[Smithy]

theme park operator SeaWorld says it is ending its controversial orca breeding programme.

The decision means the orca whales currently at the parks will be "the last generation", the company said.

SeaWorld, which has 12 parks across the US, has faced heavy criticism over the alleged poor treatment of its captive orcas, also known as killer whales.

The company said the orcas would be likely to die if it released them into the wild.
"For as long as they live, the orcas at SeaWorld will stay in our parks," the company said in a Los Angeles Times op-ed.

SeaWorld has previously announced that it will phase out live orca shows.
Dramatic displays by the whales are the centrepiece of three parks operated by SeaWorld, in California, Florida and Texas.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-c...e=news_central

Great news