SeaWorld to end killer whale program

The current generation of orcas at SeaWorld will be the last, according to a statement made by the embattled company on Thursday. "SeaWorld has been listening and we're changing. Society is changing and we're changing with it," the statement said.

SeaWorld faced harsh criticism for its killer whale program following the 2013 documentary Blackfish. The film featured the whale Tilikum, who was involved in the deaths of three people. Recently, Tilikum has reportedly fallen ill and is likely dying.

SeaWorld said that all the orcas currently living at SeaWorld will continue to do so, "inspiring guests in new and natural ways." While SeaWorld hasn't captured a whale from the wild in nearly 40 years, the announcement effectively brings an end to their captive whale breeding program. Going forward, SeaWorld will introduce "natural orca encounters" to replace its popular orca shows.

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"Customers visit our marine parks, in part, to watch orcas," SeaWorld's president and CEO Joel Manby told The Los Angeles Times. "But a growing number of people don't think orcas belong in human care."