"Due to the popularity of the recent documentary Blackfish, the plight of the animals at Seaworld, particularly the orca whales, has reached a tipping point in the public consciousness. Despite this, credit card company American Express continues to support SeaWorld, the major U.S. theme park that still keeps orcas in captivity. It is unacceptable that American Express supports the suffering of these creatures for entertainment and profit, and the company needs to end its partnership with SeaWorld.
The orcas at Seaworld are confined to tanks, and forced to perform. Their lifespan in captivity is on average 9 years. Their complex social relationships are stripped from them, and they are forced to cohabitate with other whales they are not related to, often resulting in fights between the whales.
Perhaps the starkest symbol of these animals’ suffering is the collapsed dorsal fin often seen on the males in captivity. While SeaWorld says this is common, in fact it is not. It is rarely seen in the wild, and is a sign of a sick whale.
SeaWorld’s revenue in 2012 was $77.4 million, all at the expense of these animals. It’s time for it to stop. Urge American Express to join several other former SeaWorld sponsors that have already ended their partnerships with this company."
