Memorial Day Demonstration at Six Flags Marine World
Memorial Wall, Dolphin "Prison" and Other Visual Displays to Illustrate Opposition to Captivity of Marine Mammals, Land Animals

Vallejo, CA – Environmental and animal protection activists will gather at Six Flags Marine World Theme Park during the summer season's traditional opening weekend, to protest the park's continued exhibition of captive animals and its publicly announced plans to acquire new baby elephants. The protest will be held Monday, May 29, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Marine World, off Route 37 in Vallejo. Co-sponsors of the event are In Defense of Animals (IDA), Observe Respect & Compassion for Animals (ORCA) and the Animal Protection Institute (API).

The protest will include a huge, eight-paneled "Memorial Wall" decorated with images of the hundreds of dolphins and whales who have died at marine parks and aquariums over the past 20 years. A large "prison" with dolphins behind bars, inflatable dolphins and colorful signs and banners will also be displayed at the demonstration.

"We will be present at Marine World to demand an end to its display of live animals," said Suzanne Roy, Program Director of IDA. "It's clear that visitors are coming to this park in record numbers for the new rides and roller coasters, not for the antiquated and cruel animal exhibits."

Marine World has long been the target of protest by animal activists, who have been particularly concerned about the well-being of the park's dolphins and lone orca (killer whale), named Vigga. They have urged Marine World to "donate" Vigga to the Free Willy Foundation (now called Ocean Futures), which is successfully rehabilitating Keiko, the star of the film Free Willy. Like Keiko, Vigga was captured from Iceland, and releasing the whales together would increase their chances for successful repatriation.

Now, the park's plans to bring in new baby elephants have drawn new ire.

"Baby elephants belong with their mothers, not in an amusement park," said Cathy O'Brien, Director of ORCA. "Marine World's acquisition of more animals is clearly a giant step backwards. It is unconscionable to imprison sensitive, intelligent and social animals like elephants, dolphins and whales in the middle of a loud, noisy amusement park simply for human entertainment."