SEAWORLD has come under fire for refusing to hand over information on dolphin attacks within the park to federal authorities.
The Orlando, Florida park was hit with an official warning by the United States Department of Agriculture in January after failing to hand over information requested on a dolphin-on-dolphin attack.
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In a federal report, U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors said that SeaWorld unlawfully left a seriously injured dolphin named Rascal with a group of dolphins that attacked him.
After giving Rascal meds, he was left in the same pool as the group that attacked him for three days while barely able to swim, according to the report.
Once he was finally removed from the pool, Rascal was left laying outside of the pool on his side with "many deep rake marks."
When cited by the USDA, SeaWorld allegedly denied providing the federal agency with its requested information.
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Delci Winders, director of the Animal Law Program at Vermont Law School, has claimed that records of the incident "must be so bad" that SeaWorld is willing to risk blowback rather than comply with the request.
'BLATANT VIOLATION'
The USDA accused SeaWorld of breaking the law after Rascal was attacked.
In December, the federal department found that multiple October attacks left the bottlenose dolphin trembling and unable to lift his tail, according to USDA inspectors.
The report stated that veterinary notes from the month revealed that the 25-year-old bottlenose was prescribed pain medication but wasn't relocated away from the other dolphins in a timely manner.
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Even though Rascal could barely swim and was covered in abrasions, it claims the facility left him in the pool to monitor the social group's behavior.
The report notes that Rascal's dental arcade is worn away meaning he was unable to defend himself from the interactions.
A few days after the incident, SeaWorld staff put Rascal on the side of his pool while he bled from numerous areas of his body, according to USDA inspectors.
Inspectors documented "many deep rake marks" that were "warm to the touch" on his face, fins, and body.
It’s not uncommon for animals, like marine mammals, to show major signs of aggression in captivity, according to studies by the National Library of Medicine.
SeaWorld was cited by USDA inspectors for the incident, as well as for chlorine readings that exceeded the maximum level.
When the USDA requested that SeaWorld provide more information, including water quality data and specific animals’ medical records, and daily logs, the park allegedly failed to hand over the records.
The USDA gave SeaWorld another citation and issued the facility an official warning for failing to furnish the requested information.
The federal agency then proceeded to reissue SeaWorld Orlando’s animal exhibitor license — which constitutes a violation of the Animal Welfare Act.
The act stipulates that facilities may only have their license reissued if they are in full compliance with that law, says Delci Winders, director of the Animal Law Program at Vermont Law School.
SeaWorld spokesperson Ken Fields stated that the park has "exceptional animal care" and touts its certifications.
"We meet or exceed regulatory, accrediting, and industry standards," Fields told National Geographic.
"With respect to the USDA, we are and have always been licensed [and] in good standing and have a strong and important relationship with the USDA."
Andre Bell, a USDA spokesperson, told the network that the agency "takes the welfare of animals very seriously."
He noted that SeaWorld "completed all relicensing requirements, which include a relicense inspection to demonstrate full compliance with the [Animal Welfare Act] and associated regulations."
In a separate incident, a park visitor shared a video allegedly showing a dolphin-on-dolphin attack that happened in front of guests during a show.
TikTok Bryan (@the.man.child) user shared a now-viral clip of one of the horrid attacks at the park that he witnessed while visiting in November.
He captioned the clip: "A dolphin pod at SeaWorld Orlando today repeatedly attacked one of the dolphins in the pod, while the trainers were trying to do the show, causing the dolphin to start bleeding."
TikTok users took no time flooding the comments with SeaWorld criticism.
"This is why I REFUSE to go to Sea World," someone said.
"Watch Blackfish the movie….. super sad. Dolphins travel IMMENSE areas in the wild, this is not right!"
Another person added: "Whatever that Dolphin did, the lead animal did not like it and probably had the group displace the individual."
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A TikToker chimed in: "Constantly problems with their animals suffering there."
"So many in such a small space I’m not surprised," a different user expressed.
