The Editorial Board could not be more spot-on: Orcas do not belong in tanks for their entire lives any more than humans belong in bathtubs for their entire lives.
SeaWorld, which owns most of the captive orcas and bottlenose dolphins in the U.S., has a long history of poor animal care. Twenty-one orcas died in U.S. SeaWorld facilities between 1986 and 2008 – an average of nearly one a year for 22 years. They died of severe trauma, intestinal gangrene, acute hemorrhagic pneumonia, pulmonary abscesses, chronic kidney disease, chronic cardiovascular failure, septicemia, influenza, etc.
In some cases, the cause of death could not be determined, but it is clear none of these animals, who live 60 to 80 years in the wild, died of old age. The USDA has repeatedly cited SeaWorld facilities for failing to comply with the minimal requirements of the federal Animal Welfare Act, which is the bare minimum for keeping animals alive, much less emotionally content.
The solution to this problem is simple: Seek forms of entertainment that do not require the imprisonment of animals.
Such places only malign our relationship with the natural world, and they teach our children that animals exist to perform strange and unnatural tricks for our amusement.
For more information and to receive a free DVD, visit peta2.com.
Editor's note: This letter refers to this editorial.
