Hold SeaWorld Orlando Accountable for Neglect

In October 2022, a dolphin named Rascal was found at SeaWorld Orlando in a dire state, covered in both superficial and deep cuts and scratches, barely able to lift his tail. His wounds were inflicted by other dolphins kept in the same tiny enclosure, driven to aggression by the extreme stress of captivity. Rather than separating Rascal for his safety, SeaWorld Orlando gave him pain medication and left him to suffer.

Marine mammals endure profound suffering in captivity. In the wild, dolphins and orcas live in vast ranges and complex social groups. In tanks, they are deprived of space, stimulation, and community, often leading to psychological distress, aggression, and injuries like Rascal’s. SeaWorld Orlando’s track record of mistreatment is well documented, most famously in the film Blackfish, which exposed the lifelong abuse of Tilikum the orca.

In December 2022, USDA inspectors cited SeaWorld Orlando for Rascal’s injuries and dangerously high chlorine levels in the water. They also requested additional records, including medical data and daily logs. SeaWorld refused to provide the information—a major violation that resulted in an official USDA warning.

By law, the USDA should not have renewed SeaWorld Orlando’s Animal Exhibitor License after these violations. Instead, the agency looked the other way, even scrubbing records of noncompliance to protect SeaWorld’s profits at the expense of animal welfare. This failure allowed SeaWorld to continue exploiting marine mammals without accountability.

Take Action Now

SeaWorld Orlando has shown again and again that it cannot be trusted with the care of marine mammals. Please join Species Unite in urging the USDA to revoke its Animal Exhibitor License. Doing so would not only protect the animals still held at SeaWorld Orlando, but also send a clear message to the industry: cruelty and neglect will have real consequences.