Tag Archives | SeaWorld

SeaWorld Fined For Killer Conditions

June 18, 2013

(CAPTIVE ANIMALS) ORLANDO —Three years after the death of trainer Dawn Brancheau at the Orlando theme park, SeaWorld has been fined $38,500 and labeled a repeat offender for continuing to employ trainers in unsafe working conditions. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has imposed the fine after a follow-up investigation of the safety procedures at SeaWorld. The drowning of Dawn Brancheau in 2010 by an aggravated whale named Tilikum was certainly not an isolated incident. Read on to learn more about the dangers of working in close proximity with wild animals and the problems with SeaWorld. — Global Animal

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PETA Invests To Free SeaWorld Animals From Cement Prisons

April 23, 2013

(SEA WORLD) In another bold attempt to release SeaWorld’s enslaved animals back into the wild, PETA has recently announced it has purchased enough common stock in the cruel company to give the animal activism group rights to attend annual shareholder meetings and submit resolutions. The group’s ultimate goal is to free the long-imprisoned orcas, which have been a subject of controversy for many years. Whales can swim up to a 100 nautical miles in one day, and experts agree that putting them in a pool causes them great trauma—as was the case with Tilikum who killed two SeaWorld trainers after developing aggression due to a lifetime in captivity. Hopefully this move will be allow PETA to actually bring about change, rather than just waste money. Read on to find out why it’s important to release SeaWorld’s orcas from captivity. — Global Animal

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Protest Marine Mammal Captivity At uShaka Sea World

April 6, 2013

(ACTIVISM) SOUTH AFRICA — Each year, thousands of dolphins are slaughtered in Taiji on the south coast of Japan. Bottlenose dolphins are then pre-selected by trainers and sold for as much as $200,000 to marine parks all over the world such as Marineland, where the animals remain in captivity and are forced to perform circus acts for their entire lives. Aquariums defend their actions as “rescuing” animals, but in reality, the captive industry is subsidizing hunts which may not have been conducted otherwise. Today and May 25th, Ocean Watch SA is hosting a protest at uShaka Sea World to advocate for the rehabilitation and release of captive animals. Read on to learn more about Ocean Watch SA and sign the petition below telling uSkaka Sea World to retire their wild caught dolphins, Gambit and Frodo, ensure animals not disturbed after hours, stop breeding captive breeding programs, and only practice rehabilitation and release. — Global Animal

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Please Don’t Feed The Dolphins

January 8, 2013

(DOLPHINS) Last month, after an eight-year-old was accidentally bitten by a dolphin at the Dolphin Cove exhibit at SeaWorld Orlando, the girl expressed how dolphins still remain her favorite animal and how she was actually more concerned about the dolphin’s health and safety after swallowing a small paper plate she had been holding. However, Sujatha Ramakrishna, author of Raising Kids Who Love Animals, explains how captive dolphins undergo far more serious physical and emotional distress, while urging parents to consider the lifetime of suffering these animals endure for a few minutes of family entertainment. Excerpts used with author’s permission. — Global Animal

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Dolphin Mistakes Child’s Hand For Treats (VIDEO)

December 3, 2012

(SEA WORLD) ORLANDO — Feeding bottlenose dolphins at a SeaWorld attraction turned frightening for an eight-year-old girl on Sunday after a dolphin actually lunged at her to grab a treat and accidentally bit her hand. The girl’s family faults SeaWorld for insufficient warnings and claims that the park’s representatives “trivialized the attack,” while others blame the park for lax supervision, suggesting that SeaWorld provide better protocols such as age restrictions for the “Dolphin Encounter” program. A SeaWorld spokeswoman defended the attraction, claiming the girl didn’t follow “specific instructions” to prevent such incidents. However, this is not the first time a child has been bitten at the “Dolphin Encounter” attraction. In fact, similar events occurred twice in 2006. Although dolphins are arguably the friendliest species in the animal kingdom, accidents can and do happen. The truth is: wild animals do not belong in tanks and, honestly, should only be feeding themselves. The girl’s mother was filming the family’s initially fun-filled afternoon and caught the event on tape. Watch the video below and read on for more about the issues surrounding the unfortunate accident. — Global Animal

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SeaWorld Disappoints Yet Again

October 8, 2012

(SEA WORLD) SAN DIEGO— SeaWorld’s killer whale, Nakai, acquired a serious wound to his lower jaw. Whether a barrier in his enclosure or a confrontation with the other whales caused the injury is still a hot topic. If the gash had been caused by a confrontation with other orcas, SeaWorld would be in direct violation of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). Believing SeaWorld has defied the AWA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has filed a federal complaint. “SeaWorld is fully aware of the social conflict, stress, agitation and resulting aggression and injury that it causes by housing these social and intelligent animals incompatibly, yet it continues to do so,” the complaint proclaims. — Global Animal

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Pod Of 22 Pilot Whales Beached In Florida

September 3, 2012

(WHALES) FLORIDA —  A pod of 22 pilot whales beached themselves at Florida’s Avalon Beach State Park on Saturday. Local volunteers and wildlife officials mobilized to save the marine mammals, but unfortunately only five survived. While the cause of the stranding is unknown, the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute is currently caring for the young survivors who will hopefully be moved to SeaWorld Orlando for their long-term care and eventual release back into the oceans. Read on for more on this latest beaching and the incredible effort made by volunteers to keep these amazing animals comfortable in their last moments. — Global Animal

 

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Judge Holds SeaWorld Responsible For Trainer’s Death

May 31, 2012

(ANIMAL NEWS) A judge ruled today that SeaWorld is responsible for the death of orca trainer Dawn Brancheau. The SeaWorld trainer died during a show in 2010 when Tilikum, a male orca, pulled her underwater until she drowned. Charges were brought against SeaWorld by the Occupational and Safety Health Administration (OSHA). This ruling is a step in the right direction and could change the conversation about orcas and other marine animals in captivity. Read on for more on the judge’s decision and the safety protocols that it will be forced to revise. — Global Animal 

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