SeaWorld announced that it will stop breeding orcas
The current generation of orcas in SeaWorld will be the last. According to a statement issued by the entertainment park yesterday, SeaWorld will stop breeding orcas immediately.
"It is wonderful news that the current generation of orcas will be the last to live in captivity at SeaWorld," said World Animal Protection Oceans and wildlife campaign manager Elizabeth Hogan. "This significant announcement reflects that the tourist public is increasingly aware that marine mammals are perfectly evolved to live and flourish in their wild ocean homes, not in the confines of man-made tanks. We hope that SeaWorld will now dedicate its resources to protecting animals in the wild through true rescue, rehabilitation and release missions."
"While this will be the last generation of orcas in captivity at SeaWorld, it is still desperately sad to consider the daily life of misery and confinement these beautiful and sentient animals suffer at these ‘entertainment’ parks, and we hope that SeaWorld will retire its orcas to sea pen sanctuaries where they can live more natural lives," Hogan continued. "We must end the terrible trend of using wild animals for entertainment, and all such parks and attractions should stop exploiting those animals already in their possession for entertainment."
SeaWorld has battled heavy criticism over the years. In the last six months alone, three whales have died under the care of the park. Tilikum, the orca who gained worldwide attention as the feature of 2013's film Blackfish, was recently announced to have an incurable bacterial infection. He is not expected to make it.
Wild animals are not entertainers
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While this will be the last generation of orcas in captivity at SeaWorld, it is still desperately sad to consider the daily life of misery and confinement these beautiful and sentient animals suffer at these ‘entertainment’ parks, and we hope that SeaWorld will retire its orcas to sea pen sanctuaries where they can live more natural lives.