Swimming in Shame
Just as In Defense of Animals has raised awareness and championed the plight of elephants suffering in captivity with our annual list of Ten Worst Zoos, we are now pleased to be able to take a similarly strong action for whales and dolphins.
We are excited to announce our first ever listing of the Ten Worst Tanks – facilities where whales and dolphins suffer in captivity. They are confined in tanks where they swim in endless circles while deprived of healthy environments and social groups and are forced to endure invasive reproduction techniques, and dangerous transport. They are exploited through “swim” and “petting” programs in which their sociable nature is brutally exploited.
You can see the full listing here: www.idausa.org/tenworsttanks.
Leading the list – our vote for “Greatest Disappointment”- is SeaWorld (all facilities combined, Orlando, San Antonio, and San Diego.) Despite claims of having “the highest-quality care based on the latest advances in marine veterinary medicine,” a disturbing number of cetaceans are dying at SeaWorld, decades before their natural life expectancy. In 2015, six young cetaceans died prematurely at SeaWorld facilities; teenage orca Unna, two baby beluga whales, and three young dolphins. Tilikum, the tormented orca featured in revolutionary film ‘Blackfish,’ is ailing and may be next.
The sad truth behind SeaWorld’s recent announcement that it was phasing out its orca breeding program had less to do with concern for animal welfare and more to do with a ruling from the California Coastal Commission which restricted the company’s ability to breed orcas in San Diego. In response SeaWorld quickly threw away the key for the remaining 28 orcas in its concrete prisons with an impudent declaration that the animals would never see or feel the natural seawater of a sea-side sanctuary where they could retire in peace.
Never to feel seawater again?! Not on our watch! Please give now and together we WILL keep up the fight for Tilikum and other captive whales and dolphins.