Ever since I first saw the movie Free Willy, orcas have been my favourite animals but it wasn’t until I saw the documentary Blackfish that I realised how much harm we’re actually causing them by keeping them in captivity.

When I say “us,” I mainly mean SeaWorld.

It is no secret that SeaWorld has not been treating them well and many, many of them have died way before reaching the age they would normally live up to in the wild. Most recently, Tilikum, “the orca whose killing of a trainer at a SeaWorld park in Orlando became the focus of the documentary “Blackfish,” has been found to have a respiratory disease that could likely end in death.”

The public has been outraged. The public has been outraged for years. But finally it seems like all our pleas and protests are making a difference.

Today, SeaWorld announced that this will be the last generation of orcas at SeaWorld and they will end all orca breeding programs and transition away from all theatrical shows.

The animals will continue to live at SeaWorld with world class care but they are incorporating new programs focusing on education, research and rescue of animals in danger.

Now this is the news we’ve been waiting for for years.

~

Author: Katarina Tavčar

Photo: Marc Cappelletti/Flickr & screenshot from a SeaWorld video