Is a reckoning finally arriving for Miami’s troubled Seaquarium?

The once-exalted attraction is threatened by financial troubles, animal rights activists and federal and local authorities

For decades, Miami Seaquarium was a jewel in Florida's well-polished crown of popular tourist attractions, known to millions worldwide as the home of the beloved aquatic television superstar Flipper the dolphin.

But these are tough times for the once-exalted aquarium, mired in a battle for its survival against the weight of animal rights activists, federal inspectors, financial troubles and now the Miami-Dade commission, which says it is behind with the rent and has begun eviction proceedings.