SeaWorld is not what people think it is. It isn't an educational safe place for animals to be or a fun happy place to be, at least that's what humans think SeaWorld is. The animals do not have any fun there. Before I get into more, I would like to tell you the story of Tilikum, or "Tilly" for short, an orca who died long before his time.

Tilikum was born in November 1981. He was free for his first full year of life. He was free until November 1983, when he was captured in Iceland. After a year in a cooped up zoo tank, Tilly was transferred to Sealand of the Pacific, a now closed Canadian marine park in 1984. In February 1991, he killed one of his trainers after she fell in the pool. Less than a year later, Tilly was transferred to SeaWorld Orlando in Florida on January 9th, 1992. Sealand was shut down soon after. In the years 1999 and 2010, Tilly killed 2 more people. He was so stressed out and he saw them as a danger. Who wouldn't see people staring at you and forcing themselves into your prison a threat? Tilly was forced to perform for others, something that isn't and shouldn't be considered natural for orcas to do. In 2011, he went back to performing. He had been forced to perform more and more. Despite the deaths he caused due to him seeing the humans as a threat, SeaWorld refused to release him. Tilly had been forced to breed 21 times. He was seen as a sperm bank and an entertainment figure. He wasn't seen as someone with feelings and a life. In March of 2016, Tilikum's health was declining. SeaWorld stated that it was due to some infection. In my mind, that isn't the case. Tilly's health was deteriorating because he was stressed out and scared. He was biting on the bars and parts of the tank. He wanted to escape. Nobody listened to his cries for help. Less than a year after this announcement was made, Tilikum is dead. SeaWorld says it was an infection, the excuse they made in 2016. SeaWorld killed him. They failed him. Tilly died before the age of 36, the age he should have turned in November. Orcas can live up to 100 or more. Tilly died many decades before his time. Tilly died because his heart was stressed out and he couldn't deal with more pain. My theory is he died from a stress induced heart attack. The good news here is Tilly is free in the oceans in the sky. The bad news is all of the other SeaWorld animals are still trapped. These animals should be released into an animal sanctuary and supported by others and humans who aren't going to use them as an entertainment pawn, and SeaWorld should be shut down. It's sad that people actually believe what SeaWorld does is good. It's sad that they believe them on what happened to Tilly. It's sad that this animal torture palace remains open. It is too late to save Tilly, but it's not too late to save the other animals trapped in SeaWorld's prison. 

Please, sign this petition. It's the only way at this point to save the other animals trapped at SeaWorld. SeaWorld should be SHUT DOWN, and the animals there should be supported by others at a seaside animal sanctuary for as long as they live. Do this in memory of Tilly and all the other animals in captivity. Sign in memory of the animals that have died of cruelty and abuse. Animals aren't entertainment pawns, they aren't an experiment. They are a SOMEONE, with FEELINGS and EMOTION. Be a voice. Pledge never to go to any place that uses animals for profit and entertainment. You are going to save a life by signing. Please sign!