SeaWorld Theme Park Under Fire After Tragic Death, “Shame on You!”
For years, SeaWorld has struggled to shake its most enduring controversy. The marine park chain became a global lightning rod in 2013 with the release of Blackfish, a documentary exposing the harsh reality of orca captivity.
The film centered on Tilikum, a killer whale involved in multiple deaths, including that of SeaWorld Orlando trainer Dawn Brancheau. Public backlash was swift, fueling protests, celebrity activism, and a sharp decline in attendance at the company’s three U.S. parks.
SeaWorld responded by ending its orca breeding program and replacing its splashy, theatrical whale shows with educational presentations. The company also doubled down on thrill rides, seemingly pivoting toward theme park experiences that didn’t hinge on live animal entertainment. Despite these moves, criticism has never fully disappeared, with activists continuing to scrutinize the treatment of marine life at its parks. That scrutiny has ramped up yet again following a recent death at SeaWorld San Antonio.
Death at SeaWorld Sparks Backlash
The latest controversy surrounds the passing of Notchfin, a 63-year-old bottlenose dolphin and one of SeaWorld San Antonio’s original residents. The park announced her death on March 12, describing her as a “founding member” of its dolphin community. Her lifespan far exceeded the average for captive dolphins, which typically ranges from 28 to 29 years, aligning more with the life expectancy of their wild counterparts.
“Her long life was a testament to the expert care she received at SeaWorld and the deep bonds she formed with those around her,” the park stated. “A founding member of SeaWorld San Antonio since its opening in 1988, Notchfin shaped the social fabric of our dolphin community as a mother, grandmother, and great-great-grandmother. Her gentle nature and deep bonds with both her pod and our animal care team made her truly special.”
While her passing was not entirely unexpected, the park emphasized the impact she had on SeaWorld’s understanding of dolphin health and conservation efforts. “Her loss is deeply felt,” the statement continued. “Rest in peace, Notchfin. You will always be remembered.”
PETA Slams Notchfin’s Life in Captivity
Animal rights group PETA wasted no time in condemning Notchfin’s decades in captivity. “Rest easy, Notchfin,” the group posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Notchfin should’ve been swimming free in her ocean home, NOT wasting away for 50 YEARS in SeaWorld’s shallow pools. Shame on you, @SeaWorldTexas, for imprisoning majestic animals!”
Rest easy, Notchfin 😢🫶
Notchfin should’ve been swimming free in her ocean home, NOT wasting away for 50 YEARS in SeaWorld’s shallow pools 😔
Shame on you, @SeaWorldTexas, for imprisoning majestic animals! pic.twitter.com/tp0V4ujMY6
— PETA (@peta) March 18, 2025
The organization has repeatedly clashed with SeaWorld over animal deaths. In early 2024, SeaWorld San Antonio revealed that a newborn Pacific white-sided dolphin calf—born to a dolphin named Piquet—had died despite round-the-clock care. PETA’s executive vice president, Tracy Reiman, condemned the park, blaming the facility for yet another loss.
“With this baby’s death, SeaWorld has added one more extinguished life to its tally of more than 500 dolphins and whales who have died, many prematurely, deprived of any opportunity to dive deep, swim free in the ocean, or see anything outside the dismal concrete prison cells they’re confined to,” she said.
The group has consistently called on SeaWorld to shut down its breeding program and transfer its dolphins to ocean sanctuaries. Similar appeals were made in 2022 after the death of Helen, a 33-year-old disabled Pacific white-sided dolphin at SeaWorld San Antonio. Helen had been transferred there from Vancouver Aquarium in 2021, years after being rescued off the coast of Japan in 1996.
Should dolphins and whales still be held in theme parks, or is it time for change?
