SeaWorld: From Family Amusement Park to Animal “Abusement” Park

SeaWorld has received a lot of backlash from the animal rights movement in the past couple of years, they’ve tried to compromise and change, however for animal lovers it still isn’t enough.

SeaWorld first opened its gates to the public in 1964 in San Diego as a small marine park with several dolphins and sea lions and other marine animals. Over the years it has grown into three separate parks across the US with locations in San Diego Calif., Orlando Fla., and San Antonio, Texas.

SeaWorld was a place where families could go learn and get educated about marine life in a fun and entertaining way.

Animal rights activists have been against the idea of keeping all types of cetaceans captive since SeaWorld opened their doors in the early sixties. It wasn’t until the release of a documentary called Blackfish in 2013 that normal household families felt betrayed and lied to by SeaWorld.

Blackfish is about the history of a killer whale, still held captive at SeaWorld’s Orlando Park, named Tilikum. The film contains interviews with former SeaWorld trainers, footage from several different attacks on trainers, and conversations with accredited marine scientists from all over the country.

Since the release of the film, SeaWorld’s stock was driven into the ground by an 84 percent drop in net second-quarter income, going from $37.4 million in 2014 to $5.8 million in 2015. This was the result of boycotting from people all over the US after learning the unbelievable truth that Blackfish exposed to them.

SeaWorld has made some changes since the overwhelming drop of 100,000 in their 2014 attendance. They launched a new campaign called “SeaWorld Cares”. This campaign ends all orca-breeding programs effective immediately, will introduce new natural orca encounters rather than theatrical ones in 2017, and finally implements a five year partnership with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to help preserve and protect animals in their natural habitats.

The CEO of HSUS, Wayne Pacelle, commented, “SeaWorld and The HSUS still have some disagreements. But we’ve found an important set of issues to agree upon. The sun setting of orcas in captivity is a game changer for our movement, one that’s been a long time coming, and one that is only possible because of your advocacy and participation.”

Catie Cryar from PETA says, “SeaWorld has taken a step forward, but more steps must follow.” Many activists are happy with the changes SeaWorld has planned to make in the next few years but say it’s not enough.

Priscilla Feral, the President of Friends of Animals says, “The Humane Society of the United States offered SeaWorld a pathetic stamp of approval. SeaWorld claims that its $50 million, five-year partnership with HSUS will improve its educational programs, teach visitors about animal welfare and conservation and expand advocacy for marine wildlife. But a true education comes from watching the documentaries Friends of Animals helped sponsor…which provide the truth about SeaWorld and its profiting off of captive cetaceans. “

The activists haven’t taken off any heat from their agenda. With organized protests set up by PETA every single month often drawing crowds of over 100 people. They will not settle until they feel the orcas and other cetaceans get the life they deserve. Cryar stated that, “After hearing from PETA, dozens of corporate partners, including Virgin America, Panama Jack, and Taco Bell, have cut ties with the disgraced park, and federal and state legislation has been introduced to ban captive orca breeding, which would phase out orca captivity in the U.S.”

When asked if it was at all possible for SeaWorld to provide care to these cetaceans to keep them as healthy and as happy as they would be in the ocean Feral replied, “Not at all. If SeaWorld truly respected and cared about cetaceans, it would use some of the millions of dollars it has made commercially exploiting animals over the years toward building sea pens, which would provide a more natural environment for the orcas they are no longer breeding and phasing out of shows,” Feral stated.

SeaWorld has not released any more information about any future plans for their captive animals, but their continued falling rate in attendance hints at a possible shut down to all forms of animal entertainment and transitions to seaside sanctuaries in the years to come.