An orca whale at SeaWorld has died, becoming the fourth in 20 months to perish prematurely at the hands of the amusement park. Following the death of her grandchild just one month ago, 42-year-old orca Kasatka was euthanized after a long battle with lung disease.
SeaWorld announced the death of Kasatka on Tuesday, stating she lived a “long life.” According to Howard Garrett of Orca Network, however, orcas in the wild share a similar lifespan to humans and can live to be 70, 80, or even 90 years old. Although SeaWorld has been running for only 58 years, over 40 orcas have died in its facilities. Like so many orcas before her, Kasatka’s life was cut tragically short for the sake of human entertainment.
Kasatka was captured and sold to SeaWorld in 1978 and made to perform up to eight shows per day during the past four decades. She was also forcibly bred while in captivity, even while ill.
John Hargrove, former SeaWorld trainer and animal advocate, stated, “Even after being chronically ill and on massive amounts of drugs, SeaWorld forcibly impregnated her in August 2011…They intentionally forced the nearly 18 month gestation and nearly two years of nursing knowing Kasatka was chronically ill.”
Luckily, efforts are being made to stop this cruelty. Following California’s Orca Protection and Safety Act in 2016, the Florida Orca Protection Act would ban breeding orcas in captivity, as well as using orcas for entertainment purposes (Florida residents can lend their support for the bill here).
And as a result of backlash over the past few years, notably through the documentary Blackfish, SeaWorld has announced it will stop breeding orcas and forcing them to perform, stating, “We will introduce new, inspiring, natural orca encounters rather than theatrical shows, as part of our ongoing commitment to education, marine science research and the rescue of marine animals.”
Although no more orcas will be bred or captured, the orcas already in the facilities will sadly live their remaining years in captivity.
There is still much work to be done to prevent animal exploitation for entertainment. Kasatka’s death, along with the death of the many other victims of SeaWorld and other entertainment and tourist industries, represents tragedy that could have been avoided. Kasatka will not be forgotten, and we will continue to fight for the peaceful world that animals deserve to live in.
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educating people is the best thing that can happen to stop the insanity of animal abuse.
the problem being is people don’t know what goes on behind closed doors and maybe if they knew
they would stop spending the money to see the entertainment. Once the money stops rolling in they would have to take a second look unless they are really stupid. because that’s the drive. If they took the proper steps by teaching the public about the nature of these animals in their wild habitat it would be more informative and the public would have a very different opinion of what happens in these places even especially for the children because they are the future for these animals of all species.
As long as people continue to go to these amusement parks, pay their money to see these animals forced to entertain against their wills, then sea word will continue to hold these animals captive and never release them. They don’t want to release the ones they now have captive, so let them lose money. Everyone stop going and then they won’t have anyone to show performances to. I, for one, would rather see these beautiful animals in the wild on film or read about them in books, rather than have them captive and forced to perform in the name of entertainment. I don’t go to zoos, circuses, animal shows, or horse races and never will. We live in greedy, corrupt societies folks. Nothing matters but the money.
Sea world needs to stop! This is not entertainment this is slavery, torture. Be close sea world
Can someone shoot the idiots responsible for making these animals suffer?? its about ime
Hopefully, places like SeaWorld will disappear, being the dreadful anachronisms they are. But that day cannot come soon enough. They should be subjected to relentless pressure and shaming.
NEVER frequent SeaWorld or any place like it. They traffic in animal abuse…certainly not “entertainment” or “education”.
This is NOT acceptable. SeaWorld I have NO respect for you whatsoever. These Orca’s can’t continue to live like this. They are not suppose to be In captivity. You have had 40 Orca’s die. Don’t you think that should tell you something? God didn’t put them on this earth to entertain and do tricks for humans. Find another entertainment, how about face painting? I feel that the remaining Orca’s that you have should be released back into the ocean. Their instincts will kick in and, hopefully, their survival skills will to. The most important thing is that they are able to experience the wild again and be free.
NO excuse for this torture! Leave them in the wild where they belong!! I went to seaworld 1 time and I could see how these poor soul’s had to come out and entertain all time’s of the day wether they wanted to or not! I would NEVER go back to that slave camp ever in my life again, I did’nt enjoy any of it the dolphin’s, the whales were enough I left without seeing anything else, Horrible, I left depressed!!
Sea world needs to be pressured until the rest of the orcas are put in a sanctuary suited to THEIR needs. Maybe eventually they could be released back into wild. I don’t know enough about them to know if the later idea is safe for them or not.
We must NEVER stop fighting until no more Orcas, dolphins etc are in captivity.
The bottom line of making money drives this cruel and inhumane treatment of this poor animal. This is SO wrong!!!! STOP all this greediness!!