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An orca killed a SeaWorld trainer in front of a live audience in 2010 - here's why it took 6 years to end the program

Lydia RamseyMar 17, 2016, 21:56 IST

Young children get a close-up view of an Orca killer whale during a visit to the animal theme park SeaWorld in San Diego, CaliforniaThomson Reuters

After years of controversy, SeaWorld is ending its orca-breeding program.

The theme park and entertainment company has been criticized for the way it treats orcas, otherwise known as killer whales.

SeaWorld said it would end its breeding immediately and planned to roll out orca-enrichment programs, which will feature more natural environments in addition to existing education and research programs in the next few years among its parks in San Diego, San Antonio, and Orlando, Florida.

Here's how the company got to this point: