Katina was just a baby when she was ripped from her ocean home off the coast of Iceland. For nearly 50 years, she lived in captivity—confined to a concrete tank at SeaWorld Orlando, forced to perform, and used repeatedly for breeding. In December 2025, Katina died. She became the 46th orca to die under SeaWorld’s watch.

Her death should be a wake-up call.

Katina’s life was marked by trauma: separation from her family, dangerous tank conditions, and a serious dorsal fin injury that never healed. Four of the seven calves she was forced to birth died before her. Her body was used. Her needs were ignored. And in the end, SeaWorld denied her even the dignity of living out her final years in a natural sanctuary.

Now, other orcas remain trapped—isolated, stressed, and circling endlessly in artificial tanks that can never replace the ocean.

We cannot let another orca die in captivity when a better option exists.

We, the undersigned, call on SeaWorld Orlando and its parent company to immediately commit to releasing the remaining orcas to accredited seaside sanctuaries. These facilities offer orcas space to swim, natural stimulation, and the chance to live out their lives in peace—not in forced performances for profit.

We also urge the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Governor Ron DeSantis to use their authority to investigate and halt practices that subject intelligent, social marine mammals to long-term suffering. Florida should not be the face of marine mammal misery. It should lead the way in creating a more ethical future.

Don’t let another orca die in a tank.