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A pregnant killer whale at SeaWorld San Antonio has just given
birth, and as the park welcomes its new addition, it says goodbye to its
widely-criticized captive breeding program.
On April 19, SeaWorld
announced the matriarch of its orca pod, Takara, 25, welcomed her fifth calf
into the world following roughly 90 minutes of labor.
In March 2016, in
response to a heavy backlash following the 2013 documentary Blackfish, the
company announced it would phase out its killer whale shows at all U.S. marine
parks by 2019. In addition, SeaWorld said it would immediately halt its captive
breeding program.
Takara, herself born into a life of captivity at
SeaWorld San Diego in 1991, was already pregnant at the time of the
announcement.
“Although this will be the last opportunity for SeaWorld
guests to see a baby killer whale up close as it grows and matures, SeaWorld
will continue to care for the orcas at its parks for decades to come,” SeaWorld
said in a statement.
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