It might sound like fun to go to SeaWorld and see all the different animals there, but if you were to look at things from the animals' perspectives, you'd see that everything isn't nearly as fun as it seems.
Although some animal species can thrive in captivity, orcas and dolphins don't. In the wild, they are used to swimming across vast distances, ranging anywhere from 40-140 miles a day. They are also highly intelligent, social creatures that are capable of advanced problem-solving and language. Abducting them from the ocean, which is what SeaWorld did to most of its orcas including Shamu, and forcing them into tanks that are only a couple hundred feet in length and 35 feet deep and making them perform the same tricks each day leads to disastrous effects on their physical and mental health. Most of them don't live nearly as long as they would in the wild. In fact, the longest-living captive-bred orca, Kayla, died at only 30 when the average lifespan for a female extends well into their 50s.
The negative effects of forced captivity are not only seen in their shortened lifespans but also in their aggressive behavior. In all of recorded human history, not a single human has ever died from an attack by a wild orca. However, four humans have been killed by captive orcas at SeaWorld; three of which were caused by a single male, Tilikum. And yet, despite this unusual alarming behavior, a spokesperson from SeaWorld claimed that returning Tilikum to performing shows merely 13 months after killing his 3rd trainer was an "important component of his physical, social, and mental, enrichment." Right? Well, it's heartwarming to know that SeaWorld's PR department truly has Tilikum and his new trainers' best interests in mind. Orcas are often seen floating listlessly on the surface or gnawing on steel bars in their tanks, eroding their teeth. They are also seen chewing on tank walls to the point where their teeth are broken. This damage can lead to the need for chronic antibiotic therapy, which can compromise orcas' immune systems. Orcas at SeaWorld have been abducted from the ocean and were forced to live in cramped tanks. An orca named Corky was captured from her pod off the coast in British Columbia on December 11, 1969. She remained in the same tank in SeaWorld San Diego as of 2023 with 7 other orcas.
Dolphins at SeaWorld are forced to live in cramped tanks, just like the orcas. Although SeaWorld ended its orca breeding program, it still breeds dolphins through artificial insemination. Female dolphins were pulled out of the water, drugged, and filled with semen from the males. During shows, trainers stood on their faces and rode on their backs like surfboards. Many children were also bitten by dolphins during the encounters they had. As of 2023, SeaWorld stopped trainers from standing on dolphins' faces and riding on their backs like surfboards. Still, it keeps the dolphins inside its tanks and continues its breeding program.
Furthermore, it's not only orcas and dolphins who sufferd at SeaWorld. A walrus named Obie went blind because of too much direct exposure to the sun. He and many other walruses exhibit stereotypical behavior such as pressing their mouths against the glass and repeatedly regurgitating and swallowing their food many times. Recently, SeaWorld San Diego separated 2 polar bear sisters named Szenja and Snowflake from each other. Snowflake was sent to the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium in Pennsylvania, which lost its accreditation with the Association of Zoos & Aquariums(AZA) in 2015 because of failing to comply with new standards for handling its elephants. Szenja remained in her small exhibit and died a few days after, likely from a broken heart. Beluga whales are also kept in cramped tanks. Many beluga whales died shortly after their natural lifespan which is 70-80 years in the wild. They are also used for breeding in all 3 parks at San Diego, Orlando, and San Antonio.
The best way to help these animals is to never go to SeaWorld or any other marine park that exploits animals for entertainment. Furthermore, you can also sign this alert by PETA to urge SeaWorld to halt its breeding program and send its animals to seaside sanctuaries. You can also sign this other alert by PETA to urge SeaWorld to release Corky, one of the orcas suffering at its San Diego park, to a seaside sanctuary.