Some critics want us to go even further; they want us to "set free" the orcas currently in our care. But that's not a wise option. 
 
 
 
 Most of our orcas were born at SeaWorld, and those that were born in the wild have been in our parks for the majority of their lives. If we release them into the ocean, they will likely die. In fact, no orca or dolphin born under human care has ever survived release into the wild. Even the attempt to return the whale from "Free Willy," Keiko, who was born in the wild, was a failure. 
 
 
 
 For as long as they live, the orcas at SeaWorld will stay in our parks. They'll continue to receive the highest-quality care, based on the latest advances in marine veterinary medicine, science and zoological best practices. 

 SeaWorld Agrees To End Captive Breeding Of Killer Whales 
 
 Hide caption Trainers (from left) Joe Sanchez, Brian Faulkner and Kelly Aldrich work with orcas Trua (front to back), Kayla and Nalani during the "Believe" show in Shamu Stadium at the Aquatic by SeaWorld theme park in Orlando, Fla., in 2011. Previous Next Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP 
 
 Hide caption Kelly Flaherty Clark (left), director of animal training at Aquatica by SeaWorld, Orlando, and trainer Joe Sanchez work with Tilikum (left) and Trua during a training session at the theme park's Shamu Stadium in 2011. Previous Next Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP 
 
 Hide caption Orcas perform during the One Ocean show at Aquatica by SeaWorld, San Diego in 2015. Previous Next K.C. Alfred/U-T San Diego via ZUMA Wire/Corbis 
 
 Hide caption Mom and baby orcas swim together at Aquatica by SeaWorld, San Diego's Shamu Stadium in 2014. Kalia, a 10-year-old orca, gave birth to the calf under the care of SeaWorld's zoological team. Previous Next Mike Aguilera/SeaWorld San Diego via Getty Images 
 
 Hide caption Sea World trainer Michelle Shoemaker hugs Kayla as she works on a routine before a show in 2014 in Orlando, Fla. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment Inc. has faced criticism over its treatment of its captive killer whales, or orcas, since the release of the highly critical documentary, Blackfish. Previous Next John Raoux/AP 
 
 Hide caption Dawn Brancheau, a trainer at SeaWorld Adventure Park, is shown performing in 2005. Brancheau was killed in an accident with an orca at the SeaWorld Shamu Stadium in Orlando, Fla., in 2010. Previous Next Julie Fletcher/Orlando Sentinel/MCT via Getty Images 1 of 6 i View slideshow 
 
 In a major concession to critics and animal welfare groups, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment Inc. says it will stop breeding captive killer whales. 
 
 SeaWorld's treatment of its killer whales, or orcas, was put in the spotlight three years ago by Blackfish, a documentary that examined the death of SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau, who was killed by an orca named Tilikum. Since then, in a steady campaign on social media, critics have demanded SeaWorld end its orca breeding program. 
 
 In an agreement with the Humane Society of the United States, SeaWorld says it now will do so. In a news release, HSUS President and CEO Wayne Pacelle said, "Today's announcement signals that the era of captive display of orcas will end." 
 
 SeaWorld CEO, Humane Society Head Talk To NPR's Robert Siegel SeaWorld Agrees To End Captive Breeding Of Killer Whales Listen · 5:27 5:27 
 
 SeaWorld President and CEO Joel Manby said in the same news release, "As one of the largest rescue organizations in the world, we will increase our focus on rescue operations — so that the thousands of stranded marine mammals like dolphins and sea lions that cannot be released back to the wild will have a place to go." 
 
 The director of Blackfish, Gabriela Cowperthwaite, called it "a defining moment. The fact that SeaWorld is doing away with orca breeding marks truly meaningful change." 
 
 For SeaWorld, the agreement resolves an issue that has held up expansion of the company's San Diego theme park. Last year, the company announced it would phase out theatrical orca shows at SeaWorld, San Diego. 
 
 Plans for a new, expanded orca habitat were submitted for approval to a state regulatory body, the California Coastal Commission. The commission gave its approval, but only if the theme park agreed to end captive breeding of orcas. SeaWorld went to court, arguing in a lawsuit that the commission doesn't have the authority or the expertise to make such a demand. 
 
 But with today's announcement, SeaWorld is now agreeing to end captive breeding, not just in San Diego, but also at its two other SeaWorld parks, in San Antonio, Texas, and Orlando, Fla. It is a major concession that also signals a change in SeaWorld's business model. 
 
 On the company's blog, SeaWorld announced it is phasing out over the next three years theatrical performances featuring orcas. 
 
 "We will introduce new, inspiring, natural orca encounters rather than theatrical shows, as part of our ongoing commitment to education, marine science research and the rescue of marine animals." 
 
 SeaWorld has seen attendance decline at its three parks since the release of Blackfish. The company says the decline, in part, is because of the film. The stock price of the publicly traded company has dropped by more than half in the past three years. 
 
 Industry analysts say SeaWorld needs new attractions to compete with other theme parks, such as Walt Disney Parks & Resorts and Universal Studios Theme Parks. SeaWorld has several new roller coasters in the works and recently unveiled images of a new signature submarine ride it's planning in San Diego. 
 
 By ending captive breeding, SeaWorld is moving toward a future that eventually will no longer include orcas. 
 
 In what might be seen as an ironic twist, the announcement comes as SeaWorld and animal welfare activists are closely monitoring the health of Tilikum. SeaWorld says the orca appears to have a bacterial infection in its lungs that is resistant to treatment, and that its health is "deteriorating." Tilikum has been with SeaWorld for 23 years and is one of the park's most prolific breeders, siring more than 20 calves. 

 Updated: Mar 17, 2016 - 5:17 PM 
 
 ORLANDO, Fla. - Reactions have been a mixed bag, but one thing that SeaWorld’s decision to stop its killer whale breeding program has guaranteed is a very different future for its parks. 
 
 The killer whale has become synonymous with SeaWorld since the first park opened in San Diego in the 1960s. 
 
 With Thursday’s announcement of the end of the killer whale breeding program, one thing became clear: Someday living orcas will be completely absent from all SeaWorld parks. 
 
 The company had already released plans to phase out theatrical shows involving killer whales. SeaWorld San Diego led the pack, announcing it would end killer whale shows next year. 
 
 Parks in San Antonio and Orlando will follow suit in 2019, the company said. 
 
 Instead, SeaWorld will have “new, inspiring, natural orca encounters … as part of its ongoing commitment to education, marine science research, and rescue of marine animals,” SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. President and CEO Joel Manby said. 
 
 “SeaWorld has introduced more than 400 million guests to orcas, and we are proud of our part in contributing to the human understanding of these animals,” he said. “As society’s understanding of orcas continues to change, SeaWorld is changing with it. By making this the last generation of orcas in our care and reimagining how guests will encounter these beautiful animals, we are fulfilling our mission of providing visitors to our parks with experiences that matter.” 
 
 The Humane Society of the United States praised the decision. 
 
 “SeaWorld’s commitment to end breeding of orcas is a long-held goal of many animal advocacy organizations, and we commend the company for making this game-changing commitment,” said President and CEO Wayne Pacelle. “We came together because the public has really moved on, in a lot of ways, from some of the conventional practices of SeaWorld. And I think this is a monumental announcement that SeaWorld is saying it's going to end the breeding of orcas.” 
 
 Officials said the whales will be placed on birth control and have their physical interactions monitored. 
 
 SeaWorld visitor Denise Miller wasn’t sure what the lasting effect of the move would be, but she didn’t expect it to be good. 
 
 “It’s a bad situation for Florida, for the whales, tourism,” she said. “You know, people come to Florida just to see them. 
 
 “I think that’s a big loss to Florida. I think that’s very sad.” 
 
 SeaWorld’s decisions relating to killer whales can be traced back to Tilikum, a 34-year-old orca made infamous in 2013’s “Blackfish” documentary for killing one of his trainers. 
 
 The death of the trainer, Dawn Brancheau, led to the documentary film’s expose on the parks’ alleged mistreatment of killer whales. 
 
 Her death wasn’t the only thing behind the decision, but it was a large one, Manby said. 
 
 “It’s a lot of things that have happened,” he said. “That was a very horrific moment for our company. Dawn’s death is something none of us will ever get over.” 
 
 One Orlando resident and frequent SeaWorld visitor, Brandon Anderson, lauded SeaWorld’s announcement, saying the company did well to address the public’s concerns. 
 
 “For SeaWorld to step up to the plate and recognize this, say, ‘Hey, this is something we need to address,’ certainly big props to them,” he said. 
 
 The 29 killer whales now living in SeaWorld parks, along with one waiting to be born, would not be able to survive in the wild so they will not be released, Manby said. 
 
 They will live the rest of their lives at the parks, but will no longer perform for the public after 2019. 
 
 “SeaWorld has introduced more than 400 million guests to orcas, and we are proud of our part in contributing to the human understanding of these animals,” Manby said. “As society’s understanding of orcas continues to change, SeaWorld is changing with it. By making this the last generation of orcas in our care and reimagining how guests will encounter these beautiful animals, we are fulfilling our mission of providing visitors to our parks with experiences that matter.” 
 
 © 2017 Cox Media Group.
– Months after the California Coastal Commission imposed a breeding ban on its San Diego park, SeaWorld says it will end its orca breeding program for good. Breeding will end at all three US parks this year, meaning the killer whales now in captivity will be "the last generation," SeaWorld CEO Joel Manby writes in the Los Angeles Times. The orcas, which have spent all or most of their lives under human care, won't be released into the wild because they "could not survive," Manby says, per WFTV. He adds SeaWorld will continue to be home to "stranded marine mammals like dolphins and sea lions that cannot be released back to the wild." SeaWorld parks will also have "new, inspiring, natural orca encounters, rather than theatrical shows" by 2019. "Today's announcement signals that the era of captive display of orcas will end," a rep for the US Humane Society tells NPR. "We commend the company for making this game-changing commitment." SeaWorld says it has partnered with the Humane Society to protect oceans and ocean species and will spend $50 million over the next five years to put an end to commercial whaling, shark finning, seal hunts, and ocean pollution. "The real enemies of wildlife are poaching, pollution, unsustainable human development, and man-made disasters such as oil spills—not zoos and aquariums," Manby writes. The director of Blackfish says this is "a defining moment. The fact that SeaWorld is doing away with orca breeding marks truly meaningful change."