Film audience’s reaction to the film brought much controversy for the marine parks.
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Manby countered that no captive dolphin or orca has been successfully released into the wild.
“This year we will end all orca breeding programs-and because SeaWorld hasn’t collected an orca from the wild in nearly four decades, this will be the last generation of orcas in SeaWorld’s care”, Manby wrote in an op-ed for the Los Angeles Times.
The park and popular tourist destination has faced criticism from animal rights groups over its treatment of orcas, which opponents say are kept in tanks that are too small, fed improper diets and forced to perform tricks. “The killer whale issue is a growing reason why many people don’t visit SeaWorld and this is about doing the best thing for our orcas, our guests, our ambassadors and our company”. We have one whale today that’s 42 years old.
But SeaWorld hopes the announcement and a new partnership with the Humane Society, previously one of the company’s loudest critic, will “signal a new direction”.
He argues that most of the orcas were born at SeaWorld and those born in the wild have been in the parks for the majority of their lives.
“But mostly I applaud the public for recalibrating how they feel ethically about orcas in captivity”, Cowperthwaite said.
“Since this is the last generation of orcas in our parks, it makes more sense for us to enhance their existing habitats”.
Manby made a plea that SeaWorld is on the side of all animals. He added, “We are also phasing out our theatrical orca whale shows”.
With this latest news, animal rights activists are declaring a decisive victory.
“SeaWorld’s commitment to end breeding of orcas is a long-held goal of many animal advocacy organizations, and we commend the company for making this game-changing commitment”, said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society.
Tilikum was involved in the deaths of two other people before arriving at SeaWorld Orlando 23 years ago. It also shed light on the ethics of captive breeding programs and the inhumanity of separating baby orcas from their mothers.
SeaWorld Entertainment Inc, which has parks in San Diego, Orlando and San Antonio, said in November it would replace its signature “Shamu” killer whale shows in San Diego with displays focused on conservation.
For the ones who oppose having animals as work slaves in shows, its satisfying news hearing that the breeding program will end immediately as well as theatrical shows featuring killer whales will come to an anticipated end. Breeding orcas and exporting them to worldwide parks has been an important part of SeaWorld’s business model, she said.
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This news comes as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is considering a ban on swimming with dolphins in Hawaii due to concerns from scientists that these kinds of activities harm the animals, who are nocturnal and need to rest after foraging for food all night, according to the Associated Press.
