Jean-Michel Cousteau Calls On Thomas Cook to Cut Ties With SeaWorld
As Thomas Cook contemplates its policy on the sale of tickets to SeaWorld – following its recent decision to suspend all online promotions of the notorious marine park – renowned explorer and environmentalist Jean-Michel Cousteau has sent the travel company a letter to coincide with its announced audit of SeaWorld.
“As someone who has had the great privilege of observing orcas in the ocean – where they belong – I felt compelled to contact you ahead of this inspection,” writes Cousteau. “We know so much more about wild animals today than we did decades ago when humans first started removing them from their families and forcing them to entertain us in captivity.”
He goes on to explain that orcas’ intelligence, culture, and ability to feel a wide variety of emotions make them especially vulnerable to psychological and physical suffering in captivity. In addition, orcas navigate by echolocation in the wild – but in marine parks such as SeaWorld, their sonar reverberates off the tank walls, overwhelming them with their own vocalisations.
“If we accept, as we must, that orcas are highly intelligent, social animals who feel pain and joy, love and grief, and fear and longing, then we must also reject facilities that profit from denying these ocean dwellers everything that’s natural and important to them,” Cousteau concludes. “As such, the only logical, ethical outcome of this audit must be for Thomas Cook to sever its ties with SeaWorld entirely and immediately.”
Cousteau joins Sharon Osbourne, Paul O’Grady, and more than 22,000 PETA supporters who have already contacted Thomas Cook about this issue.
What You Can Do
If you haven’t already done so, please contact Thomas Cook and urge it to stop selling tickets to SeaWorld.
