Humane Society of the United States Partnership

In 2016, SeaWorld and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)  – two leading organizations in their respective fields with a shared mission of protecting animals - joined together in a partnership focused on the health of our oceans and the animals that call them home.  The partnership helps each group extend its own mission and is based on their joint interest in preserving and protecting wild animals and their delicate habitats.

For more than 50 years, SeaWorld has been one of the world’s foremost zoological organizations, inspiring guests to protect animals and the natural world through personal, interactive and informative experiences. And, with its 1,500 animal care professionals, the company provides world class and humane care for all its animals, has cared for tens of thousands of wild animals in distress and rehabilitated them, and conducted a range of educational and scientific research programs.

The HSUS is the nation’s largest and most effective animal protection and advocacy organization that is seeking a humane world for people and animals alike by driving transformational change in the U.S. and around the world. HSUS and its affiliates provide hands-on care and services to more than 150,000 animals each year.

HSUS and SeaWorld work together as advocates and educators for the ocean and its animals on:

• Fish and Marine Mammal Protection:  SeaWorld and HSUS actively partner in efforts against the commercial killing of whales, seals and other marine mammals, as well as ending shark finning. These initiatives are in addition to the rescue, research and resources SeaWorld already commits to protecting and saving marine mammals in the wild.
• Healthy Oceans:  SeaWorld and HSUS actively partner on efforts to protect coral reefs and the marine species that inhabit them from the over-exploitation of wild-caught ornamental fish.
• Sustainable Seafood:  All seafood served in the parks is sustainable and the company carries other food offerings that reflect an awareness of animal welfare, such as crate-free pork, cage-free eggs and more vegetarian options.

While the partnership with HSUS is not a financial one, SeaWorld has committed $50 million over five years to support other conservation and rescue groups, with the goal of being the world’s leading marine animal rescue organization. 

HSUS commends SeaWorld for its decision to end orca breeding.  Because SeaWorld has not collected orcas from the wild in nearly 40 years, this decision means that this is the last generation of orcas in SeaWorld’s care.  While the orcas live out their lives at SeaWorld, HSUS also commends the company for ending its theatrical performances of orcas in favor of orca encounters that highlight the whales’ natural behaviors in more natural settings.

SeaWorld and HSUS will continue to look for additional opportunities for strategic collaboration, to grow their efforts to advocate for ocean preservation and conservation, and for the humane treatment of animals.