closure, with witnesses describing apparent starvation and severe deterioration of enclosures. A wildlife expert has reviewed images and stated that the visuals indicate abandonment of both the site and the animals.
We urge you to ensure an immediate, independent veterinary and welfare review; emergency removal to sanctuaries or accredited facilities if conditions are deemed unsafe; and full criminal investigations with referrals for maximum penalties for any person or entity found responsible. Transparent findings and ongoing, unannounced oversight are essential to restore public confidence.
Please act swiftly so these marine mammals receive the care they reportedly need and so that any proven neglect is met with decisive, deterrent consequences.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Casey Klebba
