SAN DIEGO (AP) — A federal judge in San Diego dismissed an unprecedented lawsuit Wednesday seeking to grant constitutional protection against slavery to a group of orcas that perform at SeaWorld parks, saying the 13th amendment applies only to humans.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals filed the lawsuit in October and named five whales as plaintiffs. PETA says the wild-captured orcas are enslaved by SeaWorld because they are held in concrete tanks against their will.
and forced to perform in shows at its parks in San Diego and Orlando, Fla.
SeaWorld called the lawsuit baseless and a waste of the court’s time and money. Legal experts say it opened an interesting debate about the expansion of animal rights.
PETA attorney Jeffrey Kerr says his organization does not plan to give up his fight to protect the orcas but he did not specify what the next action will be.
“This historic first case for the orcas’ right to be free under the 13th Amendment is one more step taken toward the inevitable day when all animals will be free from enslavement for human amusement,” Kerr said in a statement. “Today’s decision does not change the fact that the orcas who once lived naturally wild and free, are today kept as slaves by SeaWorld. PETA will regroup and determine how to continue to work for the legal protection they deserve.”
SeaWorld denies any mistreatment of the animals and says their parks have raised awareness that has helped conservation efforts. They also say they have rescued orcas injured in the wild.
 
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