SeaWorld CEO Joel Manby said, that they are considering releasing their orcas (a black-and-white toothed whale) to the wild. The CEO also stated that they have no plans of building sea pens in the park nor transferring its performing orcas to a natural place of refuge. Joel Manby aslo insisted that orcas would get sick and die if released into ocean.
CEO Joel Manby said at the annual shareholders meeting that "More than 80% of our whales were born in our care, and sea pens would be a poor choice for them." Manby also stated, "Uncontrollable exposure to pollution, ocean debris and life-threatening pathogens in ocean waters are just a few of the factors that make sea pens an unhealthy living environment for any of our animals."
However, Jean-Michel Costeau a marine-animal expert, expressed a different opinion in the New York Post, that he disagrees the SeaWorld CEO's statement.
"The problem I have with SeaWorld is they are looking for all kinds of excuses to keep doing what they are doing."
Jean-Michel Costeau have worked on the release of the orca named Keiko - star of the 'Free Willy' movies.
The SeaWorld company was asked at the annual shareholder meeting, about their scientific capabilities and knowledge to relocate the animals to sea pens - as linked to the "Blackfish" documentary, where the company's reputation was damaged, and their park attendance went down.
The PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), is demanding the SeaWorld company to follow their intense campaign in creating a seaside sanctuary for the whales.
Jared Goodman the PETA Foundation Director of Animal Law, stated, "In sea pens, orcas could swim in ocean water instead of in chemically treated wastewater, hear and answer the calls of their extended families, and begin to live truly as orcas in a protected area of the ocean. PETA will push SeaWorld to make this change, and we're exploring our legal options over SeaWorld's lock-out of dissenting voices who speak for the animals they hold prisoner."
