[user104658]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Seems like it was alot to do with Blackfish

Yeah they've seen profits drop by bigger and bigger margins each year since it was released, and I think it just sparked a lot of activism around the subject. I'd like to think that they've had a change of heart and realised how cruel it was... however, I think it's more the case that they've had to finally conceed that people are not going to pay to see it any more and so it's just not a viable part of the business.

I doubt the whales that have been in captivity since they were young / born in captivity could survive in the wild... which is a bit concerning... I can't see them investing huge amounts on bigger habitats for them if it's only a "phasing out" process. Whales captured as adults would probably be best just released. They might not make it but I'd say a chance at freedom - if they've known freedom before - would be better than life in captivity .