SeaWorld refuses to release twenty four orca whales held captive  in marine parks across three states to seaside pens. Instead, SeaWorld has decided to remodel the areas surrounding and above the confinement tanks in San Diego’s park as if this superficial makeover would in any way make a difference to these whales or an informed public. Relenting under intense public pressure, SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. promised to end breeding captive orca whales, but still insists on keeping them captive for the rest of their lives.

The California Coastal Commission recently approved the visual redesign of SeaWorld San Diego’s orca whale performance area, but this does nothing for these orcas. SeaWorld tries to infer the trapped orcas would benefit, and that they would be comforted by believing the fiberglass cliffs, rocks and waterfalls are suddenly recognizable as actual habitat of wild orcas in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. Even if that were true —and it isn’t—just one captive orca in SeaWorld San Diego, Corky, was captured there while two others were kidnapped in Iceland. The rest were born in captivity.

This is equivalent to placing holiday decorations in and around the tank and then expecting that the orcas will “get it” and have a great holiday. That won’t happen. The artificial scenery will be  just as sterile as the tanks that entomb the orcas, and no true changes to benefit their situation will be made by this action. This SeaWorld marketing ploy is an effort directed at stemming declining public attendance by trying to make this unconscionable exploitation of orcas look pretty.

Read more here.  http://timesofsandiego.com/business/2016/11/04/seaworlds-new-orca-encounter-approved-by-coastal-commission/

Pictured: Artist’s rendering of Orca Encounter planned to open in the summer of 2017.