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PETA obtains federal records of dolphin and trainer injuries at SeaWorld

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PETA is calling on SeaWorld to protect both dolphins and trainers.”

Animal rights nonprofit organisation PETA has obtained federal records revealing injuries to a dolphin and a trainer at SeaWorld Orlando.

The incidents include an attack by a group of dolphins on a dolphin named Rascal in October 2022, and another in which an orca bit a trainer in June 2022.

In a recent report, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said SeaWorld Orlando “failed to separate Rascal… in a timely manner after he sustained increasingly serious injuries from conspecifics”.

Marine mammals that are not compatible must not be housed in the same enclosure,” the USDA report added.

Dolphin attack and orca bite

“They must not be housed near other animals that cause them unreasonable stress or discomfort or interfere with their good health.

“The facility must ensure that marine mammals sustaining serious injuries from negative interactions with conspecifics be removed from those situations in a proactive and timely manner.”

Another report from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration said a SeaWorld trainer used a spray bottle to dislodge paint chips from an orca named Malia’s mouth.

The report said the employee was “attempting to clear debris from inside a killer whale’s mouth, when unexpectedly the whale closed their mouth with the employee’s hand in it, resulting in the employee suffering multiple fractures to their right wrist”.

lolita miami seaquarium

“As long as SeaWorld continues to confine stressed out animals, they’ll continue attacking each other and their trainers and desperately gnawing at their tanks out of frustration,” said PETA’s executive VP Tracy Reiman.

She added: “PETA is calling on SeaWorld to protect both dolphins and trainers by sending these animals to sea sanctuaries – just as the Miami Seaquarium is preparing to do for orca Lolita.”

As above, the Miami Seaquarium reached a deal with animal welfare advocates to release killer whale Lolita to her home waters. This came after the aquarium agreed to end shows featuring Lolita.

In 2020, SeaWorld started phasing out “circus-style shows” where trainers would ride on dolphins’ faces and backs following a campaign by PETA.

Images: SeaWorld / The Dolphin Company

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Bea Mitchell

Bea is a journalist specialising in entertainment, attractions and tech with 10 years' experience. She has written and edited for publications including CNET, BuzzFeed, Digital Spy, Evening Standard and BBC. Bea graduated from King's College London and has an MA in journalism.

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