We've got some fantasticnews for animals and animal lovers everywhere.
SeaWorld, the controversial aquatic park company, announced today that they have come to an agreement with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and that they will immediately stop their captive breeding program of orcas.
Source: @JamesElliott
There are almost thirty orcas who are currently captive in the twelve SeaWorld parks. They will therefore be the last generation to suffer in their tanks.
"Today’s announcement signals that the era of captive display of orcas will end", pointed out the HSUS in a press conference today.
SeaWorld also announced that orca performances will gradually be stopped and that the last sea mammals in captivity will be used for scientific research and education.
Source: @CBS
The company added that the remaining orcas would not be released into their natural habitat.
"Our animals would likely die if released into the wild. For as long as they live, the orcas at SeaWorld will stay in our parks," announced the company. The orcas will not be allowed a peaceful end to their lives in an adapted coastal sanctuary, as many animal rights advocates have campaigned for.
SeaWorld has been under fire from animal activists for years. Especially since the controversial documentary, Blackfish, was released in 2013, which highlighted the cruel treatment of orcas in their parks. It also shed light on the ethics of captive breeding programs and the inhumanity of separating baby orcas from their mothers.
Source : @PETA
The American population then began to think differently about the orca shows they were used to seeingand SeaWorld suffered a 84% collapse in profits as less people came totheir parks.The organisation PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has been running a long and hard campaign againstSeaWorld and have welcomed the news as "a step in the right direction".https://twitter.com/peta/status/710442221011533824?lang=fr
But the fight doesn't end there! All of the other animals in the SeaWorld parks should no longer be bred unnaturally and they should all be released into specially adapted ocean sanctuaries. You can help these imprisoned animals by signing PETA's petition here.