SeaWorld San Diego is known for their orca shows, but on Monday November 9, 2015 they announced they are ending the orca shows by the end of this year and instead they will be providing an informational presentation about their orcas.
After the film “Blackfish” came out on Netflix in 2013 it brought a lot of negative attention to SeaWorld. The film spoke about the way SeaWorld treats their orcas. It explained how they are being forced and starved in captivity which makes them violent and decreases their life spam compared to orcas in the wild.
Following the 2010 death of Dawn Brancheau, a trainer that was drowned by a killer whale at the stadium of SeaWorld Orlando, it raised a lot of questions on how these orcas are treated and why they are so violent.
California Democratic Representative Adam Schiff said, “The fact still remains that as long as SeaWorld holds orcas in captivity, the physical and psychological problems associated with their captivity will persist.”
SeaWorld has a $100 million plan to nearly double the killer whale tanks at the San Diego Park. Although this plan hasn’t been confirmed, this means that SeaWorld is still planning to keep their orcas in captivity.
“The decision by SeaWorld to phase out killer whale shows in San Diego is a welcome step along the path towards ending the captivity of these magnificent creatures,” said Schiff. “Much more needs to be done, however, and I would urge the company to curtail the breeding of their orcas and partner in the creation of ocean sanctuaries."
California visitors have said that they want to see less of a theatrical show from the whales. CEO Joel Manby said, “They want the orca experience to be activities the whales do in the wild. Things they perceive as tricks, they don’t like as well.”
SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. also announced that they will be partnering up with Evans Hotels to create its theme park into resort destinations to attract overnight visitors.
Although the speculations of whether or not SeaWorld will stop breeding their orcas or end their captivity, the decision to end the orca shows seems to be a good start.
