Summary: Animal rights activists are pushing SeaWorld Orlando to release more information about how their orca Tilikum, who killed one of its trainers, died from an infection in January. SeaWorld recently announced that an examination found that Tilikum died from bacterial pneumonia, but activists want to know where that infection came from, and if the orca had any other injuries. Tilikum starred in the movie “Blackfish” which turned many people against the idea of orcas in captivity. Deaths of sea-creatures have been kept from the public since 1994, when Congress amended the Marine Mammal Protection Act after industry lobbying. SeaWorld said Tilikum is still being studied and that they will release their findings upon completion.
Analysis: This article once again brings SeaWorld to the forefront of the news for their killer whales. People are no longer okay with the idea of these orcas being kept in captivity as if they were a show dog, and the suspicions of their safety and treatment. I would hope that SeaWorld would honestly release their findings, but since they are not required by law, it is not for sure. Hopefully activists will soon get their way and SeaWorld will come to an end.
Link: Tilikum's Death
The captivity of the sea creatures at SeaWorld depend wholly on their safely and if they aren't being tended to in the healthiest way possible, then they aren't getting the treatment they deserve and should be put back into the wild.
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