![]() "In the wild, if there is aggression between two animals, they can simply swim away into the open ocean," said John Jett, a former orca trainer at SeaWorld Orlando who spoke out against it in "Blackfish." "But in captivity, the animals are trapped, and what you find is dolphin-on-dolphin aggression that is manifested quite often in broken teeth and rakes up and down their bodies."Īt the same time, he says, such animals would be poor candidates for being released into the wild, as most are born in captivity and rely on humans to survive. There have been no reports of abuse at the newly opened Abu Dhabi park which did not answer questions about its treatment of dolphins. Department of Agriculture cited the company for animal welfare violations after discovering a dolphin "actively bleeding" from "many deep rake marks," and excessive chlorine levels in the dolphin tanks. In captivity, they can only swim in endless circles inside tanks that, to them, are the equivalent of bathtubs."ĭuring a scheduled inspection of SeaWorld Orlando last December, the U.S. "In nature, dolphins live in large, complex social groups and swim vast distances every day. "SeaWorld is part of an industry built on the suffering of intelligent, social beings who are denied everything that's natural and important to them," said Jason Baker, senior vice president of international campaigns at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA. Steps taken since the "Blackfish" controversy have yet to silence some of SeaWorld's critics. facilities, but the Abu Dhabi park has not submitted an application for accreditation, according to Jennifer DiNenna, director of accreditation at the AZA. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums, widely seen as the gold standard for humane certifications, has certified SeaWorld's U.S. The park is certified by the international brand of American Humane, which is behind the end-credit certifications that no animals were harmed in the making of films. "By leveraging a fundamental SeaWorld design principle of putting animal well-being and care at the core of the design, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi is set to redefine the standards of excellence for marine life theme parks across the world," the company's chairman, Scott Ross, said in a statement. The company says it has raised $17 million to support hundreds of research and conservation projects around the globe. ![]() Last year, its Orlando theme park opened a facility to care for Florida manatees that were dying from starvation in their natural habitat. The company's promotional materials say it is committed to rescuing and rehabilitating animals, and that a full-time staff of veterinarians ensures they are well cared for. ![]() That same year, it announced plans to build a park without orcas in Abu Dhabi in the UAE. In the face of mounting criticism, SeaWorld halted its orca breeding program and live performances featuring the whales in 2016. later agreed to pay US$65 million to settle a lawsuit in which it was accused of misleading investors over the impact the documentary was having on its bottom line. The film caused visitor numbers to plummet across SeaWorld's three parks in the United States. The film implied that orcas become more aggressive in captivity. Scrutiny of SeaWorld reached a crescendo following the release of the 2013 documentary "Blackfish." The documentary focused on the life of Tilikum, a 12,000-pound orca that killed trainer Dawn Brancheau when he dragged her into a pool at SeaWorld Orlando in 2010. They also did not answer written questions or grant AP journalists access to the park. SeaWorld and Miral declined multiple interview requests from The Associated Press. The new facility, which opened to visitors last month, gives the Orlando, Florida-based company a foothold in a fast-growing international tourism destination and the opportunity to continue its rebranding after years of criticism and allegations of animal cruelty. Business news stories from across Canada and the world. ![]() Climate Barometer newsletter: Sign up to keep your finger on the climate pulse.There are no orcas here, but the park houses animals like dolphins and seals, whose captivity and training for profit and entertainment purposes are also often criticized as unethical by animal rights advocacy groups. The US$1.2 billion venture with state-owned developer Miral features the world's largest aquarium and a cylindrical LED screen. theme park chain SeaWorld, mired in controversy in recent years over its treatment of killer whales and other marine mammals, has opened a massive new aquatic life park in the United Arab Emirates, its first outside the United States. ![]()
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