SeaWorld has tumbled in public opinion since the documentary Blackfish (2013) exposed the difficult living conditions the company’s beloved killer whales are kept in and the threat to their keepers as well. It is only recently that the three SeaWorld parks have begun to recover in attendance by focusing more on thrill attractions and less on sealife. But a spate of new orca troubles and a complaint filed by the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) yesterday may spark new concerns.
In the last few days, one whale has died at the SeaWorld San Diego park and another was attacked by incompatible tank-mates as guests watched in horror:
BREAKING: Orcas ATTACKED their tankmate at SeaWorld!
The eyewitness stated, “We all immediately saw blood soaking the water which triggered my 9 year old daughter to start crying.” pic.twitter.com/HqFbBm5OhR
— PETA (@peta) August 5, 2022
Just one day prior to the attack shown above, Nakai (a 21-year-old orca born at the park) died of an infection.
PETA has filed a complaint with USDA investigators. The document is titled “Urgent Request to Investigate Apparent Animal Welfare Act Violations at Sea World” and explains the concerns about the two orca incidents:
Dear Dr. Gibbens:
I am writing on behalf of PETA to request that the U.S. Department of Agriculture promptly investigate Sea World LLC (license no. 93-C-0069) after an orca was attacked by other orcas and is in apparent need of urgent veterinary care.
Today, August 5, a concerned citizen observed and documented an orca being attacked by other orcas in the same tank. (See Video.) There is a large wound that can be seen on the right side of the caudal peduncle. (See Photo.) In the photo, another orca is blocking the caudoventral portion of the wound, so the wound could be even larger than what is visible in the photo. The wound appears to extend past the epidermis into the adipose or muscular tissues and will require medical treatment, including antibiotics and topical wound care and/or bandaging, in order to prevent infection and aid in proper healing. The orca can be seen in the video beaching themselves which is a highly unnatural behavior and appears to be the only way for the distressed orca to get away from their aggressors. Bullying among orcas is usually difficult to resolve once it starts and is often the result of stress due to confinement in crowded, cramped tanks. Because of this, separation of this orca in an adequately sized tank is necessary for the mental and physical well-being of this animal.
Please inspect this orca, as well as veterinary records, and ensure that she or he is receiving adequate veterinary care from a veterinarian who is trained and qualified for the species pursuant to 9 C.F.R. § 2.40. Sea World appears to be housing orcas who are not compatible in apparent violation of 9 C.F.R. § 3.109, which prohibits housing marine mammals who are not compatible in the same enclosure. “Marine mammals must not be housed near other animals that cause them unreasonable stress or discomfort or interfere with their good health.” Id.
Please ensure that all animals at Sea World are being provided with adequate veterinary care, space, shelter, food, and water and are otherwise handled in accordance with the AWA. Please also hold Sea World fully accountable for all violations that you discover during your inspection.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter. Please inform me of the complaint number that your agency assigns to this correspondence.
Very truly yours,
R. Mason Payne, DVM
It might be some time before we hear about the results of any inspections, causes, or remedies. But it’s far more likely that guests themselves will set the tone for how they feel about SeaWorld’s continued captivity of large mammals such as orca.
In recent years the SeaWorld parks have made quite a transformation as they focus more and more on new rides and festivals and less on animal shows. But incidents such as the ones above remind us all that this isn’t a typical theme park, and that’s where SeaWorld has its greatest liability.
Are you a SeaWorld fan? Does their orca program concern you? What do you think should be done about the captivity of orcas for public entertainment? And is SeaWorld on the right track as it attempts to transform from an animal park to a full-fledged theme park?
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