Following years of controversy over its killer whale show, SeaWorld San Diego has announced it will end its long-running Shamu, the Killer Whale Show, in 2017. The move follows dwindling ticket sales and protests that came as a result of the release of the documentary “Blackfish,” detailing the company’s mistreatment of killer whales.
Further changes are expected, as the California Coastal Commission requested the company end its killer whale breeding program, as well as stop bringing new whales to the park. Currently, SeaWorld San Diego has 11 killer whales in captivity and is investing in an expansion of its whale enclosure at the tune of $100 million. The park will stop running the killer whale show but will keep its whales for a new, educational program that will end theatrical circus-like tricks and instead focus on whale behavior. Further details on the new program, which will be unveiled in 2017, have not been released.
The killer whale show will only be terminated at SeaWorld San Diego. SeaWorld Orlando and SeaWorld San Antonio will keep its current killer whale programs.
–Lissa Poirot
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