Shocking scenes unfolded at SeaWorld as visitors witnessed two orcas in a violent clash, captured in a distressing video.
The footage revealed one of the orcas stranded on the edge of the enclosure while the altercation took place.
Warning: This video contains graphic images which some readers may find distressing.
The audience, including children, looked on in shock and dismay as the brutal confrontation played out. A child’s voice in the background poignantly asked, “How is the orca still alive?” followed by a confused, “I thought they help each other, not fight each other.”
An eyewitness described the disturbing event, saying one of the orcas seemed to be targeted by its companions. “We all immediately saw blood soaking the water, which triggered my nine-year-old daughter to start crying. We would see bite marks and fresh wounds all over the side of the whale,” they recounted.
“Every couple seconds, two [or] more orcas would jump out of the water to [continue] attacking the hurt orca,” the eyewitness further elaborated.
In the aftermath, PETA lodged a complaint against SeaWorld with the US Department of Agriculture, condemning the park’s treatment of these majestic creatures.
This incident came shortly after the park confirmed the death of another orca, Nakai, on August 4, 2022, due to an infection. Nakai reportedly endured bullying from two tank mates.
While it remains uncertain if Nakai was the orca in the video, PETA’s Executive Vice President, Tracy Reiman, expressed grave concerns: “In two days, one orca has died and another has been attacked by other frustrated, closely confined orcas, resulting in a serious injury. And young children were witnesses to the carnage.”
PETA highlighted the dire conditions these orcas endure in captivity, confined to small, inadequate tanks that lead to extreme stress and aggression, often causing violent encounters among incompatible animals with no escape.
Following the incident, SeaWorld attributed Nakai’s demise to an unfortunate encounter with part of the pool structure. The debate over orca captivity continues to rage, fueled by incidents like these and documentaries like “Blackfish,” which expose the grim realities faced by these animals in marine parks.
No recorded instances of wild orcas attacking humans exist, further questioning the practice of keeping them in captivity.