Does SeaWorld Still Use Killer Whales? Last Baby Orca Born At Theme Park
The company said that the baby orca would be named sometime in the next few weeks. It also said the calf and other orcas couldn't be released into the wild because they were born and raised in captivity and would likely not survive.
"Although this will be the last opportunity for SeaWorld guests to see a baby killer whale up close as it grows and matures, SeaWorld will continue to care for the orcas at its parks for decades to come," the company said in a statement Wednesday.
SeaWorld had to shift its entire operation after the 2013 documentary "Blackfish" shed light on the lives of orcas in captivity. Backlash over the treatment of the animals and the conditions at the park led the company to scrap its orca breeding program at its 12 parks last year when they announced that the orcas at the park would be the "last generation."
For many animal rights activists, the move was not enough. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), called for the unnamed baby orca and her mother to be transferred to a seaside sanctuary for the remainder of their lives.
Since the release of "Blackfish," the company saw a significant drop in attendance and revenue. According to an earnings report released in November, SeaWorld's revenue for the first nine months of 2016 decreased by $26.5 million from the same period in 2015.
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