Underwatertimes.com News Service - February 25, 2010 14:46 EST

The following is a statement sent issue by David W. Perle, Senior Communications Coordinator People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

Good afternoon,

The death of the SeaWorld trainer following the attack by Telly the whale is a tragedy that didn't have to happen.

For years, PETA has been calling on SeaWorld to stop confining oceangoing mammals to an area that to them is like the size of a bathtub, and we have also been asking the park to stop forcing the animals to perform silly tricks over and over again.

It's not surprising when these huge, smart animals lash out. This is not the first incident in which a trainer has been harmed by an animal who has been deprived of any semblance of life.

It's time for SeaWorld to heed PETA's advice and let marine mammals live in peace with their families in the worlds oceans. Switching to giant robotics would be a win-win situation that could have saved a woman's life today.

PETA on the web.