ORLANDO, Fla. -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has taken to the skies to protest SeaWorld's practice of using captive animals for entertainment.

The group flew a banner over the theme park Tuesday afternoon, which said, "SeaWorld – Let whales and dolphins out of prison."

The plane flew for nearly an hour, but there were no protesters on the ground.

SeaWorld issued a statement Tuesday afternoon questioning the group's motives.

"We're left to wonder how many animals in need could've been helped with the thousands of dollars spent on PETA's latest exercise in theatrics," the statement said. "This publicity stunt proved once again that PETA is an extremist organization far more interested in photo opportunities than helping animals. It served no purpose other than to again compound the sadness and grief being experienced by those SeaWorld employees closest to Dawn Brancheau."

The protest was sparked by the recent death of SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau. A killer whale named Tilikum grabbed Branchau's hair and dragged her under water, drowning her.

In the statement, SeaWorld pointed out the work it has done for animals while PETA was protesting.

"It should also be noted that while PETA was flying around our park today, SeaWorld animal care specialists and veterinarians were rescuing a manatee in the Desoto Canal near Satellite Beach, Florida. Right now our animal care teams are treating more than 50 rescued wild animals, including representatives of three endangered or threatened species, and preparing those animals for return to the wild. In just the past nine weeks SeaWorld parks have rescued and treated nearly 1,000 animals and most have already been returned to the ocean," the statement said.

Meanwhile, SeaWorld has not decided whether Tilikum will keep performing, an official said on Tuesday.

In the days after Dawn died, the park's top official pledged that Tilikum would return to SeaWorld's shows. But park spokesman Fred Jacobs said Tuesday that nothing will be decided about the whale's future until after a thorough review of the accident.

"On reflection, we really can't say anything about Tilikum or the other killer whales until the review is complete," said park spokesman Fred Jacobs. "We do feel that it is likely Tilikum will return to the shows but to promise that is premature."

Brancheau, 40, was killed almost two weeks ago after being thrashed underwater by the whale after a performance. Tilikum has also been involved in two other deaths, one of a trainer at a Canadian park and another of a man who snuck past security and was found draped over the whale's body at SeaWorld.

While SeaWorld officials consider Tilikum's future, the park and Brancheau's family are trying to suppress video footage of the attack. A SeaWorld camera captured the accident and the footage was turned over to law enforcement. Once the Orange County Sheriff's Office concludes its investigation, the material would become public under Florida law.

Brancheau's family said Monday through a spokesman that public airing of the killing would only worsen their grief.

They could seek a court injunction to stop the release, at least temporarily. The family has been consulting the lawyer who represented Dale Earnhardt's widow in a successful court fight that prevented the release of autopsy photos of the race car driver.

First amendment rights attorney Lawrence Walters said he is extremely sensitive to the family's request for privacy, but he does not believe it outweighs the public's right to know.