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Large number of dolphins moved to Abu Dhabi marine park

Large number of dolphins moved to Abu Dhabi marine park

Up to 24 captive bottlenose dolphins have reportedly been sent to a new SeaWorld theme park in Abu Dhabi. The marine park is due to open in 2023 and the dolphins, who were moved from a number of SeaWorld locations in the US, including San Diego, San Antonio, and Orlando, now face further confinement in…

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SeaWorld parts company with another CEO

Troubled marine park operator, SeaWorld has parted company with yet another CEO. Gus Antorcha, who had been with SeaWorld for less than seven months has resigned following internal disagreements over decision making. Antorcha replaced Joel Manby, who was named CEO in 2015, who also stepped down last year. SeaWorld has faced a public backlash following the release…

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Another orca death at SeaWorld

SeaWorld announced on Monday that Kayla, an orca held at its marine park in Orlando, Florida, has died. Kayla was 30 years old, having spent her entire life in captivity since her birth in 1988 at SeaWorld’s San Antonio park. Kayla’s father was an orca captured from British Columbia in Canada while her mother was…

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Norwegian orca Morgan gives birth at Loro Parque

Tenerife, Spain – Wild-caught Norwegian orca Morgan, now held at Loro Parque in the Canary Islands, Spain, gave birth on September 22nd to her first calf.  The park announced Morgan’s pregnancy in December 2017, just weeks after SeaWorld ended their association with Loro Parque, essentially abandoning the six orcas that had previously been included in…

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SeaWorld CEO steps down as attendances fall again

Joel Manby, SeaWorld’s progressive CEO, has stepped down after another poor financial performance by the company. The company lost around $200 million in 2017 and saw visitor number drop again. Under Manby’s leadership, SeaWorld announced the end of the circus-style orca shows and captive orca breeding. WDC has welcomed SeaWorld’s change of direction and pushed…

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Florida Orca Protection Act stalls in Florida legislature

We are disappointed to share the news that the Florida Orca Protection Act did not make it out of subcommittee in the State legislature, and will not move forward on its own in Florida this year.  Introduced in the Florida House of Representatives just a few weeks ago, the Florida bill would set into law SeaWorld’s…

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Florida Orca Protection Act introduced in Florida State House

The Florida Orca Protection Act, which would provide certain legal protections to orcas held in captivity in the state of Florida, has been officially introduced to the Florida House of Representatives.   Modeled after the California Orca Protection Act, signed into law in September of 2016, the Florida bill would reinforce a ban on captive orca…

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WDC joins call for SeaWorld to release full details of Tilikum's death

WDC has signed on to an open letter calling for SeaWorld to follow their legal obligations under the US National Marine Fisheries Service to release Tilikum’s full necropsy (animal autopsy). This also applies to his offspring and grand-offspring, including Kyara, the last orca calf to be born at SeaWorld, who died in July. This information…

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Last orca calf to be born at SeaWorld dies

The last orca to be born in captivity at SeaWorld has died after being treated in an animal hospital for signs of pneumonia, the marine park has announced. Kyara was 3 months old after being born to Takara in March. SeaWorld announced last year that it would no longer breed from the orcas it holds…

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WDC's tour operator campaign – an update.

Our advice has always been simple and has always been the same: PLEASE, DON’T BUY A TICKET to any marine park that holds whales and dolphins in captivity. An obvious target for our message in the UK is the travel industry; the hundreds of tour operators and travel agents who, through business partnerships with parks…

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