SeaWorld has struggled financially after the 2013 anti-captivity documentary Blackfish, which painted the theme park in a negative light.
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SeaWorld CEO Joel Manby declared that 2016 would be the a year ago of the park’s orca experience, which presents the whales performing various tricks at the direction of trainers to entertain attendees.
The announcement has done little to placate campaigners, especially as there are now no plans to change the orca displays at SeaWorld’s two other main aquatic theme parks in Florida and Texas. “The problem with their business model is how can you truly take care of an animal – how can you care about he welfare of an animal and the people that work with that animal – when the show always has to go on?” said Cowperthwaite. The SeaWorld parks in Orlando and San Antonio were not a part of today’s announcement. “Blackfish” director Gabriela Cowperthwaite told the San-Diego Union Tribute: “My understanding is that SeaWorld may not be stopping the orca show at all”. The cancellation of the Shamu shows also comes as a result of state and federal laws attempting to shut down the parks by ending the captive breeding of orcas.
“This move is like no longer whipping lions in a circus act but keeping them locked inside cages for life or no longer beating dogs but never letting them out of crates”, PETA said to ABC News. SeaWorld has already vowed to fight a recent ruling by the California Coastal Commission to bar it from breeding its orcas as a condition of moving forward with the tank expansion projects.
The aquatic entertainment park has made the decision to end the controversial whale show at its San Diego park following a slump in profits, and outcries from animal rights groups. As criticism for the orca show has only grown louder over the last couple of years, negatively affecting ticket sales, Manby explained that the park needs to reverse that trend.
The company has said it plans to challenge that decision in court. But at this point, it doesn’t look like it will be much of an improvement for the orcas.
He added that SeaWorld may be able to achieve its objective in raising revenue without proceeding with the project, called “Blue World”.
Recently, SeaWorld put forth a proposal to expand their San Diego park.
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SeaWorld’s San Diego location suffered the biggest drop in visitor attendance.
