Meet the Man Responsible for SeaQuest’s New Name and Same Problems
Update (April 8, 2025): SeaQuest Woodbridge has rebranded as Woodbridge Aquarium & Wildlife Center, but don’t be fooled—the cruelty continues under a new name. The facility’s new owner, Jeffrey Cox, has more ties to SeaQuest than he has in his closet.
Jeffrey Cox is the sole manager and member of Woodbridge Aquarium & Wildlife Center, LLC. He is the president of Noveen Capital, Inc, which is an owner of SeaQuest Holdings, LLC. Cox personally lent over a million dollars to SeaQuest Holdings before its bankruptcy filing and used that debt to purchase SeaQuest Woodbridge for Woodbridge Aquarium & Wildlife Center, LLC.
Between his lack of animal-care experience and his refusal to commit to minimal animal welfare protections prior to the sale in bankruptcy, animal suffering and death are sure to continue with him at the helm.
In early 2025, New Jersey authorities revoked SeaQuest Woodbridge’s Exhibitor and Endangered Species permits and removed dozens of animals from the facility, including otters, a sloth, macaws, pythons, and tortoises. This decision followed more than 3,500 complaints from the public and former employees and numerous violations of animal care regulations. Investigators found animals suffering in filthy conditions, crammed into tiny enclosures, denied proper vet care, and even escaping. Infectious diseases were also spreading through the facility.
No matter what name is on the outside of the building, PETA will continue to push for these outfits to be shut down and the remaining animals to be released to reputable facilities.
Originally posted on July 9, 2024:
SeaQuest Woodbridge in New Jersey is a shoddy mall aquarium with a history of putting animals in danger. PETA has revealed damning records from NJ Fish and Wildlife showing that nearly 100 animals have died at SeaQuest Woodbridge since 2019.
According to public records, inadequate care at SeaQuest likely led to the deaths of multiple animals, including Bonnie and Cruise, a pair of Asian water monitors—among the world’s largest lizards—who both showed signs of gout, commonly caused by an improper diet or chronic dehydration; Garnet, a panther chameleon, who was emaciated; Suzy, a 4-month-old sloth, who reportedly died from malnutrition less than a month after arriving at SeaQuest; and at least five turtles who died as a result of shell rot, which often indicates chronically dirty enclosures and poor water quality.
In 2024, state officials urged the facility, located in the Woodbridge Center mall, to end all public interactions with regulated wildlife for 120 days after a deadly outbreak of highly contagious mycobacteria caused shell rot infections, which led to the death of several turtles. Even worse—all of the aquatic turtles who didn’t die from infections had to be euthanized.
On May 10, PETA submitted a complaint to the U.S. Department of Agriculture requesting further investigation into the death of a sloth named Suzy after the federal agency determined that the young animal hadn’t been fed an appropriate diet—a potential violation of the federal Animal Welfare Act. However, SeaQuest wasn’t cited for Suzy’s death and has yet to face any consequences from federal authorities.
Since 2021, NJ Fish and Wildlife has sent seven warning letters to SeaQuest regarding legal violations and other issues at the facility. In September 2023, state officials put SeaQuest on a year-long probation, prohibiting the facility from acquiring regulated animals and implementing new public interactions due to continued violations of New Jersey’s exotic and nongame permit regulations.
How You Can Help Animals at SeaQuest
PETA urges everyone to stay away from this hellhole and to take action in behalf of animals there.
Tell SeaQuest to retire all animals held in its shoddy aquariums to reputable facilities.
Please support PETA’s efforts to help animals suffering at SeaQuest Woodbridge and other SeaQuest locations across the country. The best thing you can do is refuse to buy a ticket. Then, encourage your friends, family members, and social media followers to do the same.
