SeaWorld plans to spend upwards of hundreds of millions of dollars to build an expanded killer whale environment and programs to protect the creatures in the wild, the company announced Friday.
SeaWorld says will build new, larger environments for killer whales at its theme parks, and will fund additional research on the animals along with programs to protect ocean health and whales in the wild.
Business for the Orlando, Florida company has been hurt by negative publicity surrounding its treatment of killer whales.
SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. will build a tank with 10 million gallons of water at its San Diego park, almost twice the size of the current tank.
It said the new environment wills be more stimulating for the whales. It will open to the public in 2018. SeaWorld has similar plans for its Orlando and San Antonio locations.
The company also pledged $10 million for killer whale research as well as a multimillion-dollar partnership focused on ocean health.
