Thomas Cook claims (Worcester News, October 14) that SeaWorld has passed its animal welfare audit, but it is well known that SeaWorld has seen several human as well as animal deaths in recent years.
Driving huge animals like orcas mad by keeping them in tanks the human equivalent of which would be living in a bathtub, should not then surprise us when they retaliate at some point and cause human injuries and deaths.
It is estimated that the natural lifespan of orcas is around 100 years. Their average lifespan at SeaWorld is 13, often in less than good health. I think that says all we need to know about the welfare standards at SeaWorld or indeed any other marine park.
It is impossible to have any welfare standards when animals who would naturally travel 100s of miles can only go a few yards in any direction.
On top of that, while in their natural habitat they live in family pods, in SeaWorld they are confined with other animals that they have no attachment to which can lead to fighting and injuries.
They are the same species so they ought to get on? You only have to look at our species to see the flaw in that theory.
SeaWorld claims "caring for" marine mammals.
Making them do tricks for our entertainment = caring for? I don't think so.
We need to put ourselves in the captive orcas' place. Is that how we would want to live?
Roberta Balfour
Malvern
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