On Thursday, SeaWorld announced that it will stop captive killer whale breeding. Joel Manby, CEO of SeaWorld, said that this will be the last generation of orcas in their facilities. The company is also planning to discontinue the theatrical shows featuring animals doing tricks with human trainers. However, the remaining orcas will continue to live at SeaWorld instead of being released into the ocean.
"Most of our orcas were born at SeaWorld, and those that were born in the wild have been in our parks for the majority of their lives," Manby explained in the Los Angeles Times. "If we release them into the ocean, they will likely die," he added. "The orcas will continue to live at SeaWorld for many years to come, inspiring guests in new and natural ways," the company stated on their website.
PETA and animal activists have long been pushing SeaWorld to change. The backlash culminated with the release of the 2013 CNN documentary, Blackfish, which exposed the horrible treatment of orcas in captivity and the deaths of trainers involved.
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On Thursday, SeaWorld announced that it will stop captive killer whale breeding
Image credits: kerim.karahan
This will be the last generation of orcas in their facilities
Image credits: Phelan M. Ebenhack
The company is also planning to discontinue the theatrical shows featuring animals doing tricks with human trainers
Image credits: Alyssa Scully
"Most of our orcas were born at SeaWorld...If we release them into the ocean, they will likely die"
Image credits: shutterstock.com
"The orcas will continue to live at SeaWorld for many years to come"
Image credits: Phelan M. Ebenhack