On March 7, California Assemblyman Richard Bloom filed the Orca Welfare and Security Act (AB 2140). This bill, the first of its kind for a state that has captive orcas (otherwise known as killer whales), would ban the display of orcas for entertainment and ban the exportation of the captive California orcas and their genetic material to other marine parks. If passed, orcas would retire from a life of entertainment. Bloom, (D) of Santa Monica, announced at his press conference that this bill is the direct result of the 2013 documentary Blackfish

, which explored the history of orca captivity, specifically the history of Tilikum, SeaWorld Orlando’s prize bull whale who killed three humans, most notably, his trainer Dawn Brancheau in 2010.  SeaWorld San Diego is the only marine park in California with orcas in its collection. legislature.ca.gov

Photo by Thomaswm