Manby added SeaWorld will additionally build a shark-themed roller coaster and possibly a hotel at its Orlando park.
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Customer feedback was the driving factor behind the decision, according to ocean park’s chief executive Joel Manby. The company didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
“We don’t do anything in San Diego in response to activists”, he said. We alter these presentations based on what our guests are telling us.
The Shamu show – named after the original Shamu of the 1960s and early 70s – has been the park’s centrepiece for decades. And last week Californian representative Adam Schiff announced plans to introduce federal legislation that would ban the breeding of captive orcas, end the capture of wild orcas, and stop the import and export of killer whales.
SeaWorld has come under intense scrutiny over its treatment of animals and specifically the Shamu shows since the 2013 documentary “Blackfish,” a highly critical look at how the park keeps orcas in captivity and potential dangers posed to employees.
SeaWorld announced that it is phasing out killer whale shows like this one from its San Diego park.
The film, which SeaWorld has criticized as inaccurate and misleading, also explored the circumstances leading to the 2010 death of a top SeaWorld trainer, who was pulled underwater and drowned by an orca she had worked and performed with in Florida. But a toned-down show might meet with less resistance. Killer whales at SeaWorld are healthy and thriving and through conservation and rescue efforts as well as significant work to advance the scientific understanding of orcas and other marine mammals, SeaWorld is a leader in protecting and preserving these species. “Maybe we can see things in a more natural way”. He also told investors that instead of using the parks’ whales as entertainment, they would focus on their safety and conservation. The conditions would eventually put an end to the park’s most popular attraction. SeaWorld Entertainment said it would sue the commission, saying it had gone “way beyond” its authority. The company has retained lawyers for the challenge but has yet to file a lawsuit.
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Meanwhile, in RealWorld, as headlines buzz about the particulars of the San Diego breeding program, both San Antonio and Orlando parks will continue on with business as usual.
