SeaWorld Ends Orca Breeding Program, Use Of Whales As Entertainment

AUSTIN, TX -- Bowing to mounting condemnation from animal rights advocates, SeaWorld announced on Thursday it would end its killer whale breeding program -- effectively ending its use of orcas for the purpose of aquatic entertainment.

SeaWorld will end the breeding of orcas effective immediately,the Associated Press reports.

The move comes after steep declines in park attendance after the 2013 release of the documentary “Blackfish,” which graphically illustrated the perils of utilizing the mammals for aquatic entertainment while housing them in confined areas as compared to their ocean natural habitats.

The company’s bottom line illustrates the backlash against its long use of orcas for entertainment. In February, SeaWorld posted a fourth quarter loss of $11 million.

The company said the current generation of whales would be maintained, but only for the purposes of observation by park attendees (in “...new, inspiring natural orca encounters,” officials said). But their use as aquatic performers will cease immediately.

"As society's understanding of orcas continues to change, SeaWorld is changing with it,” Joel Manby, president and CEO of SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. said in a prepared statement. “By making this the last generation of orcas in our care and reimagining how guests will encounter these beautiful animals, we are fulfilling our mission of providing visitors to our parks with experiences that matter."

Revamped shows featuring orcas will begin next year at the SeaWorld Entertainment Inc.'s flagship San Diego park, before expanding to its San Antonio and Orlando, Florida, sites in 2019, the AP reported.

Orcas have long been a fixture -- a main attraction, really -- at the various SeaWorld parks. Shows at the Shamu stadium in San Diego starting in the 1970s helped make SeaWorld a top tourist attraction there.

The San Diego show was the original home of Shamu, SeaWorld's first orca, the AP notes in its report.

In the company’s statement, SeaWorld also said it would forge a partnership with the Humane Society to help educate guests on animal welfare and conservation issues. The effort covers not only whales’ well-being, but that of seals and other marine animals.

The CEO of the Humane Society, Wayne Pacelle, said he was gratified at SeaWorld’s action: "SeaWorld's commitment to end breeding of orcas is a long-held goal of many animal advocacy organizations, and we commend the company for making this game-changing commitment,” he said.

Critcism of SeaWorld’s tactic in keeping whales in captivity grew exponentially in 2010 after aquatic performer Tilikum grabbed trainer Dawn Brancheau after a "Dine with Shamu" show and pulled her into the pool. Helpless underwater after the 12,000-pound mammal dragged her under, the otherwise accomplished trainer was submerged into what ended up being her watery grave.

In subsequent court action stemming from the trainer’s death, SeaWorld officials placed the blame on her for having worn her hair in a ponytail thus giving the animal avenue for access in dragging her underwater, as illustrated in the “Blackfish” documentary.

As the documentary further noted, Tilikum -- an animal that’s resided at SeaWorld Orlando for the past 23 years -- was also involved in the deaths of two others. Observers featured in the “Blackfish” documentary attributed such aggressive actions as a response by the creatures at being kept in captivity rather than in their natural oceanic habitats.

SeaWorld launched a major PR offensive in the wake of the backlash over its use of captive whales with a series of commercials with the theme "SeaWorld Cares" refuting allegations of abuse of its aquatic performers.

Thursday’s decision to end the orca-featured aquatic shows is in stark contrast to SeaWorld’s previous reactions to heightened scrutiny by animal rights advocates. Last month, SeaWorld officials conceded they had dispatched park employees to infiltrate People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), while posing as fellow animal rights advocates.

When the practice was exposed, Manby said SeaWorld employees had been sent to PETA gatherings to protect the safety of its workers and customers. Still, the company announced it would end that practice as well.

Despite SeaWorld’s commitment to end the orca-centered entertainment, not everyone was as forgiving as Pacelle of the Humane Society.

"SeaWorld must open its tanks to the oceans to allow the orcas it now holds captive to have some semblance of a life outside these prison tanks," PETA spokeswoman Colleen O'Brien said in a statement.

SeaWorld operates a park in San Antonio, which opened in 1988. SeaWorld also operates sites in Orlando, Williamsburg, Va. and Philadelphia.

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