Months After Trainer's Death, Two Orcas Pregnant at SeaWorld

by Annie Hartnett · 2010-06-01 13:30:00 UTC
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Just three months after the death of orca trainer Dawn Brancheau, SeaWorld has announced that two orca whales are pregnant.

The Orlando Sentinel reports: "Tilikum, the killer whale responsible for the death of trainer Dawn Brancheau, is the father in both orca pregnancies. SeaWorld, for its part, says it aids in animal conservation."

The orca Tilikum may have killed Brancheau, but he is not responsible for her death. That responsibility falls squarely on SeaWorld's shoulders. SeaWorld's choice to impregnate two orcas so quickly after Brancheau's death shows the park's complete disregard for the welfare of its human or animal employees. SeaWorld is currently on notice by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for neglecting to protect its workers.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals protested the pregnancies outside the Orlando Park over the weekend, with signs that read: "SeaWorld Breeds for Greed," and "SeaWorld Babies: Make This the Last Generation."

SeaWorld park spokesman Greg Smith responded to the protests, claiming that "Each of those guests will learn about and be inspired by marine animals. Those guests will also learn that no organization cares more for the animals in its care than SeaWorld."

As Stephanie Feldstein pointed out following Dawn Brancheau's drowning, a chlorinated tank is not an orca's natural habitat. A SeaWorld Park visitor learns nothing of educational value by watching the animals perform absurd tricks. If anything, park visitors who witnessed Brancheau's tragic death learned more about orcas than if Tilikum had performed the planned routine. Orcas are wild animals. They are not malicious murderers, but they are dangerous and unpredictable. They are simply too large for captivity, and their wild habitat is impossible to recreate.

By breeding the orcas, SeaWorld has proven that it has not taken Brancheau's death seriously. SeaWorld's main interest is profit, not animal conservation. An amusement park is not an animal sanctuary, and animals are not here for our amusement.

Photo Credit: hyku

Annie Hartnett is a writer and animal advocate who has worked for several wildlife rehabilitation centers and environmental programs.

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