Former Employees Raise Concerns About Animal Treatment at East Idaho Aquarium

Six former employees have come forward to express concerns about the treatment of animals at the East Idaho Aquarium, claiming that more than 2,000 animals have died there over the past five years. These whistleblowers have reached out to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) with their allegations, which include claims of overcrowding, neglect of sick animals, and high mortality rates.

The East Idaho Aquarium, located in Idaho Falls, houses over 2,100 animals from 204 species and attracts more than 100,000 visitors annually. Visitors have the opportunity to interact with various species, from stingrays to giant river fish. While the aquarium’s management insists that animal care has been a priority, several former employees and volunteers allege that there were ongoing issues, such as malfunctioning equipment, animals dying, and incidents like parakeets being stepped on during public feedings.

Erika Dillon, a former member of the husbandry team, explained her motivations for speaking out, saying, “We’re the voice for the animals. They can’t speak for themselves.” Dillon worked at the aquarium for six months starting in August 2023 and described her concern for the safety and well-being of the animals under the aquarium’s care.

However, the aquarium’s Executive Director, Arron Faires, acknowledges past challenges but asserts that the facility has made significant improvements. He claims that the annual death rate for animals has decreased by more than 73% between 2021 and 2023.

A comprehensive investigation by East Idaho News involved interviews with both current and former employees, volunteers, and even the aquarium’s veterinarian, Dr. Nicole Seda-Boone. Dr. Seda-Boone defended the aquarium, stating that “the aquarium puts in a large amount of effort to provide appropriate care for their animals.” Observations during visits to the aquarium showed that the animals seemed healthy and the exhibits appeared well-maintained.

Despite these defenses, the whistleblowers paint a different picture. Among the most serious allegations were several mass deaths of stingrays, and in one particularly troubling incident, the deaths of three baby sharks just weeks after their birth.

Former employee Kristopher Lasswell submitted a 16-page report to PETA, detailing what he saw as significant neglect and poor animal care at the aquarium. In his report, Lasswell alleges that he repeatedly raised concerns about the animals’ welfare during his three-month tenure as the lead aquarist from August to December 2023. Lasswell believes he was let go for voicing these concerns. Though he was unavailable for comment due to a non-compete agreement with his new employer, other former employees corroborated the issues Lasswell raised in his report.

The allegations have prompted PETA to request a formal investigation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, specifically concerning potential violations of the Animal Welfare Act. PETA’s complaint cites that over 2,000 fish and other animals died between 2019 and 2022, based on records the aquarium submitted to Idaho’s Department of Fish and Game.

While the East Idaho Aquarium defends its progress and commitment to animal care, these accusations have raised serious concerns about the facility’s treatment of its animals and whether further changes are needed to prevent such incidents from continuing.

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