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After reading TheirTurn’s post stating that the American Humane Association “endorses” SeaWorld’s proposal for larger orca tanks, the AHA sent a letter disputing our claim. Following is the relevant excerpt:

“We have not given a stamp of approval to any project. One of our scientists has been asked to serve on an Independent Advisory Panel with other leading experts. The panel has not yet met, and we have not provided any input or recommendations at this point.” 

TheirTurn’s original post was written in response to a news story which stated that the construction of the larger orca enclosures “will be overseen by a group of advisors that include executives from The American Humane Association.” While “overseeing” might not be an official endorsement, the participation of a “humane” organization would lend credibility to this extraordinarily misguided project. Shouldn’t the AHA, like other humane organizations, be using its influence to end – and not prolong – orca captivity?  If the AHA’s “oversight” role was misrepresented in the original news story, then the organization should say so and clearly state its position on the proposed larger tanks.

Finally, SeaWorld picked the AHA for a reason: it supports of the use of animals in entertainment.

Rendering of SeaWorld’s larger orca enclosure