Declining attendance and allegations over inhumane treatment of the creatures have spurred SeaWorld to phase out its current orca show in San Diego and replace it with one focused more on the natural behavior of the whales and less on performance-related tricks.
According to Mashable, the marine mammal park in California intends for the existing show to be replaced with a more “informative” experience by 2017. The new attraction will take place in a more natural environment and will include a “conservation message inspiring people to act,” a company document obtained by the San Diego Union Tribune has revealed.
The news was confirmed during a Monday press event featuring senior executives, and is part of an ongoing effort to refocus public attention on SeaWorld’s conservation efforts, the newspaper said. The company also hopes that they will be able to increase falling revenues at its parks, as the attendance at the San Diego park fell a reported 17 percent last year.
While few details about what the new show might feature were provided, new CEO Joel Manby said that the shift in focus was not intended as a way to appease critics, including those opposing SeaWorld in the wake of the 2013 documentary Blackfish. He did say that the changes would be in response to the desires of their guests and would only apply to its California location.
Shows in Florida and Texas will not be affected
The new orca show also means that SeaWorld will at least temporarily drop a $100 million plan to nearly double the number of killer whale tanks at the part, the Union Tribune said. Up to half of the funds allocated for that part will be redeployed to the new attraction, Manby noted.
State and federal officials have been attempting to pass legislation prohibiting the marine park from breeding orcas in captivity. The California Coastal Commission recently banned the act as a condition of the tank expansion project (a decision that SeaWorld officials are vowing to fight) and on Friday, California Rep. Adam Schiff said that he planned to introduce a bill banning the breeding captive orcas and prohibiting the capture, import, and export of killer whales.
“We know, with the regulatory environment out there with orcas and what’s happened in California with the reputation, we’d be foolish if we didn’t look at options,” Manby said during Mondays event. “We’re not comfortable putting $100 million into a market when there are regulatory questions. Until that whole issue settles, then we’ll make a decision at that time.”
SeaWorld spokesman Fred Jacobs told the New York Times that shows involving orcas at the company’s Florida and Texas parks will not be affected. In a statement, Schiff called the move a “welcome step,” but added that “as long as SeaWorld holds orcas in captivity, the physical and psychological problems associated with their captivity will persist.”
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Feature Image: Thinkstock
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