FREE WILLY

SeaWorld to Stop Keeping Killer Whales

Current generation will be last in captivity.

The orcas—also known as killer whales—at SeaWorld will be the last generation to live at the water parks, the company said. SeaWorld will stop breeding them immediately. The company has faced public scrutiny for its treatment of the mammals since 2013, when the CNN documentary Blackfish debuted. The film followed the life of an orca named Tilikum, who has been involved in the deaths of three people, including an incident in which it accidentally drowned a trainer. The 35-year-old orca is now dying of an infection, according to recent reports. “SeaWorld has been listening and we’re changing. Society is changing and we’re changing with it,” a statement from the company said. Joel Manby, SeaWorld’s president and CEO, told the Los Angeles Times: “Customers visit our marine parks, in part, to watch orcas. But a growing number of people don't think orcas belong in human care.”