One of SeaWorld’s remaining orcas, Kayla, died suddenly at the age of 30 in Orlando on January 28.
A few days prior to her untimely death, Kayla appeared uncomfortable, according to SeaWorld staff. Veterinarians administered treatment based on a physical exam, but Kayla’s condition did not improve – in fact, it worsened. A few days later, Kayla tragically passed away, with her care specialists and veterinarians standing helplessly by her side.
A post-mortem exam will be conducted to determine Kayla’s cause of death. The results are expected to take several weeks to complete. In the meantime, one particularly disturbing fact persists in the mind of Naomi Rose, a marine mammal scientist at the Animal Welfare Institute.
In an interview with the Orlando Sentinel, Rose stated that orcas can live to be 80 or 90 years old in the wild – in other words, Kayla’s demise at 30 is similar to a 30-year-old woman dying, and this is “not normal,” according to Rose.
SeaWorld has made several promises in recent years after facing backlash for the cruel treatment of captive whales that was exposed in the popular 2013 documentary Blackfish. The marine park chain pledged to phase out their theatrical whale shows by 2019 and to no longer breed their orcas. Throughout her life, Kayla had been part of the park’s cruel captive-breeding program. Yet orcas are still suffering in their care.
Twenty orcas remain imprisoned at SeaWorld’s Orlando, San Antonio, and San Diego locations, and five of those whales are located in Orlando, where Kayla died.
We urge SeaWorld to put the wellbeing of these majestic creatures above their own profits, and relocate their remaining orcas to seaside sanctuaries to finally live in freedom.
This is heart-breaking news — clearly, Kayla, along with all Orcas, do NOT belong in captivity — they NEED to live in their natural habitats in order to thrive, to be healthy and happy.
Again, Seaworld, GO AWAY!!
WHEN IS THIS INHUMANE FACILITY GOING TO CLOSE, AS THIS SEEMS TO BE THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THEM!!!!
enough is enough! Seaworld must be closed! Animals don´t live to entertain people!
I will never visit SeaWorld again as long as they house Orcas.
This GREEDY SEA WORLD 2 LEGGED ONES WHO ARE HEARTLESS & CRUEL TO INNOCENT ANIMALS MUST SUFFER THE SAME WAY.
WHY CAN’T THEY UNDERSTAND OR HAVE NO BRAINS TO REALIZE THESE POOR ANIMALS ARE BEING KEPT “IMPRISONED” & away from their own family members and the freedom to swim far distance with others & live a happy life??
WHY & HOW these cruel Sea world MONEY HUNGRY GREEDY PEOPLE who are so arrogant to think that they are the only ones who need a family & friends to be happy & be social? I hope & pray that the Karmic repercussions would come in double triple way & hit them hard upon them in return. Nothing more or nothing less…the punishment should be given to fit the crimes they commit towards the most vulnerable sentient beings.
Бедные животные…
This needs to stop!
SEAWORLD NEEDS TO BE PUNISHED! SEA WORLD NEEDS TO BE PUT OUT OF BUSINESS….ALL THE ANIMALS THEY HAVE STOLEN FROM THE WILD, MUST BE REHABILITATED & SET FREE! PLEASE, PEOPLE. BOYCOTT BOYCOTT BOYCOTT ANY ANIMAL SHOW, ENTERTAINMENT, VENUE OR CIRCUS. THIS CRUELTY MUST END!
You know why Kayla died, because of the stupid public. Yes people killed Kayla by buying tickets and patronizing Sea world. BOYCOTT SEA WORLD, PLEASE. AND SEA WORLD RELEASE YOUR ORCAS NOW..
Very sad; please a seaside sanctuary for these animals.
An eye for an eye!
Get these orcas out of Seaworld before they all die!
This is another atrocity at Sea World.They should be closed DOWN!!!
AND WHAT WERE YOU EXPECTING YOU IDIOTS!!!! AND HOW MANY NEED TO DIE
BEFORE YOU CLOSE THESE PRISONS. DISGRACEFUL AND DISGUSTING….
Orcas should not be put in restrained holes in the ground just for our personal pleasure. It is so sad to see them living in a confined area, which to them it would resemble as living a glorified puddle.
Orcas should be swimming naturally in the ocean, fulfilling their lives in the ways that they are accustomed to living. In this way they will thrive in their own environment and continue to enjoy living,multiply and flourish.
SEA WORLD WILL COME TO AN END> ITS JUST A MATTER OF TIME..
Seaworld, zoos, circuses and everything like that should have been shut down or heavily fined for cruelty long ago. These poor animals were taken out of their natural habitant, the sea, and placed in tanks to be put on display for those who think nothing of it. What a sad and uncaring world this is.
Sea world is sliding into the toilet.
I stopped going to parks like this. When profits are put above animal welfare, these parks should be boycotted!
Please stop killing and hurting these Orcas. Poor Kayla – Love you, forever. Let them free !
we need to close sea world PERMANENTLY, by destroying it, burning it down, if necessary to stop the perverse torture and abuse of a higher life form than the pig shit assholes abusing them… lets knee cap a few hundred of the assholes and see how they like it….
COME ON PEOPLE! GET THIS PLACE CLOSED DOWN NOW, FOR GOOD, BEFORE ANY MORE ORCA’S!!
FOR GOSH SAKE HELP THESE ANIMALS AND OTHERS THAT ARE THERE AS WELL!
Let them go to a peaceful life
Please release your Orcas to a sanctuary.
Please free all Orcas back to their natural habitat!!!
It’s time these seaworlds were closed down, apart from those which are closely supervised by competent authorities.
No whales, sea lions, penguin z, orca’s & dolphins or sharks turtles, skates & rays
I am horrified with Sea World. I read the book on which Blackfish was based, listened twice to the author’s interview on NPR (Fresh Air, I think). I find Sea World’s record with orcas absolutely horrifying. Their remaining orcas should be relinquished to seaside sanctuaries where the orcas can receive the best of care and the best life that can possibly await them as sanctuary marine animals. Expensive? You bet – Let Sea World pay for it – They have exploited the hell out of the poor innocent orcas and other marine animals.
I find this latest news very disturbing.
Enough. How many more petitions need to be signed, how many more protests will it take, how many more marine animals have to DIE before abuse of animals is abolished? Captivity is not entertainment, denial of liberty is not conservation. Show some compassion and release these beautiful animals to seaside sanctuaries where they can enjoy some type of more pleasurable life.