Killer whale shows phased out
On March, 17, 2016, after years of criticism from animal rights activists around the world for their treatment of captive orca whales, SeaWorld has revealed plans to discontinue their killer whale breeding program. The popular theme park operator SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. had previously released a statement in November of 2015 that disclosed their intent to gradually phase out their “circus-style” orca exhibition shows, starting with their San Diego location. This eventual phase out of exhibition shows may be expedited by the announced termination of the breeding program.
SeaWorld Entertainment president and CEO Joel Manby made comment in an op-ed published to the Los Angeles Times regarding the company’s plans to ultimately put a stop to the orca breeding program: “By making this the last generation of orcas in our care and reimagining how guests will experience these beautiful animals, we are fulfilling our mission of providing visitors to our parks with experiences that matter.”
The SeaWorld CEO continued to explain that their theme parks—of which there are 12 locations throughout the U.S.—will place more emphasis on the natural behaviour and environment of the whales in hopes of creating a different sort of killer whale experience. Manby said that SeaWorld will be turning their attention towards “new, inspiring, natural orca encounters.”
The company will reportedly be working towards creating more educational programs and “advocate for the health and welfare of marine life,” according to an article published by USA Today on March 17. Additionally, SeaWorld will allegedly expect to spend $50 million on marine-life conservation over the next five years, in a recently announced partnership with the Humane Society of the United States.
While SeaWorld’s plans to end their captive orca-breeding program and eventually phase out their killer whale shows—partnership with the Human Society—has been met with much applause from animal lovers everywhere, many animal rights activists believe that the battle is only half won. Phil Demers, a former marine mammal trainer for the Niagara Falls-based Marineland, explained in an article published on March 17 for CBC News that SeaWorld’s latest ruling can only be classified as being “a partial victory” due to the fact that the company still plans to display the whales that are currently in their possession.
Although welcoming of the news of the termination of SeaWorld’s captive orca breeding program, director of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Foundation Mimi Bekhechi calls for the animals that are still in captivity to be given access to the ocean. She points out that, while the company’s latest decision is a move in the right direction, “SeaWorld must open its tanks to the oceans to allow the orcas it now holds captive to have some semblance of a life outside these prison tanks.”
SeaWorld, according to their website, invests millions of dollars in the care of their whales. Their whale habitats “are among the largest in the world today.” However, director of animal law for the U.S. branch of the PETA Foundation Jared Goodman appears to disagree. He explained, “No change to SeaWorld’s tanks will be sufficient to satisfy the needs of these animals.”
“An end to SeaWorld’s tawdry circus-style shows is inevitable and necessary, but it’s captivity that denies these far-ranging orcas everything that is natural and important to them,” said Goodman. “This move is like no longer whipping lions in a circus act, but keeping them locked inside cages for life.”