California lawmaker plans law to end killer whale captivity

CEO Joel Manby said the attendance at SeaWorld has dropped but the decline is slow, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Although it is impossible to know why Tilikum killed three people, the film suggests SeaWorld’s marine mammals are under a great deal of stress – as they are taken out of their natural environment and forced to live, and perform, in captivity. He added that animal welfare bodies don’t have the right to claim that they are responsible stewards of nature and spread messages about significance of animal welfare when their actions suggest otherwise.

The Democrat Representative of California’s 28th congressional district is trying to gain support for his Orca Responsibility and Care Advancement Act, which would ban the breeding of captive orcas, stop all imports and exports of killer whales, and bring the capture of wild orcas to an end.

SeaWorld’s days of intermittently torturing, drugging and masturbating a pod of interbred orca whales may soon be coming to an end.

“We have not captured a whale in the wild in 35 years – and we will not do so”, Kermes said.

SeaWorld Entertainment Inc announced plans on Monday to phase out the signature “Shamu” killer whale show at its San Diego park next year, after long-running criticism of its treatment of the captive marine mammals. That ban would also eventually phase out the Shamu exhibit.

SeaWorld wasn’t delighted at this announcement and they have a plan to appeal against the court’s decision.

SeaWorld’s reputation was badly damaged in part by “Blackfish”, a 2013 documentary co-produced by CNNFilms.

SeaWorld said attendance was down in San Antonio because of a mix of bad weather, fewer promotional offerings and increased competition from rival theme parks in the state, particularly Six Flags. The California Coastal Commission having control on construction all along the coastline agreed the project and added a few new stipulations that the organisation has stopped importing killer whales totally and even stopped breeding them. SeaWorld was cited for violating federal safety workplace following an investigation into Brancheau’s drowning that found the park had exposed its trainers to recognized hazards when working in close contact with orcas during performances.

SeaWorld has dismissed Blackfish as “propaganda” and “emotionally manipulative” and spent $15m on a TV and social media campaign to counter negative sentiment and promote the work it does to protect and care for whales and other animals.