BREAKING: What This Veterinarian Found at SeaWorld Orlando
SeaWorld Orlando is responsible for 19 orca deaths, and they aren’t the only animals who have died prematurely there. Recently, a beluga whale named Nanuq died from an infection, and less than two weeks later, another life was lost, this time a bottlenose dolphin‘s. In response, veterinarian Dr. Heather Rally traveled to Orlando to determine the health of animals confined at SeaWorld. Her findings were as follows:
Dr. Rally found that all of the orcas in “The Shamu Show: One Ocean,” including the youngest, had signs of advanced dental disease.
“Drilled and exposed pulp cavities of the first 5 mandibular teeth on the left side from dental disease and/or trauma.” – Dr. Heather Rally
Bored and frustrated orcas often bite the gates and the sides of the tanks, which can cause broken and worn teeth. Fractured teeth can easily develop infections.
“All of the whales in the show, including the youngest, had signs of advanced dental trauma, including abnormal wear and tear, some missing teeth, and others that appeared to have had the pulp cavities drilled prevent infection and potential sepsis.” – Dr. Heather Rally
Dr. Rally observed rake marks on a number of orcas and dolphins. Rake marks are injuries on an animal’s skin that are inflicted by the teeth of another animal during an aggressive attack. With no place for subordinate animals to escape, these attacks can result in painful and serious injuries.
Most captive orcas at SeaWorld have collapsed dorsal fins. According to Dr. Rally this is likely because they are confined to tiny tanks and are unable to swim vast distances as they would in the wild. Collapsed dorsal fins are uncommon in the wild.
Dr. Rally observed an orca who was being housed in isolation at the underwater viewing area at Shamu Stadium. A staff member informed Dr. Rally that his name is Trua.
Trua was only 4 years old when he was torn away from his mother, Takara, who was sent to San Antonio. A trainer who worked with Takara said of the separation of Takara and her calves, “I can tell you without a doubt that her spirit was broken.”
Orcas in the wild live in pods, which are bonded groups of up to 30 orcas—including mothers and their offspring—who often travel together for their entire lives. At SeaWorld, many calves are taken away from their mothers, and this can cause significant social and psychological problems for the rest of their lives.
Among the dolphins, there appeared to Dr. Rally to be a higher number of animals showing signs of extensive skin pathology, and scarring likely caused by aggression, in comparison to dolphins exhibited in the show at Dolphin Stadium. The veterinarian thinks this could be because of the combination of stress induced-immune suppression and constant exposure to organisms found on human hands.
Dr. Rally noted that during the visit, the larger of two walruses housed together in a small enclosure spent at least 20 minutes engaging in a repetitive swimming pattern, which is likely an indicator of chronic stress, boredom, and inhibition of natural behaviors as a result of inadequate living conditions at SeaWorld. Obie, a walrus who was observed exhibiting similar behavior during a veterinarian’s visit to SeaWorld San Diego died less than a year after the visit.
Please don’t go to SeaWorld.
