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Zoos: The New Book of Knowledge - audio recording

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Zoos: The New Book of Knowledge - audio recording

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Sea World and the Orca Whales - audio recording

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Sea World and the Orca Whales - audio recording

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SeaWorld ended its killer-whale-breeding program in 2016, after facing backlash over its treatment of animals.

The company's CEO, Joel Manby, said on Monday that its current pool of whales, which can live up to age 50, would stay in its parks for years.

"I get frustrated with the small-minded arguments from activists that really don't know what they're talking about," Manby said.

ORLANDO - In 2016, SeaWorld announced it would end its killer-whale-breeding program after years of scrutiny about the theme-park company's treatment of animals. The decision was seen as a necessary refocusing away from SeaWorld's iconic live killer-whale show.

However, according to the CEO, the theme park has the whales necessary to continue a version of what was for decades its most famous attraction. While SeaWorld began phasing it out at some parks in 2016, its " signature killer-whale show" and animal viewings continue at others.

"We will still have the whales for 50 years," CEO Joel Manby said on Monday at the ICR Conference. "They live a long time. This is a decision that is for the immediate. But we get to keep the whales and have the experience yet have some relief from a legislative standpoint."

SeaWorld says the average life expectancy of killer whales, also called orcas, is 46 to 50 years for females and 30 to 38 years for males.

The whales' lifespan was a focus of the breeding-program backlash, which reached a fever pitch after the release of the 2013 documentary "Blackfish."

After activists petitioned for a ban on killer-whale breeding, arguing that orcas die younger in captivity, SeaWorld launched an ad campaign saying the whales live as long in its theme parks as they do in the wild. Experts told PolitiFact that SeaWorld's claim was backed by some research but that it ignored issues such as the animals' quality of life.

Manby said SeaWorld reallocated the $300 million it had before April 2016 planned to spend on expanding its pool of killer whales through breeding toward building more attractions.

The company's strategy more generally has shifted toward education and animal conservation and away from its live animal shows.

"When you thought of SeaWorld five years ago, you thought of it as Shamu the killer whale," Manby said. "When Shamu became a liability, it created somewhat of a confusion around the opportunity for us."

Manby clarified that SeaWorld was committed to its decision not to breed and that it would not restart its breeding program, at least in his "human lifetime."

The CEO says that he believes in SeaWorld's mission but that many people misunderstand the company. Backlash against SeaWorld has been driven by "lies" and people lacking in "critical thinking," he said.

"One hundred years from now, people are going to be begging for zoos and aquariums to take the animals from the wild because the extinction rate is so high," Manby said.

People are wrong to focus on SeaWorld while fishing kills numerous sharks, dolphins, and whales every year, Manby argued.

"Those are the issues we should be talking about, not 29 whales at SeaWorld that have been born at SeaWorld and have lived there their entire life and cannot be released to the wild because they would die," Manby said. "So I get frustrated with the small-minded arguments from activists that really don't know what they're talking about."

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SeaWorld CEO slams activists who criticized the company for breeding killer whales in captivity

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SeaWorld ended its killer-whale-breeding program in 2016, after facing backlash over its treatment of animals. But its live orca show continues at some parks.

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9 Quotes That Will Change the Way You Think About Zoos

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9 Quotes That Will Change the Way You Think About Zoos

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The number of roadside zoos that have tacked on the word "sanctuary" or "rescue" to their names has skyrocketed in recent years. Kind people are naturally drawn to places that claim to rescue animals and offer them sanctuary, but many of these outfits are nothing more than breeders, dealers, and exhibitors exploiting the public's goodwill and generosity.

The fundamental purpose of any legitimate animal sanctuary is to provide animals with safe, comfortable living conditions that give them as natural an existence as captivity allows. No legitimate animal sanctuary breeds or sells animals. No reputable exotic-animal sanctuary allows any kind of "hands-on" interaction, and that includes taking photos with animals or taking them out on the road for public display.

Drive-Through Safaris

Whether a facility is called a "safari park," a "drive-through wildlife preserve," or a "game park," more space does not necessarily mean better conditions for animals. Animals have suffered from leg fractures after being crushed under guest wagons, they often are not provided with appropriate shelter from inclement weather, and ailing and wounded animals have been denied adequate veterinary care.

Many drive-through safaris or wildlife parks breed animals continuously, because a large collection of animals attract customers. But babies grow up quickly, and older, unwanted animals may be warehoused like inventory or quietly shipped out. Since paper trails are notoriously inaccurate and difficult to follow, it's nearly impossible to know how many "surplus" animals end up at exotic-animal auctions, in slaughterhouses, or on hunting ranches.

When your family hits the road, instead of going to a wildlife park or drive-through safari, visit one of the great national parks around the country, where everyone-both human and nonhuman-can enjoy the freedom of nature.

Traveling and Petting Zoos

Animals used in traveling zoos are subjected to the stresses of transport, strange and frightening environments, irregular feeding and watering, mishandling, and extensive public contact. The sheer logistics of getting from one venue to the next does not allow for much downtime to let animals rest or exercise or to enable caretakers to attend to sick or injured animals. It's impossible to know how many animals suffer and die en route, because zoo caravans are constantly on the move, and for the most part, no one is watching. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversees animal displays, but with just over 100 officers responsible for inspecting more than 8,600 licensees, it's impossible for the USDA to monitor all exhibitors adequately.

Forced to interact with crowds of people all day long, animals used in petting zoos may not get enough food, water, and rest. Some snap. Many children and adults have been seriously injured by tigers, primates, and other animals who are used as props in photo shoots.

Petting zoos are hotbeds of E. coli bacteria, and numerous children have been infected with the potentially deadly bug after visiting such displays. Infections can spread through direct animal contact or mere touching of the surroundings near an animal exhibit.

What You Can Do

Don't pass a few hours at a place where animals will languish in misery long after you've gone home. Please don't buy a ticket. Instead, explain to your children why your family does not support cruelty to animals.

People can support rescue operations affiliated with the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS). GFAS is an organization that upholds rigorous standards of sanctuary management and animal care. Member sanctuaries don't breed or use animals in commercial activities, and they provide excellent lifetime care.

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Roadside Zoos and Other Captive-Animal Displays | PETA

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Zoos, pseudo-sanctuaries, marine parks, traveling zoos, roadside zoos, and other similar attractions imprison animals who long to be free. Learn more about how you can help animals.

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Stephanie Braccini Slade: Why animals in zoos need choice

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As curator of mammals at Zoo Atlanta, Stephanie Braccini Slade can attest that animals, just like humans, need to make choices to feel in control of their lives. Slade shares the story of a troubled chimpanzee named Holly to explain how crafting opportunities for choice in an animal's environment can create positive behavioral outcomes and improve their overall quality of life.