Lake Superior Zoo, Wildcat Sanctuary Aid in Roseville SeaQuest Rescue

DULUTH, Minn.– Hundreds of animals are in desperate need of a new home after their zoo in Roseville Minnesota shut down.

Duluth’s Lake Superior Zoo is one of three Minnesota zoos stepping up to help.

‘SeaQuest’ is an aquarium and petting zoo that closed its doors in February.

It’s a chain across the country that is shutting down after the company filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

The Rosedale Mall location has more than 800 animals in need of a safe new place to call home.

The Lake Superior Zoo is working with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to see what’s possible for some of the animals.

In the meantime, staff are preparing quarantine stations to assess whatever animals they are able to take in.

“Part of this situation is that we’re not really sure exactly what all the conditions are. You know we kind of have a general idea of what we’re going to be going into. But part of this is going down and figuring out what animals can we help. What animals can we also provide temporary placement for. You know it’s a possibility that these animals need to be moved quickly. And so we’re able to be there as that intermediary step,” said Lizzy Larson, Director of Animal Management at the Lake Superior Zoo.

The Star Tribune reports SeaQuest’s parent company filed for bankruptcy in December and began shutting down locations after reports of animal abuse and filthy conditions.

“When I first brought up this kind of request from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and SeaQuest and brought it up to our staff, the first thing they said to me was ‘When do we start, when do we go?’ And that really just filled me with a sense of pride that our institution is not just here for entertainment or to be here for the day-to-day things, but we’re also here to step out into the community and be a part of something bigger than us,” said Larson.

The Lake Superior Zoo is in need of donations to help care for the new animals they take in.

It’ll cover everything from exams, to rehab and a safe environment for a second chance at life.

The Wildcat Sanctuary in Sandstone is also helping with the SeaQuest rescue.

They rescued two 6-year-old Bengal cats named Ferguson and Flynn.

The pair will be checked out by the sanctuary’s veterinarian and quarantined.

Eventually, they will join the other hybrid cats at the sanctuary’s “Catio Town”.

The rescue was made possible because of the sanctuary’s ‘Miracle Match Program’ going on right now where donations are being doubled.