For immediate release:
June 11, 2021
Contact:
David Pearl 202-483-7382
Orlando, Florida. – During today’s AGM, SeaWorld dodged a PETA question posed by PETA actor and director emeritus Keith del Castillo. We asked the company when it will end the sexual assault and forced insemination of dolphins and whales and move them to seaside reserves instead. SeaWorld declined the offer, saying – despite widespread support from experts and industry for the reserves – the translation would be too “risky” and did not even address dolphin sexual assault.
See the following statement from PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman:
Ignoring PETA’s question of sexual assault on dolphins and providing shareholders with misinformation about marine sanctuaries does not change the fact that SeaWorld is drugging dolphins so they cannot resist by soaking them through inserted tubes and using them and their children in the circus. -style shows. The company will lose generations of compassionate customers if it doesn’t stop breeding generations of animals to live in their tanks.
PETA notes that 60 experts from The Whale Sanctuary Project Council have endorsed seaside reserves – safe ocean bays where killer whales and other marine mammals, deprived of everything that is natural and important to them, can thrive at sea while still receiving care, feeding and veterinary support. – and that the National Aquarium in Baltimore is creating a marine sanctuary for dolphins under its care.
PETA’s statement and question presented by Keith del Castillo are available here…
SeaWorld’s answer:
“One of our shareholders, PETA, asked about investment in entertainment and interactive digital technologies and marine reserves. Thank you for your question. Thank you for your long term investment and support for our company, we share a common passion for animals and their care. As for the seaside reserves, this question was answered by experts, scientists, ecologists and others who agree that marine corrals are inhumane. For killer whales, offshore pens are dangerous and can expose these animals to harmful pollutants and toxins in the water. In fact, no captive-born killer whale has ever been successfully released into the marine paddock or the wild. None of those who care for these animals would defend the marine enclosures if they understood this science or the results of such actions. Leading experts on marine mammals, including dolphins and killer whales, live here at SeaWorld, and we care deeply for their well-being. We invite people to come to our parks, see our animal care professionals, get educated, and be inspired by what we know will be in their best interest for both the animals in our parks and those in the wild. In terms of investment, as you know, we have made and continue to invest heavily in rides, attractions, activities and other recreational offerings, including interactive technologies that complement our educational and environmentally friendly animal presentations, as well as unique opportunities for animals and their habitat. in our parks. The combination of these unique offerings allowed us to achieve record net income and adjusted EBITA in 2019, before COVID-19, and become one of the highest financial performance in the company’s history in the first quarter of 2021. ”