MIAMI (AP) — SeaWorld is ending its practice of killer whale breeding following years of controversy over keeping orcas in captivity.
The company announced Thursday morning the breeding program will end immediately. The company also announced a partnership with the Humane Society.
The company will also end theatrical shows and introduce “new, inspiring natural orca encounters.” The new shows will begin next year at the SeaWorld Entertainment Inc.’s San Diego park.
SeaWorld president and CEO Joel Manby said in a statement that the company introduced more than 400 million guests to orcas and is proud of its part in contributing to the human understanding of the whales.
He says the company is “reimagining” how guests will encounter orcas while providing visitors to the theme parks with “experiences that matter.”
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At least it’s something of a step in the right direction, although not nearly far enough. What I don’t want to see is for them to cease the breeding while working around laws that forbid live capture in the wild like they used to do. It’s heart rendering.
Not trying to be a snot here, but I think they’ve got to to a lot of reimagining indeed if the’re going to offer scheduled “natural orca encounters” and call them “shows.”
It’s a nice gesture, but it won’t do much good.
The fact remains that these animals have killed or maimed quite a few handlers through the years. Personally, it always freaks me out when I see folk swimming with predators like these as if they were a pet.
And as long as they continue to use them as “entertainment”, the risk will remain, and with it the dislike evoked in many by treating them as such.
It’s what I’d say is the difference between going to a zoo and looking at the animals in what hopefully approximates their natural habitat, vs going to the traveling circus and seeing animals perform tricks and acts for entertainment. One (zoo) is educational and can be beneficial for the species as it teaches the masses what the animals are like and how they need our help to survive. The other (circus) involves clowns (…I loathe clowns…), can be very abusive towards the animals, teaches folks nothing about the animals involved other than maybe Jimmy can have a pet tiger and have it do tricks, is fairly demeaning towards the animals, and can be very risky towards the handlers depending on the animals involved.
I think the Leviathan pictured is Tilicum; killed humans on three occasions.
Only two are confirmed. The third was a drunk guy that was found on Tilikum’s back after hours when he snuck in to the park. It’s hard to know what happened there.