Do trainers still swim with dolphins at SeaWorld?
Do trainers still swim with dolphins at SeaWorld? Dolphins of SeaWorld Entertainment will no longer have trainers riding on top of them. The action came earlier in the month after a shareholder proposal made in December by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which sought the end of what it described as “dolphin surfing” and “circus-style” entertainment.
What to do if a dolphin swims up to you?
Although dolphins may seem curious, many of their behaviors are often misinterpreted as “friendly” when they actually are, in fact, signs of disturbance or aggression. If a dolphin approaches you in the water, do not engage, pursue, or otherwise interact with the dolphin, and take immediate steps to move away.
What do SeaWorld trainers wear around their waist?
The black vests wrap around the waist and go over the shoulders in a design similar to a small life jacket. “I don't think the guests even notice that it's there,” said head trainer Kelly Flaherty Clark.
Why did SeaWorld stop riding orcas?
The company has been under scrutiny over its treatment of whales and dolphins for a decade. In 2010, an orca, Tilikum, killed a trainer at SeaWorld Orlando. The killer whale was the subject of a 2013 documentary, Blackfish, that eventually led SeaWorld to stop breeding orcas in captivity.
When did SeaWorld stop allowing trainers in the water?
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia voted in a 2-1 decision to uphold safety requirements issued by the Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in 2010 that prohibit SeaWorld animal trainers from getting too close to potentially dangerous killer whales.
When did SeaWorld stop letting trainers in the water?
OSHA imposed the ban following an investigation into a Feb. 24, 2010, incident in which a 12,000-pound killer whale named Tilikum pulled Dawn Brancheau underwater, drowning the trainer at the Orlando theme park. The court's administrative law judge ruled that SeaWorld's safety program is inadequate.
Do trainers still get in the water at SeaWorld?
SeaWorld spokeswoman Aimee Jeansonne-Becka said the company does not need the lift floors anymore; trainers no longer perform in the water with killer whales.
Why did SeaWorld stop feeding the dolphins?
The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society and Humane Society of the US issued a report on the topic as early as 2003, pointing out that feeding throughout the day by members of the public led to both obese and underweight dolphins, because some animals would become more aggressive than others.