Rights violation: SeaWorld loses bid to put trainers back in water for killer-whale shows

SeaWorld lost a major round Friday in its legal fight to put its trainers back into the water with killer whales during the parks' marquee orca shows.

Rights violation: SeaWorld loses bid to put trainers back in water for killer-whale shows 600

Rights violation: SeaWorld loses bid to put trainers back in water for killer-whale shows 600

By 2-1, a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., rejected an appeal by SeaWorld of a citation issued in 2012 by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration after its investigation into the 2010 drowning death of a trainer at the SeaWorld park in Orlando, Fla.

In court documents, SeaWorld had argued that proximity of the trainers to the killer whales was central to the appeal of the orca shows and without that proximity the shows would lose popularity.

But the court majority concluded it is too dangerous for orcas to be closely interacting with trainers. Safety measures taken after the death of trainer Dawn Brancheau are inadequate, the majority added.

While the OSHA investigation and court case involved the park in Florida, SeaWorld San Diego voluntarily pulled its trainers from the water after the 2010 death.

In a statement, SeaWorld called the court's decision disappointing and said no decision has been made on whether to appeal.

"SeaWorld remains committed to providing a safe workplace for employees, healthy environments for the animals in our care, and inspirational and educational experiences with killer whales for our guests," the statement said.

More: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-court-orcas20140411,0,1852297.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fmostviewed+%28L.A.+Times+-+Most+Viewed+Stories%29

Rights violation: SeaWorld loses bid to put trainers back in water for killer-whale shows

Rights violation: SeaWorld loses bid to put trainers back in water for killer-whale shows

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