Is there a new owner in the works for SeaWorld? Could it be PETA?

We know this is hard to believe, but we hear that People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals wants to buy SeaWorld. Yes, SeaWorld, home of sassy sea gulls and dancing killer whales. PETA swears it's not a joke and the San Diego Union-Tribune has the details:

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals wants to buy SeaWorld... The animal rights advocates said they have a donor willing to put up the bucks to buy at least one of the three SeaWorld parks – in Orlando, San Antonio or, of course, San Diego – put the animals in marine sanctuaries and perhaps return some to the wild one day.

The group wouldn't close the joint. Instead, it would replace the killer whales, dolphins, stingrays and other animals with virtual reality exhibits.

PETA is known for staging publicity stunts, including one in Ocean Beach last year where half-naked people put fish hooks in their mouths to protest game fishing, but it swears this is no hoax. Still, the group won't identify the donor. ..

The group saw an opportunity when news broke that SeaWorld's current owner, beer giant Anheuser-Busch, is poised to be swallowed whole by the larger beer giant InBev, a Belgium firm. Experts believe InBev will divest itself of Anheuser-Busch's 10 theme parks and concentrate on beer once the sale is final.

Comments

[Brien Comerford]

It might be a good idea for PETA to have a marine sanctuary for manatees and other vegetarian aquatic species. Manatees definitely need protection.

[Oscar]

Why would they want to replace the animals with virtual reality exhibits? the whole point of the theme parks is to see animals not go see video games. It doesnt sount like their Investor has it all planned out as far as his investment. Im pretty sure sea world would fail if it were to become "Sea Virtual World'.

[OrcaNetwork]

What about Lolita? In Miami this orca has been stranded since she was captured from her family in Puget Sound in 1970. She's now a healthy adult and could easily and safely be retired in her home waters for under $1 million. I hope that whoever this donor is will notice Lolita and help support our professional proposal for her safe and sound return to her native habitat with the opportunity to at least communicate with her family at long last.