Camel Stampedes, Dangerous Petting Zoos, and More: Why Not to Visit These Six ‘Abusement’ Parks

Instead of sticking to high-tech, lifelike animatronics, immersive holograms, or virtual reality motion simulators, these “abusement” parks force animals into unnatural and dangerous situations for “entertainment.” From escaped camels to orcas confined to tiny tanks, amusement parks like Cedar Point, SeaWorld, and others are putting both animals and visitors at risk.

6 Amusement Parks to Avoid Because They Exploit Animals

1. Cedar Point

Families expect thrills when they visit Cedar Point in Ohio, but not the kind that sends them running for their lives. That’s exactly what happened when two camels, Sampson and Artie, escaped from the park’s petting zoo and galloped down the midway, panicking guests.

Just days later, more animals were on the loose! A herd of goats escaped their enclosure, became frightened, and fled through the park. Cedar Point didn’t learn that animals don’t want to be penned up for entertainment from these incidents, and less than a year later, three llamas escaped from the same petting zoo.

Noisy crowds, forced “petting” attractions, and the roar of roller coasters are frightening for animals. Their physical and mental health often suffers due to the stressful environments they’re forced to live in. These incidents of animals escaping the petting zoo highlight a disturbing lack of oversight and concern for both public and animal safety at Cedar Point. Cedar Point—and all amusement parks—should stick to roller coasters, not exploiting animals.

2. SeaWorld

SeaWorld forces orcas to live in cramped, shallow tanks—far from the vast oceans they’re meant to explore. In nature, these intelligent beings swim up to 150 miles daily with their families. In marine parks, they can only float or swim in endless circles.

More than 40 orcas and over 500 other dolphins and whales have died in SeaWorld’s tanks—many prematurely. Corky, the longest-held captive orca in the world, has been imprisoned since 1969. While her family pod still lives freely off the coast of British Columbia, SeaWorld has confined Corky to a barren concrete tank since 1987, robbed of everything that makes her life worth living.

Every purchase of a SeaWorld ticket—whether it’s to see the animals or just for the rides—funds animals’ suffering. Until SeaWorld exclusively has non-animal rides and entertainment, please never visit the “abusement” park.

3. Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

In a significant victory for animals, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in California stopped offering elephant rides after conversations with PETA. For years, the park partnered with Have Trunk Will Travel, a company whose handlers were caught on video beating elephants with bullhooks and shocking them with electric prods.

The end of elephant rides at Discovery Kingdom marks a step in the right direction. However, the park still exhibits dozens of big cats, birds, and reptiles and offers dangerous hands-on interactions between guests and dolphins, giraffes, and other animals. All of these animals live in misery, forced into stressful encounters day after day, long after travelers return home with their photos and memories.

4. Six Flags Great Adventure

Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey allegedly operated without the proper permits for trading exotic animals, and bought many exotic animals anyway. In 2018, PETA submitted formal comments to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service urging the agency to deny Six Flags Great Adventure’s request for a captive-bred wildlife registration.

Six Flags Great Adventure’s application materials for its long-expired permits revealed that the park obtained several Endangered Species Act–protected animals from shady roadside zoos over the years, and that 15 of the 20 red lechwes at the park had died. Plus, because the park didn’t have the requisite permits, the transfers were illegal.

In late 2021, the government denied Six Flags Great Adventure’s renewal application due to evidence that it likely broke federal law by buying and selling animals without proper permits and concerns over animals’ care. The park may also be facing a federal criminal investigation for violations of the Endangered Species Act.

5. Kings Dominion

Kings Dominion in Virginia features seasonal petting zoos. Being surrounded by thundering roller coasters and forced to interact with crowds of people all day long is stressful and scary for animals used in the Kings Dominion petting zoos. Kids poke and grab at animals who have no say in the hours they’re put on display.

Petting zoos are also hotbeds of E. coli bacteria, and numerous children have been infected with the potentially deadly bug after visiting such displays. Infections can spread through direct animal contact or mere touching of the surroundings near an animal exhibit.

6. Universal Studios Orlando

Universal Studios Orlando still forces animals—including dogs, birds, and other species—to perform tricks in front of crowds. Animals forced to perform at the park are subjected to noisy, high-stress environments and are treated like props, not the individuals they are.

In early 2023, Universal Studios Hollywood ended its cruel “Animal Actors” show. A PETA investigation into the “Animal Actors” show’s supplier, Birds and Animals Unlimited (BAU), gave the public a glimpse into the suffering inflicted on animals in the entertainment industry, and the closure of the attraction reflects that audiences no longer find the use of live animals in shows acceptable or entertaining.

PETA’s undercover investigation into Atlanta Film Animals (AFA)—a branch of BAU—revealed that workers warehoused dogs in cold, barren kennels; denied cats and other animals food to make them easier to train; and deprived sick pigs of veterinary care. Many animals at AFA were reportedly “retired” from use in productions, which often meant constant confinement and inadequate care.

Elderly pigs Herbie and Fiona were “retired” from a Universal Studios theme park live-action show. Management denied Herbie veterinary care for a facial abscess that oozed white discharge, claiming that they couldn’t “do anything for” him because pigs are “farm animals.” A supervisor said that she “popped” the abscess instead. Herbie and Fiona limped on untrimmed, overgrown hooves.

PETA hopes the Orlando location will follow Universal Studios Hollywood’s example and end its animal-exploiting shows soon. To help animals forced into the entertainment industry like those used in the “Animal Actors” attraction, never attend a show that uses live animals.

What You Can Do to Help End Animal Exploitation at Theme Parks

Following pressure from PETA and Utah Animal Rights Coalition, Lagoon Amusement Park in Utah set a positive example by phasing out its wild animal exhibits and relocating the animals it once held in small, bleak pens. The park’s decision—and the PETA supporters who sent 100,000 emails—reflects the growing public sentiment that animals are not performers or props. Theme parks should be about thrilling rides and family fun, not exploiting animals for profit. Drive past theme parks and roadside zoos that put animals at risk, and check out an animal-free amusement park instead.

PETA is urging Cedar Point, SeaWorld, and other parks to end their use of animals and focus on animal-free attractions instead. You can help by speaking out.

Send Me a Vegan Starter Kit

Order Your FREE Vegan Starter Kit

Send Me a Vegan Starter Kit