SeaWorld hails judge’s rejection of ‘publicity stunt’ by PETA group

Orca whales are not plaintiffs and will not have a day in court, according to a fresh legal ruling. Last week, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) that claimed SeaWorld’s killer whales were being held in captivity as slaves, alleging a violation of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which outlaws slavery and involuntary servitude except as a punishment for the conviction of a crime. “The speed in which the court issued its opinion provides reassurance of the sanctity of the 13th Amendment and the absurdity of PETA’s baseless lawsuit,” said SeaWorld San Diego officials in a written statement following the ruling. “We cannot hope that this is PETA’s last publicity stunt, but we can now refocus our energy in more positive and constructive ways: delivering high-quality educational experiences to our guests and providing the highest possible standard of care to our animals.” U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Miller dismissed the lawsuit after hearing arguments about the case’s merit. He ruled that the 13th Amendment applies only to humans. The case “will now stand as the case that future generations will look back on as the one that broke legal ground for animals,” Jennifer O’Connor wrote on PETA’s official blog following the ruling. “There is no question that SeaWorld enslaves animals, even though the judge in this case didn’t see the 13th Amendment as the remedy to that. Women, children, and racial and ethnic minorities were once denied fundamental constitutional rights that are now self-evident, and that day will certainly come for the orcas and all the other animals enslaved for human amusement.” The lawsuit was filed in October by PETA, two former SeaWorld trainers and orca experts. Named as plaintiffs in the suit were three orcas at SeaWorld San Diego: Corky, Kasatka and Ulises; and two in Orlando: Tilikum and Katina. “The welfare of our whales is enshrined in numerous federal and state laws, including the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Animal Welfare Act,” reads the statement by SeaWorld San Diego officials. “We meet or exceed all regulatory standards established under these laws and fully support the protections they offer to the animals in our care,” the statement continued. “The quality of care of our animals is further assured by the accreditation process of two professional zoological organizations.” PETA has yet to appeal the ruling.