Few animals are as fascinating as marine mammals: killer whales, beluga whales, dolphins, walruses, otters, manatees and sea lions. Our mission at SeaWorld is to inspire guests through education and up-close experiences to care for, and protect, these amazing animals and the world we share.
We take our responsibility to care for these animals very seriously. SeaWorld has been a global leader in marine mammal veterinary care, training and husbandry for more than 46 years. No organization in the world today sets higher standards than we do.
Below are some questions about the welfare, care and training of these incredible animals, and information about how they serve as ambassadors for their counterparts in the wild.
What standards of care does SeaWorld provide these animals?
The care, safety and well-being of our animals is a top priority for our company.
We’ve learned a lot about whales and dolphins over the last four decades. The animals in our care are content and healthy.
Every animal receives preventative medical care, exercise and play, a diet of high-quality and sustainable fish, and an environment that is continually changed to include a wide variety of enriching activities.
They live in some of the largest and most advanced marine mammal habitats in the world, including killer whale habitat Shamu Stadium -- which holds 7 million gallons of continually chilled and filtered saltwater. All of the facilities in our parks meet or exceed the standards set by both the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture and the National Marine Fisheries Service.
How are these whales and dolphins trained?
All of our animal training relies on the principle of positive reinforcement and the animals can choose to participate or not. The essence of animal training is to vary the reinforcement to keep animals engaged. We use a variety of reinforcements in the training process; some animals prefer a massage or toy instead of a salmon. Each animal, and each day is different.
Our animals’ diets are not dependent upon the food they receive in the shows. An animal could choose not to participate in any shows and will still receive the same quantity of food.
The training process is critical in providing mental stimulation and enrichment for the animals, and also allows us to care for them.
How do you acquire your animals?
More than 80 percent of the marine mammals in SeaWorld parks were born in our care. SeaWorld has established breeding programs for most of the species you see in our parks including killer whales, dolphins and sea lions. The success of these programs suggest that our animals are healthy and well-adapted, and the information gained has added immeasurably to the scientific understanding of marine mammals worldwide.
In addition to those who were born in our parks, a smaller number were rescued after beaching or suffering severe injuries that deemed them unreleasable. For those animals, we provide a safe and caring home.
How do places like SeaWorld -- and my visit -- benefit animals in the wild?
Every visitor who passes through the gates of our parks helps SeaWorld rescue and protect animals in need all over the world.
Our parks have rescued ill, injured, orphaned and abandoned animals for four decades -- more than 18,000 animals including whales, dolphins, seals, sea lions, manatees, sea turtles and birds. The majority of these animals are successfully treated, rehabilitated and returned to the wild.
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment has provided more than $50 million to animal rescue, conservation and environmental stewardship programs all over the world. The SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund is a registered non-profit conservation foundation that commits 100 percent of donations to on-the-ground wildlife conservation.
Additionally, the parks’ commitment to research and conservation has led to advances in the care of animals in both zoological facilities and wild populations. SeaWorld is a global leader in animal husbandry, veterinary care and training. Many of the procedures we’ve pioneered to care for our own animals have been applied to help rescue and rehabilitate orphaned, injured and ill animals in the wild.
Is SeaWorld doing anything to stop the slaughter of dolphins in Japan?
Yes. We are opposed to this practice (known as drive fisheries) and remain committed to seeing it stopped. SeaWorld is an active in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ campaign to put a stop to the drive fishery, www.actfordolphins.org.
No animal at SeaWorld came from these hunts. Nor does any other U.S. marine institution purchase animals from this hunt. The collection method is in violation of the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act, which means that it is illegal for any animal taken as part of this fishery to be brought into the U.S. for display.
To learn more about the truth behind our company’s position, we invite you to visit www.seaworldparksblog.com/thecove.
