We haven't been to SeaWorld in over a year, and we decided to check back on Katina's dorsal fin after it was damaged last year. Her fin has completely healed, although it will be permanently disfigured. (Photo by Heather Murphy/Ocean Advocate News) It was shocking to see Trua's dorsal fin today. In the past year, it has completely collapsed! He's only 13 years old. (Photo by Heather Murphy/Ocean Advocate News) In the documentary Long Gone Wild, a new set was shown an for t

After hearing about Katina's dorsal fin damage, we wanted to find out how bad it was. It was shocking to see the gaping vertical gouge in the back. I can't imagine how painful that must be for her. Of course she wasn't used in the show. SeaWorld doesn't want to have to answer to what happened. At this point, they are not saying anything. Photo by Heather Murphy/Ocean Advocate News Photo by Heather Murphy/Ocean Advocate News Photo by Heather Murphy/Ocean Advocate News Phot

We have been hearing about Malia's illness for over a month now. Ocean Advocate News went to see her on January 6, the anniversary of Tilikum's death. We were not able to get any pictures of her that day, and there was no mention of Tilikum. Today she seems to be slowly improving although you can still see the dark patches on her. She was used in the show and was seen eating well and alert (although she did wander from her trainer at one point). See below photos of her tod

It has been four months since Tilikum's passing at SeaWorld Orlando. Last Friday, April 28, SeaWorld's pilot whales were moved from Dolphin Stadium to Shamu Stadium. These pilot whales have been the subject of controversy since coming to SeaWorld. Now they occupy the middle tank where Tilikum spent most of his time at the end of his life. Photo by Heather Murphy/Ocean Advocate News The Orlando Sentinel reported: Jeansonne-Becka said the water at Shamu Stadium was temporari

Tilikum’s story has hit a nerve with people of all walks of life, all generations, all over the world. He was the prime example of what is wrong with orcas in captivity. It is difficult to put Tilikum’s death into words. I have spent a lot of time staring at the news on my screen, almost in disbelief. I grieve knowing we couldn’t do more to help him, yet I celebrate that his suffering is finally over. Click on image to play Tilikum's Last Splash - A Tribute Video and Image

“Monday left me broken, Tuesday I was through with hoping…” The lyrics from Avicii’s ‘Waiting for Love’ can be heard playing over the Orca Ocean stadium speakers at Loro Parque as a young orca bashes her head, over and over again, off the gates of her tiny tank. The song is loud to entertain the paying tourists, but it is not loud enough to drown out the sound of skull smashing off of metal or the orca’s frantic screeches. This disturbing behavior was witnessed earlier this m

It has been 12 days since SeaWorld’s announcement that Tilikum, their star killer whale, was experiencing failing health. His future looked bleak at the time of the announcement. Today Ocean Advocate News saw a very different Tilikum. While he was still being kept in the med pool he was much more active. In fact, he was more active than he has been seen in healthy times. A number of SeaWorld staff including trainers, educators and stadium workers all report that he is bei

It has been 4 days since SeaWorld announced Tilikum’s failing health, and he is still being kept in the med pool. He has been there for the last 9 days at least, mainly staring at the bars of the gate. The med pool is the under the tiny white tarp on the bottom right. Image by Heather Murphy/OceanAdvocate News This photo was taken May 2014. It is being shared here to show just how small the med pool is where Tilikum has been spending the last 9 days. Image by Heather Murph

After hearing the news of Tilikum’s illness this morning, Ocean Advocate News felt obligated to go see him, possibly for the last time, and say goodbye. On a Tuesday, the park was slow and eerily quiet. Arriving at the Dine with Shamu pool's underwater viewing, there was no sign of Tilikum which was to be expected. If he is as sick as reported, the park will keep him out of public view. In that case, the only way to see him is to hope to sneak a peak of his curved dorsal f

The numbers don't lie. SeaWorld's 2nd quarter earnings reported "an attendance decline due to the timing of Easter, record levels of rainfall in Texas and continued brand challenges in California, partially offset by improvements in demand at the Company's other park locations, including Florida." Those “brand challenges” could include the fact that just last week California Coastal Commission has stalled the vote which would allow SeaWorld to build bigger tanks in their pro