Harris County, TX — Federal inspection reports documented multiple animal-care, sanitation and food-storage violations at the Houston Interactive Aquarium and Animal Preserve, including 15 violations identified during an April inspection.
According to a U.S. Department of Agriculture inspection report, concerns included expired produce, fruit flies on food, rodent droppings near food-storage areas, sanitation issues in animal yards and questions involving animal-care records and enrichment plans.
The April report also cited concerns involving several animals, including an ostrich injured during an attempt by a contractor to corral her and vaccination records involving otters and kinkajous.
Inspectors reported finding fruit flies described as too numerous to count on cantaloupe and other fruit, along with a large quantity of rodent droppings near food-storage containers. Expired spring mix was also found deteriorating inside a refrigerator.
The inspection additionally raised concerns about whether an environmental enhancement program for lemurs was being properly implemented because the facility could not provide records demonstrating compliance during the inspection.
A separate USDA inspection in June documented another animal-care issue involving a juvenile Patagonian cavy. According to the report, the animal suffered bite wounds after being attacked by other cavies. The wounds became infected, and the animal was ultimately euthanized.
The facility provided a detailed response addressing the federal findings. Management said the April violations were corrected within their assigned deadlines, except for a vaccination-related finding that the facility is disputing with USDA.
The facility acknowledged lapses involving expired produce, fruit flies and rodent evidence and said changes were made to food storage, inspection procedures and pest control. It also acknowledged that staff did not identify the juvenile cavy's injuries early enough.
Management said USDA returned for a focused inspection June 29 and did not cite the April sanitation, feeding, records, contingency-planning, pest-control or enrichment issues during that inspection.
The facility maintains that its lemur enrichment program existed before the April inspection but acknowledged it was unable to retrieve and provide implementation records when inspectors requested them.
Animal advocates have raised concerns about the findings and said they want to ensure animals at the facility receive appropriate care.