Today, SeaWorld announced that it will end all orca breeding programmes this year, making the orcas currently held captive at its marine parks the “last generation” who will be imprisoned in this way.

This is a great step forward for marine mammals, and shows that when it comes to fighting for animals, as with all progressive movements, persistence pays off.

PETA and our international affiliates have campaigned hard for this, and now there is a payoff for future generations of orcas. For decades orcas, dolphins, beluga whales, seals and many other animals have suffered in SeaWorld confinement, and to do right by them now, SeaWorld must now open the tanks to ocean sanctuaries so that these long-suffering animals may have some semblance of a life outside their prison tanks.

For years, SeaWorld has enslaved animals in small tanks at marine parks, where they are forced to perform unnecessary tricks for “entertainment”. It’s a business built on the suffering of intelligent, social animals who are denied everything that is natural and important to them. As a result, animals imprisoned by SeaWorld often die prematurely from stress and other captivity-related problems.

While a huge shift in public opinion is forcing SeaWorld to change some of its practices, it remains a deeply unethical and exploitative business. If you’re travelling to Florida, please avoid this animal-harming attraction, and speak out if you spot any travel companies promoting trips to SeaWorld.