SeaWorld was originally supposed to be an underwater restaurant but the concept grew into a marine zoological park on twenty one acres off the shore of Mission Bay in San Diego. In 1964, the gates of SeaWorld open for the very first time. SeaWorld was founded by George Millay, Milt Shedd, and Davis DeMott. The initial investment of SeaWorld was $1.5 million, 45 employees, several dolphins, sea lions, and two saltwater aquariums. Although SeaWorld opened with dolphins and sea lions, the killer whale became its icon. As of today there are 3 SeaWorld parks, the original in San Diego, California, another in Orlando, Florida, and a third in San Antonio, Texas. The Discovery Cove in Orlando provides guests the option of swimming with dolphins
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SeaWorld claims that it is perfectly natural for all orcas, however, collapsed dorsal fins are rarely ever seen in the wild and are considered a sign of an injured or unhealthy orca. A male killer whales could have a dorsal fin as tall as 6 feet. In order for the dorsal fin to remain straight, water provides pressure which keeps the tissues inside healthy and straight. In captivity, all male orcas have collapsed dorsal fins as adults. Collapsed dorsal fins in captivity can because of how often the orca spend at the water surface and swimming in the same direction due to a small living space. Without space to swim freely, the dorsal fin gets less of a workout which weakens the tissue and causes a bent on the fin. Collapsed dorsal fins happens in less than 1 percent of orcas in their natural habitat. Not only are the animals not cared for properly, they are also confined in such small living quarters. At SeaWorld, male orcas average to be about 22 feet long and females about 18 feet long. The tank size restricts the orca from swimming freely and is compared to a human in a bathtub. Orcas often lie listlessly because of the cruel confinement they live in unlike in the wild where they would be in motion constantly. In the wild orcas often swim about 100 miles a day and dive up to 1,000 feet, in order to reach the same distance an orca would have to swim around the main pool at
SeaWorld claims that it is perfectly natural for all orcas, however, collapsed dorsal fins are rarely ever seen in the wild and are considered a sign of an injured or unhealthy orca. A male killer whales could have a dorsal fin as tall as 6 feet. In order for the dorsal fin to remain straight, water provides pressure which keeps the tissues inside healthy and straight. In captivity, all male orcas have collapsed dorsal fins as adults. Collapsed dorsal fins in captivity can because of how often the orca spend at the water surface and swimming in the same direction due to a small living space. Without space to swim freely, the dorsal fin gets less of a workout which weakens the tissue and causes a bent on the fin. Collapsed dorsal fins happens in less than 1 percent of orcas in their natural habitat. Not only are the animals not cared for properly, they are also confined in such small living quarters. At SeaWorld, male orcas average to be about 22 feet long and females about 18 feet long. The tank size restricts the orca from swimming freely and is compared to a human in a bathtub. Orcas often lie listlessly because of the cruel confinement they live in unlike in the wild where they would be in motion constantly. In the wild orcas often swim about 100 miles a day and dive up to 1,000 feet, in order to reach the same distance an orca would have to swim around the main pool at