14 DAY TRIAL // This past Friday, the US court of appeals in Washington, DC ruled that the country's Occupational Safety and Health Administration was right when saying that marine park SeaWorld must not allow its trainers to go into the water with or directly interact with marine mammals during performances.
This means that, despite the marine park's best efforts to overturn the Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirement and get its trainers back in the water with potentially dangerous whales, SeaWorld will have to drastically transform its shows. The Dodo reports that the entire conundrum began back in February 201, when trainer Dawn Brancheau was killed by an orca living in captivity at the Sea World park in Orlando. The trainer was dragged underwater by a whale named Tilikum and eventually drowned.
In the aftermath of this incident, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration ruled that Sea World was in violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and ordered that trainers no longer be allowed to directly interact with marine mammals.
The marine park did not take lightly to this ruling, and filed a petition asking that a federal court overturn the safety violation issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. It is this petition that the US court of appeals in Washington, DC denied this past Friday.
As was to be expected, animal rights activists and conservationists welcomed the court of appeals' decision to rule in favor of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and against SeaWorld.
What's more, they expect that, now that the court of appeals has ruled against it, the marine park will have an even more difficult time staying open and will eventually be forced to close or at least take steps towards becoming more animal-friendly.
“We hope SeaWorld uses this as an opportunity to change their business model and become a true leader in ocean education, conservation and rehabilitation. The show is over - it's time to empty the tanks!” said Candace Crespi with the Oceanic Preservation Society.
“The D.C. Circuit's decision today to the effect that SeaWorld must keep trainers out of the water signals an end to the days of trainers standing and riding on orcas for human amusement at SeaWorld,” added Jared Goodman with PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals).
For the time being, marine park SeaWorld has not yet made any comments on what its next move will be. When this happens, be sure you will learn about it here.