Ethics Newsline®

ORLANDO
A Florida couple whose son was found dead in a killer whale’s tank at SeaWorld amusement park announced last week that they were suing the park for misrepresenting the whale as a friendly, people-loving creature.

Patricia and Michael Dukes allege that SeaWorld confused their son, Daniel, into believing that the dangerous orca was a human-friendly novelty, the Reuters news agency reported.

Daniel Dukes was found naked and dead in the killer whale’s tank last July, after apparently sneaking into the tank after the park had closed. While there was no evidence of major physical trauma, investigators theorize that the man may have drowned after being dragged along the bottom by the whale.

The multimillion-dollar lawsuit accuses SeaWorld of sending misleading messages about the orca, confusing the public on the way to making a profit.

SeaWorld general manager Vic Abbey said that his company will vigorously fight the charges, insisting that “the facts speak for themselves. A fellow trespasses on our property, evades our security, scales two very clear barriers, takes off his clothes, and jumps into 50-degree water with an 11,000-pound killer whale.”