A national aquarium chain has permanently closed its location in a Fort Worth mall months after former employees leaked footage of dozens of dead and dying marine animals at the facility.

The Star-Telegram confirmed on Monday, Oct. 28, that the SeaQuest Aquarium in the Ridgmar Mall had closed its doors for good.

“Closed to the public,” a sign taped to the door read. “We apologize for the inconvenience. Have a fin-tastic day!!”

Another handwritten note taped to the door advised former employees to leave their shirts and badges at the door.

It is unclear why the location closed. A manager on site declined to answer questions, and the company did not return an email seeking comment.

“Champagne corks are popping at PETA now that this blight on beautiful Fort Worth has finally stopped exploiting animals and endangering the public,” says PETA Foundation Associate Director Molly Johnson in a press release. “The SeaQuest chain is a scourge, and PETA will continue to call out its dreadful and deadly petting zoos until every location follows suit and closes.”

In August, three former employees of the aquarium came out as whistleblowers, alleging that a culture of negligence and poor facilities management led to the starving deaths of two sharks and the likely suffocations of dozens of other animals at the SeaQuest aquarium.

Overcrowding had stressed a pair of nurse sharks to the point that they had stopped eating, ultimately dying of starvation, the whistleblowers said.

The animal...

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