SeaWorld announced this week that it is planning on building its first park outside of the US... and it won't include killer whales.

After years of campaiging from animal rights groups such as Peta and Greenpeace, SeaWorld finally announced this year that it would cease it's orca breeding programme, meaning that no new killer whales would be born into captivity.

This was hailed as a step in the right direction for the company, which had been under mounting pressure to change following the release of the documentary Blackfish in 2013.

Now, the company has announced that it will be branching out of the US with a brand new park in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

The new park - which will be entirely Orca free - will be located on Abu Dhabi's Yas Island, alongside the Ferrari World theme park, Yas Waterworld, and (from 2018) a Warner Bros Theme Park.

However, despite the organisation's moves to phase out killer whales from its attractions, it still finds itself under fire to release the remaining animals.

Peta writes on its website Seaworld of Hurt that:

SeaWorld must open its tanks and release these long-suffering animals to ocean sanctuaries so that they can have some semblance of a life outside of prison tanks.

Adding:

The only thing that people learn from visiting a SeaWorld theme park is how miserable life is for the animals confined there.

We're not talking about one or two Orcas in the late stages of their lives; according to SeaWorld's official website, there are 29 orcas still in captivity in its parks. They range in age from 1 to 51 -years-old.

Here's the full list by resort:

Seaworld Orlando:

Makaio, 5yo - born in captivity

Malia, 9yo - born in captivity

Katina, 39yo - Icelandic

Trua, 11yo - born in captivity

Kayla, 28yo - born in captivity

Tilikum, 36yo - Icelandic

Nalani, 10yo - born in captivity

SeaWorld San Antonio:

Takara, 24yo - born in captivity

Tuar, 16yo - born in captivity

Sakari, 6yo - born in captivity

Kyuquot, 24yo - born in captivity

Kamea, 3yo - born in captivity

SeaWorld San Diego:

Ikaika, 14yo - born in captivity

Makani, 3yo - born in captivity

Keet, 23yo - born in captivity

Ulises, 38yo - Icelandic

Kasatka, 38yo - Icelandic

Shouka, 23yo - born in captivity

Kalia, 11yo - born in captivity

Nakai, 15yo - born in captivity

Orkid, 28yo - born in captivity

Corky, 51yo - North Eastern Pacific

Amaya, 1yo - born in captivity

Loro Parque:

Morgan, 8yo - Netherlands

Skyla, 12yo - born in captivity

Tekoa, 15yo - born in captivity

Adan, 5yo - born in captivity

Keto, 20yo - born in captivity

Kohana, 13yo - born in captivity

Peta add on their website:

To do right by the animals now, SeaWorld should follow the lead of the National Aquarium, which is moving all eight dolphins at its facility—including 17-year-old Jade, who was born at SeaWorld Orlando—to a seaside sanctuary, a decision that has been met with overwhelming public support. Captivity is killing these animals, and they deserve to be safely returned to their ocean home while still benefiting from humans’ care for as long as they might need to.