SeaWorld Orlando to debut new killer-whale show at the start of 2020

SeaWorld Orlando to debut new killer-whale show at the start of 2020



The theme park SeaWorld Orlando plans to phase out its signature killer-whale attraction at the start of the new year, scrapping the “One Ocean” show and replacing it with “Orca Encounter.”

“One Ocean” will close on Dec. 31 and “Orca Encounter” will take its spot on Jan. 1 at Shamu Stadium, named after various SeaWorld orcas that have long been synonymous with the parks.

191224 seaworld orcas se 1220p 9ad7d70644ec4314d150acfb845f53b6
SeaWorld Orlando to debut new killer-whale show at the start of 2020

The move comes more than four years after SeaWorld first announced it would refocus its orca shows on education instead of spectacle, and pledged to end its killer whale breeding programs.

“Guests will learn about killer whales’ role in the ocean ecosystem, behaviors the animals exhibit in the wild, the importance of conservation to their habitat, and animal welfare practices at SeaWorld,” Chris Dold, chief zoological officer for SeaWorld, said in a new statement issued this week.

“This educational presentation reflects our company’s mission to inspire people and protect the animals and wild wonders of our world through education, research, animal rescue and conservation,” Dold added.

Orca Encounter, which has been part of the park’s stable of presentations for a few years, features several whales in a tank accompanied by educational images and graphics on a large screen, according to the Orlando Sentinel, which first reported the news about the programming change.

SeaWorld has faced intense criticism in recent years following the publication of a 2012 book by journalist David Kirby, “Death at SeaWorld: Shamu and the Dark Side of Killer Whales in Captivity,” and an acclaimed 2013 documentary, “Blackfish.”

This article was first published by NBC News on 24 December 2019.


What you can do

Support ‘Fighting for Wildlife’ by donating as little as $1 – It only takes a minute. Thank you.

 

payment

 

Fighting for Wildlife supports approved wildlife conservation organizations, which spend at least 80 percent of the money they raise on actual fieldwork, rather than administration and fundraising. When making a donation you can designate for which type of initiative it should be used – wildlife, oceans, forests or climate.

 

Dive in!

Discover hidden wildlife with our FREE newsletters

We promise we’ll never spam! Read our Privacy Policy for more info

Supertrooper

Founder and Executive Editor

Share this post with your friends




Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

1 Comment