The move, which follows a vote by the California Coastal Commission last month barring the park from continuing to breed killer whales, or orcas, in captivity, was announced during a webcast company presentation to investors and the media.
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Monday’s announcement didn’t provide too many details about the format of the new orca attraction at the San Diego park, but we do know it’ll debut in 2017.
According to Mashable, the marine mammal park in California intends for the existing show to be replaced with a more “informative” experience by 2017. SeaWorld owns and operates a total of eleven parks, with two other parks – the ones in San Antonio and Orlando – holding orca shows, which typically involve the whales doing tricks and interacting with humans.
Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank, who plans to introduce federal legislation to prohibit breeding orcas in captivity in addition to other measures, believes that SeaWorld’s proposed actions are merely a first of many steps.
The SeaWorld theme park in the USA state of California is to phase out controversial public displays by killer whales, its chief executive has said. “It’s not universal across our properties”.
The Shamu stadium that hosted its killer whale shows were the park’s main draw in the 1970s and helped build SeaWorld as a top attraction. “I really see a company that’s focused on protecting wild animals in wild places”, said the owner of a company that puts wild animals in tiny pools.
“The show will include conservation messaging and tips guests can take home with them to make a difference for orcas in the wild”.
Recently, SeaWorld put forth a proposal to expand their San Diego park. “The fact still remains that as long as SeaWorld holds orcas in captivity, the physical and psychological problems associated with their captivity will persist”.
“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. “The format change only affects our San Diego park”. Meanwhile, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is calling for the release of all captive orcas into “sea sanctuaries”. But at this point, it doesn’t look like it will be much of an improvement for the orcas.
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SeaWorld’s San Diego location suffered the biggest drop in visitor attendance.
