Badass actor and Jessica Jones star Krysten Ritter is back to speak up for orcas and marine animals held captive by SeaWorld. In her new ad and video campaign for peta2, Krysten tells everyone why living in tanks at SeaWorld is “against every natural instinct that orcas have.” She joins many other celebs, including Jason Biggs, Harry Styles, Maisie Williams, and Pretty Little Liars’ star Holly Marie Combs, in speaking up for the animals SeaWorld forces to live and die in captivity.
“[I]t’s time to empty the tanks.”
Watch as Krysten explains why orcas should be released to seaside sanctuaries:
And in case you need more reasons why living at SeaWorld sux for orcas and other animals, check these out:
Bullying and Fighting
There’s nothing normal about bullying, unless you’re at SeaWorld. At that marine park, fights and bullying are common among various species of animals. Aggression is caused by the stress that whales and dolphins experience when living in unnaturally confined environments. Attacks can result in painful serious injuries. Not cool, SeaWorld.
Unhealthy Marine Animals
Think about it: At SeaWorld, animals are held captive and deprived of everything that’s natural and important to them. So captivity-related health problems, including blindness, skin conditions, and depressed immune systems, are super-common. There’s nothing healthy about holding wild animals in captivity.
Orca Research Trust
Separation From Their Families
Orcas at SeaWorld miss out on the chance to spend their lives with their families. Dolphins, belugas, and other types of whales are incredibly extremely social animals and usually live with their families for their entire lives—but not at SeaWorld.
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Psychological Stress
No surprise here—life in captivity, being forced to perform unnatural tricks, swimming in endless circles, and being separated from their families are endless sources of stress for orcas. At SeaWorld, animals have been known to exhibit abnormal behavior like floating motionless or repeatedly swallowing and regurgitating food. Let’s be real—there is nothing entertaining about that.
No Space for Exercise
As Krysten says, for orcas, living in tanks at SeaWorld is “the equivalent of a human living their life in a bathtub—um, wtf?! Each day, orcas would have to swim back and forth 3,100 times in the tanks to get the same amount of exercise that they would in the wild.
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So what can we do to help animals held captive by SeaWorld?
While the company has ended its gross orca-breeding program, it simply isn’t enough. Share Krysten’s video and spread the word that it’s time for SeaWorld to send orcas to seaside sanctuaries.
