This morning Sea World CEO Joel Manby announced an end to the Orca breeding program at all of their parks. Be sure to click for the full press release above if you haven't yet. We wanted to share a few thoughts on this in addition to simply posting the press release. 

Written by Gregg Condon

As we stated in our article "It's time for SeaWorld to promote fun in their parks again" almost exactly one year ago, one of our suggestions was stopping the promotion of the breeding program. And that really is something they've done. 

If you've driven around any of the area's where their parks are and seen billboards they've pretty much been promoting the rides and not so much the Orca shows. 

But even at the time we pretty much figured the breeding programs days were numbered. It makes sense for a variety of reasons. 

I'd also like to point out and give a huge hug to all of the trainers at SeaWorld. We all owe them a HUGE debt of gratitude for the tireless hours they put in caring for these animals so that we can all have a chance to experience them in the parks. 

I've seen up close and personal how much love the park staff have for all of the animals at the park and nobody should ever try and deny the love they have for these animals. 

First off ... to "Stand with Seaworld" people: 

We've already seen a few posts this morning that the park betrayed you, took your support for granted and more. STOP IT!! 

SeaWorld isn't just about the Orcas, Standing with a company doesn't mean you agree with everything they do (although we do personally agree with this). It means supporting them, not blindly, but realizing when they are in a position they simply can't control. 

It's time to turn our attention away from the fighting and protesters and back where it belongs, on the welfare of all the animals at the parks, and the countless animals SeaWorld has a part in rescuing every year. 

Secondly ... to the "anti SeaWorld" people: 

This is not a victory for you. This is not a defeat for SeaWorld. Stop gloating like your little protests and having jackasses put signs up on freeway overpasses did anything. It didn't. It was an annoyance and took precedence over the real issue which is caring for animals.

You would continuously quote a movie that contains very little fact and for that you should be ashamed. Maybe if you would have stuck to facts, been less militant in your opposition and clearly and concisely stated your opinions this would have happened a long time ago. 

For many of you your goal was to protect the animals, for SeaWorld that IS their only goal. For PeTA, it's not their goal. So they get no credit in this. It's not deserved. 

I've seen many of you already say that you will now support SeaWorld, and for that we thank you. I hope you do realize that SeaWorld was always about caring for the animals. Had they made mistakes, sure, of course they did. Even they admitted it. 

Still, there will be those out there who won't stop until all SeaWorld parks are shut down and there's nothing we can do about that. Damn all the work they do to protect animals in the wild and that the money they make from the parks goes to support that. It's their way or nothing. 

​C'est La Vie ... 

So now that this chapter in the history of SeaWorld is done it's time to look towards the future and realize a few things. 

Orcas will not be gone tomorrow, or even 5 or 10 years from now. In fact, most of our children and for some of us, grandchildren, will still be able to see these animals in the parks in their all new larger habitats. They aren't being released into the wild, as it's been proven time and time again that they simply don't have the skills to survive. 

SeaWorld is still about protecting animals whether they be Orcas, Dolphins, Manatee, Turtles, Sharks and Penguins. That is NEVER going to change as was made perfectly clear in the release this morning. 

As we look forward to the next few years of SeaWorld attractions including Mako in a few months and the Ocean Explorer attractions next year it's important to support the park more than ever now. Not only for the future growth inside the parks, but for the future prosperity of these animals outside the parks in their natural habitat. 

​What are your thoughts on these changes to SeaWorld? Let us know in the comments below. 

​ORLANDO, Fla. (March 15, 2016) –  SeaWorld Orlando has installed the final piece of Mako’s nearly mile-long steel track – completing the footprint of what will be Orlando’s longest coaster (as well as fastest and tallest).
 
Following tradition, the 12,500-pound, final piece of track was topped with a waving American flag as it was lifted high in the air by a giant crane, and then bolted into place by workers.  The moment finished off a track that is 4,760 feet of pure thrill.
 

​When Mako – a true hypercoaster – opens this summer, it will top 200 feet high and reach speeds of 73 mph. Riders will feel weightless as they reach the top of each hill. 
 
This January, SeaWorld topped off the highest point of the coaster, with a crest that reaches 200 feet in the air.
 
For more Mako information, visit SeaWorldOrlando.com and join the conversation using #NothingFaster.