The article of ANDA that we reproduce below proves that whales from SeaWorld , and quite possibly of all water parks, including Loro Parque in Spain, are doped with Valium and other benzodiazepines , to keep them calm, so they do not harm themselves and the keepers.

In the explanation of SeaWorld admitting the use, the park claims that the drugs are used under veterinary control, but that does not justify this use. It also admits that the same practice is used in zoos to keep animals calm, which are – of course – desperate to be kept in enforced captivity and displayed to the public.

The use of tranquilizers on animals, anyone whatsoever, should be condemned when the purpose is to keep them in captivity and forced to be exhibited to the public. We have already received chimpanzees, such as Caco, who lived at Sorocaba Zoo doped, so he could not hurt himself and endure the presence of the public who harassed him.

After subjecting him to a treatment and find him a company, far away from humans whom he does not know, Caco is healed and never had to be drugged anymore, as he used to be in the zoo –  and how the water parks do with their whales. Now, more than ever, the public attending such views should refuse to visit these parks, which are true centers of torture of defenseless animals .

“SEAWORLD ADMITS TO DRUG ITS WHALES”

After months of controversial information leaked about SeaWorld and the treatment of their orcas, a document obtained by Buzzfeed now reveals that the park prescribes psychoactive drugs in some of its animals.

Benzodiazepine, a drug that includes components of Xanax and Valium, is used to prevent the orcas to act in an aggressive manner with the others, attitude that results from a life of imprisonment. SeaWorld critics say that the mental problems that the orcas suffer from are directly related to how they are treated in captivity. This means that these drugs are used to treat a condition that is caused by captivity and the stress caused by being deprived of its wild state.

Blackfish documentary, which was released last year, exposed the horrific ways that these mammals are kept at SeaWorld. Since then, there have been several petitions against the park asking it to liberate these animals.

Moreover, this is not the first time the company has been accused of administering medicines in cetaceans. The Dodo reported in January that the director of Blackfish, Gabriela Cowperthwaite, noted that whales that are separated from their mothers or babies often receive diazepam (Valium) to relieve the stress.

Jared Goodman, director of animal rights at PETA ( People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), told Buzzfeed that “veterinary records show that the orcas at SeaWorld receive psychotropic drugs to prevent them from acting aggressively due to stressful and frustrating conditions in which they are confined , instead of financing the development of sanctuaries, the only humane solution to the problem”.

Already facing huge criticism from animal rights activists, representatives from SeaWorld responded to the accusations in an e -mail to Buzzfeed: “Benzodiazepines are sometimes used in veterinary medicine for the care and treatment of animals, both domestic and zoo. These medications can be used for sedation, premedication before general anesthesia and medical procedures for the control of seizures. The use of benzodiazepines is regulated and these drugs are only prescribed to animals by a veterinarian. Its use on the health of cetaceans, including killer whales, is limited , infrequent , and only used when clinically indicated in the evaluation of the attending veterinarian. There is no greater priority to SeaWorld than the health and welfare of animals and their care”.

Many activists said that orcas do not react well to confinement, and therefore act aggressively, biting hard and banging their heads against the walls of the tanks. Ingrid Visser, Orca Research Trust founder, told Buzzfeed that “there is no single orca who lives in captivity and did not manifest any such acts .” Visser also accused SeaWorld of “fill these royal slaves psychotropic drugs in order to force them to perform stupid tricks.”