5 min read SeaWorld Ending Its Old Orca Show ... And Starting A New One

SeaWorld San Diego will end its well-known orca show sometime in 2016, the company announced Monday. Unfortunately, despite early optimism, it looks like the decision is less about animal welfare, and more of an attempt to repackage the experience to make captivity more palatable to potential guests. CEO Joel Manby announced during an investor presentation that the current "theatrical" show will be replaced with an attraction that features a "conservation message inspiring people to act" sometime in 2017. "It will be focused on ... the natural behavior of the whales," Manby said. Shutterstock

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However, it appears that the new attraction will not be designed for the good of the whales, but rather in an effort to combat growing public sentiment against whales in captivity. Last month the California Coastal Commission's blocked SeaWorld's proposed San Diego expansion, Project Blue World, due to public concern that the expansion was a PR move and would simply turn into a breeding ground for more captive orcas. The commission approved the project only on the condition that SeaWorld San Diego end its breeding program. Manby called the decision "unacceptable" and the company pledged to fight the commission's decision in court. On Monday Manby reaffirmed the company's dedication to fighting the commission, calling it a "bad precedent not just for us but for all zoos and aquariums." However, he said that SeaWorld would not necessarily proceed with the project if they win, as the proposed show redesign would be a much cheaper way of achieving the company's goal of convincing the public they're pro-conservation. Shutterstock

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