In yet more negative publicity for the controversial theme park, SeaWorld is in the headlines again with two former employees claiming whales at the attraction were habitually drugged and starved to control their behavior.
Speaking to the Sun, former SeaWorld trainers Jeffrey Ventre and John Hargrove said the park’s inhumane treatment of whales caused the marine mammals severe distress and serious psychological problems, leading them to self-mutilate, grind their teeth and chew enclosure concrete, causing acute dental damage.
According to Ventre, SeaWorld told employees to lie to visitors and tell them that injuries evident on the whales — such as dorsal fin collapse — were normal, rather than, as is believed, due to inactivity and the stress of living in captivity.
He also said that the park forced trainers to tell children that killer whales only live for 25 to 30 years, when in fact they can live up to 80 years in the wild, but frequently die early, at about 17, when captive.
“The job is more akin to a stunt man or clown performing with captive animals using food deprivation as a motivator,” Ventre said.
“The whales and dolphins were stressed and this caused stomach ulcers,” he explained. “So they got meds for that. They also got chronic infections, so they got antibiotics. They were also sometimes aggressive or hard to control so they could be given Valium.”
“I worked with some whales that were on medication every day of their life and have personally watched whales die at very young ages from disease,” added Hargrove.
The trainers’ claims of cruelty follow the welcome announcement earlier this month that Virgin Holidays will no longer be selling tickets or packages to attractions that have captive whales or dolphins.
WILD ANIMALS belong in their Natural Habitats OR in Sanctuaries — they do NOT belong in enclosed tanks at circuses or at amusement parks — it is LIVING HELL for them — Release them — so they can live happy, healthy lives — they have this RIGHT.
Whales are not sea worlds property, they were born to live FREELY in the seas, they are GOD’S innocent creature not money spinners !!!, it is horrifically cruel and EVIL to keep them in captivity , WE will never visit Sea world !!!.
Sue, jail and shut them down!!
PLEASE, PEOPLE…DO NOT GO TO ANY ANIMAL SHOW, ENTERTAINMENT NOR CIRCUS PLEASE DEMAND AN END TO ANIMAL SHOWS. DON’T PAY MONEY TO SEE ANIMAL ENTERTAINMENT, THEN IT WILL END.
There is a special place in he’ll for Animal Torturers
I am sickened by the intense cruelty that people show toward animals. It breaks my heart. I am heartened by the rescues that you accomplish. Thank you for your tireless efforts on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves.
So very sad.
🙁
The people that did this should lose their job and have a jail sentence for animal neglect.
It’s bad enough that these poor whales are held captive against their will but to do this to them makes me even more angry let’s get to the bottom of this & if it’s true let’s prosecute to the full extent.
I thought sea world stopped with the dolphin shows.
I da late to be speaking out. Why did they continue to work there?
Why are people so wicked ,the destruction of any animal ,mammal or bird is beyond reason
It’s time to end captive servitude
It’s time stop captivity.
Shame ! I am so glad the trainers spoke out. They should have spoken up sooner, but thank you for speaking up. Shame that they were drugging and starving the whales. Rescue these whales back to the wild or a kind sanctuary. Ban Sea World ! Justice !
SeaWorld deserves all of the negative publicity. That anyone today still thinks an abusement park is cool, needs to have his/her head examined.
kill the jerks who harm any animal
Please stop playing with animal abusers!!!! Feed them to lions crocs or sharks…let the animals sort out all animal abusers to put an end to these evil barbaric savages roaming the world.
People need to stop visiting any attractions where animals are involved. Only then will this abuse stop.
SOOOO….what else is new? I think a lot of people have known this for a long time but just did nothing about it. We visit, we see how the whales are acting, ‘Possibly” believe what we are told but with some doubt, but do nothing because we are not animal experts. Sea world has been suspect for many years. Maybe it’s time we shut them down for continued animal abuse. PERMANENTLY!
SAVE THESE MAJESTIC CREATIONS BY GOD….BOYCOTT SEAWORLD…SPREAD THE WORD
its been going on since the 90’s
After all the exposure on television about the evils of SeaWorld it’s hard to believe that this dump is still open. It’s the stupid public that keeps this place open. Stop going to SeaWorld you are personally responsible for the torture of these beautiful creatures.
Boycott SeaWorld until everybody you know to boycott SeaWorld
Not surprised. These parks are not to be trusted.
Terrible cruelty!
Barbaric!
Just another day in Paradise.
Dorsal fin collapse IS NOT NORMAL. I hope 1 of these days people finally say enough is enough and boycott these kind of places. So glad Canada decided to lead and banned the captivity of whales and dolphins, and hope more follow suit!