ORLANDO, Fla. – Under federal law, in order for a park like SeaWorld to get a permit to display whales and dolphins, they must use the animals to educate the public. Some lawmakers are questioning if SeaWorld is, in fact, doing that.
SeaWorld trainers have not been back in the water with the park's killer whales since Dawn Brancheau was drowned by a killer whale named Tilikum two months ago.
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"What educational benefit has been demonstrated to result from shows where trainers swim with killer whales?" Rep. Madeleine Bordallo, D-Guam, said.
Now, some lawmakers are questioning whether marine parks like SeaWorld are truly benefiting the public.
"Dawn herself was passionate about education," SeaWorld curator Julie Scardina said. "She could trace her love of animals to a childhood experience at Sea World."
Testifying before a House subcommittee, Scardina argued that marine parks inspire people to love and protect sea creatures.
"Children sit in a classroom and they learn a lot, and yet it's not until they go and explore those things and they get to touch and see and feel," Scardina said.
Louie Psihoyos, who directed the anti-captivity documentary "The Cove," believes marine parks actually misinform the public about the threats facing ocean animals.
"We teach our children feeding or harassing animals in the wild is unacceptable -- in fact, it's against the law," Psihoyos said. "But when they pay $79 per family member in a dolphinarium, it's now somehow called education."
Naomi Rose of the Humane Society International agrees that theme parks like SeaWorld mainly entertain visitors, not educate them.
"When you're in that theme park and you're paying a great deal of money you want to be entertained," Rose said. "And I don't want people to be misled that they're also being educated."
Advocates of marine parks said they provide experiences to people who cannot afford to see these creatures in the wild.
"We are losing touch with nature and with the animal world," Rae Stone, of Alliance of Marine Mammal parks, said. "Zoos and aquariums are vital links to nature and wildlife."
One lawmaker asked Scardina what would happen to Tilikum. Scardina said the whale will be taken care of the rest of his life, and would not be released back into the wild.