SeaWorld is reportedly calling its allegations of breeding “Jurassic World”-style orcas as a wild fish tale.
Former SeaWorld orca trainer John Hargrove has claimed the theme park’s killer whale subspecies will never meet in the wild during its self-closing breeding program, a claim he denies. tell the sun.
Hargrove worked at SeaWorld for 20 years and featured in the 2013 documentary “Blackfish,” explores a string of deaths caused by one of the park’s most famous captive orcas, Tilikum.
He told the paper that it was a lot likee”“Jurassic World,” referring to this summer’s blockbuster movie featuring “hybrid dinosaurs.”
“That’s exactly what we do at SeaWorld,” Hargrove said. “[…]The main takeaway from creating hybrid killer whales is that you don’t really know what you’ve created because they don’t exist in nature. So anything is possible,” he told the paper.
He said the plan to create the super-large whale was made to boost attendance at the theme park.
SeaWorld has denied Hargrove’s claims.
“There is nothing new about these claims. The wild character of this former employee – who has not worked at SeaWorld in any capacity for 10 years – is designed to get clicks, not to convey fact or science,” a SeaWorld representative told Weekly newspaper.
The theme park ended its orca breeding program in March 2016.
“SeaWorld is independently accredited, reviewed and certified by federal wildlife agencies and independent third-party experts to maintain the highest standards of animal care,” the representative said. “A large part of what the world knows about orcas today is due to nearly 60 years of care and research on orcas in accredited animal facilities such as SeaWorld.”
The company did not respond to a request for comment from The Washington Post.
sea world captive killer whale This has been a controversial topic for animal rights activists for years. At SeaWorld, orcas performed in theatrical performances through 2017.
Four people were killed by whales in the park. Tilicum, who lives in SeaWorld’s Orlando Park, is responsible for three of them.
In “Blackfish,” Hargrove and other former trainers talk about how captive orcas suffer psychological damage and trauma that can lead to aggression. An outspoken advocate, Hargrove has also written a book called “Below the Surface,” which details his time at the park and how he doesn’t think it’s safe to keep whales in captivity.
SeaWorld has previously denied Hargrove’s claims, adding that the coach left in 2015 after being disciplined for safety violations.
Meanwhile, animal welfare groups continue to scrutinize SeaWorld and other places where orcas are kept in captivity.
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