A SEAWORLD trainer has warned that “stressed” killer whales held in prison-like conditions could trigger more terrifying attacks on humans.
The former coach urged Britons not to visit the amusement park because their money was ‘paying for this cruelty to continue’.
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John Hargrove left SeaWorld 10 years ago when he joined the fight for captive orcas in search of better conditions.
He described the whales as doomed to “lives of quiet desperation” that could lead to “violent behavior and deadly attacks”.
Animal rights activists have spent years campaigning for the release of marine life from America’s most popular aquatic theme parks.
In 2016, SeaWorld announced it would no longer breed the animals, but said it would keep the others to “provide visitors to our parks with experiences that matter.”
But Hargrove says these beautiful sea creatures were suffering a fate similar to “solitary confinement”.
Speaking in the documentary, the 49-year-old said: “The physical and psychological damage suffered by human prisoners in solitary confinement is well documented.
“Orcas at amusement parks such as SeaWorld suffer the same fate.
“I can tell you from my 14 years of experience that I have personally seen killer whales – as well as other dolphins and marine animals – go through the same physical and psychological trauma.
“Imagine spending your whole life locked in a small enclosure.”
He also urged visitors to stop visiting to save the animals as their money was contributing to the problem.
He said: ‘Many visitors – unaware that their money is paying for this cruelty to continue – are tourists who come to SeaWorld as part of their package vacation.
He claimed that Tilikum, the orca who killed his colleague Dawn Brancheau in 2010, “wasn’t the bad guy”.
He said: “He’s not the bad guy in this story. He’s also not the only orca at SeaWorld to kill a trainer.
“We have had countless serious injuries and near-deaths over my career from many different orcas.
“Lockdown not only leads to chronic health problems, but also extreme stress that leads to violent behavior and fatal attacks.”
According to Hargrove, more than 40 killer whales and 400 dolphins and whales have died at SeaWorld.
He said they would die of pneumonia, infections, traumatic injuries, encephalitis, heart failure, intestinal gangrene and “other ailments caused by extreme confinement”.
He also said the creatures often broke their teeth chewing on concrete in their enclosures and banged their heads against the walls of their water cages.
KANDU ATTACKS
SeaWorld says it drastically changed its practices after an orca named Kandu 5 attacked five trainers.
A SeaWorld spokesperson previously said: “Trainers have not trained in the water or performed with killer whales at SeaWorld since 2010.
“There have been no incidents as described in this article since these changes were made over a decade ago.
“Our hundreds of veterinarians and care specialists provide world-class medical care.
“None of the killer whales in our care live solitary lives and they participate in positive reinforcement sessions daily, engaging in a range of different activities to ensure they receive plenty of physical and mental exercise.
“Additionally, the study of orcas in our care by our scientists and third-party organizations has directly informed global knowledge and the ability to protect whales in the wild.”
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Now animal rights group PETA is urging vacationers to boycott vacations at Florida’s famous theme park.
Tripadvisor, Virgin Holidays and British Airways Holidays already prohibit such promotions.
SeaWorld says it has radically changed its practices and the types of incidents that have happened in the past may never happen again.
A SeaWorld spokesperson previously said: “Trainers have not trained in the water or performed with killer whales at SeaWorld since 2010.
“There have been no incidents as described in this article since these changes were made over a decade ago.
“Our hundreds of veterinarians and care specialists provide world-class medical care.
“None of the killer whales in our care live solitary lives and they participate in positive reinforcement sessions daily, engaging in a range of different activities to ensure they receive plenty of physical and mental exercise.
“Additionally, the study of orcas in our care by our scientists and third-party organizations has directly informed global knowledge and the ability to protect whales in the wild.”
On its website, SeaWorld says, “Now SeaWorld invites you to connect in an inspiring new way with the ocean’s most powerful predator.
“Learn about the importance of play to orcas and dive deeper into their masterful hunting techniques. Learn about SeaWorld’s commitment to the killer whales in our care.”
