Another Death at SeaWorld

Ltshears / CC by 3.0

An African crowned crane died at SeaWorld San Diego last weekend after being locked in a cage that was left just inches away from a dolphin pool. According to reports, the bird rocked the cage, fell into the pool, and drowned.

An anonymous SeaWorld employee leaked the story to the news. SeaWorld officials said that the incident wasn't something that the company would normally release to the media. It makes you wonder what else they've swept under the rug.

This tragedy is the latest in a long list of suffering and death at SeaWorld. The gruesome death of trainer Dawn Brancheau at the jaws of the frustrated and angry orca, Tilly, is still fresh on everyone's mind, and countless animals have suffered and died because of Sea World's greed and incompetence. In 2008, a dolphin named Sharky died after colliding in midair with another dolphin while they were being forced to perform tricks for the public at SeaWorld's Discovery Cove. In 2005, a sea lion overheated and died while being transferred to another facility. In 2009, a dolphin named Scarlet died after her unborn calf died inside her. In 2006, Sea World was cited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture because 15 sea lions had been kept for a year in enclosures that did not meet minimum space requirements. And in 2003, SeaWorld Orlando effectively sentenced six baby sea lions to death by selling them to the Navy for use in dangerous mine-detection missions.

The list goes on.

Apparently, multiple deaths aren't enough to convince SeaWorld to stop imprisoning animals, so it's up to compassionate people to find another way to get this abusement park's attention—with our wallets. Let's urge everyone we know to say "No, tanks" to cruelty by boycotting SeaWorld.

Written by Lindsay Pollard-Post