SeaWorld Reportedly Fails Thomas Cook Animal-Welfare Audit
SeaWorld has failed an animal-welfare audit carried out on behalf of Thomas Cook, according to a report in the Daily Mirror. The travel provider, which promotes itself as a leader on animal welfare, must now sever all ties with SeaWorld if it wants to retain any credibility on the issue.
It’s hardly surprising that SeaWorld, which keeps highly intelligent orcas confined to tiny concrete tanks, would fail an animal-welfare audit. In the wild, orcas live in large, complex social groups and swim up to 140 miles a day, but at SeaWorld, they’re deprived of all physical, mental, and emotional stimulation and forced to spend their days swimming in endless circles. Countless veterinarians and cetacean experts have already determined that the animals suffer in these conditions.
PETA launched a public campaign calling on Thomas Cook to stop promoting and selling tickets to SeaWorld in August 2017. Over 22,000 PETA supporters have contacted the travel provider about the issue, more than 100 regional store demonstrations have taken place, and celebrities including Paul O’Grady, Sharon Osbourne, and explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau have backed the campaign. As a result of the controversy, the company suspended its online promotions of the marine park in February and said it would await the findings of this audit before making a decision on ticket sales.
What You Can Do
Please contact Thomas Cook and urge it to end all sales of tickets to SeaWorld immediately.
