California banning Orca's in SeaWorld

       California state legislator is presenting the action to forbid the captivity of Orca whales for the publics amusement at SeaWorld. The proposal of the ban came after the release of the documentary "Blackfish" - which presented the horrible treatment of the whales at SeaWorld.

"This is about greed and this is about corporate exploitation, both of the whales and the trainers, but most importantly the whales," said John Hargrove, a former SeaWorld orca trainer. CNN

          The documentary discussed how trainers will use food to bribe and punish the whales. For example, if one whale does not perform up to standards, they will not feed the entire group. Many times in the morning, the whale who did not perform would be covered in wounds from the other whales. The trainers purposely turn the whales against each other as a form of punishment. In addition, the documentary discusses the concerning dilemma of baby Orcas taken away from their mothers. Many of the infants are sold to other parks and removed from the mothers care immediately, which causes distress of the elder Orcas. The documentary also discusses the tragic death of Dawn Brancheau while performing with the orca whale Tilikum.

"After the tragic death of SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau, the public has begun to question the moral justification of keeping orcas in captivity for our general entertainment," Assembly man Richard Bloom stated

        When the law passes it would terminate amusement performances for all killer whales in California, plans to breed orcas while in captivity and the selling and trading of orca whales within California state. In addition to these rules, the law would free the remaining orcas that are currently in captivity. Many of the whales would stay in larger enclosures, but would not perform. 

     "It is time that we embrace that the long-accepted practice of keeping orcas captive for human                                       amusement must end,"- Assembly man Richard Bloom CNN