PETA Statement: Injured Orca’s Life Depends on Wound Healing

For Immediate Release:
April 2, 2018

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Below, please find a statement from PETA Foundation Supervising Veterinarian Dr. Heather Rally in response to reports that the matriarch orca Katina’s fin was seriously injured earlier this month by other orcas:

SeaWorld conveniently claims to keep orcas in cohesive family pods, but in reality, this matriarch orca is held in a tiny concrete tank with five other orcas—only three of whom are related to her—and suffered immensely when a large chunk of her dorsal fin was ripped out. While aggression is rarely seen among family units in the wild, traumatic wounds such as Katina’s are an all-too-common consequence when complex wild animals are forced to live in unnatural, incompatible groups inside small tanks. As her life depends on whether or not this serious wound heals, PETA is once again calling on SeaWorld to send the orcas to seaside sanctuaries, where they may live safer, more natural lives.

PETA is filing a complaint today with the U.S. Department of Agriculture asking it to investigate for possible violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act, and members will protest at SeaWorld Orlando tomorrow at 12 noon.

PETA’s motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment,” and more information is available at SeaWorldOfHurt.com.