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TripAdvisor stops selling tickets for dolphin shows

Marine Creatures - Level 4

The travel website TripAdvisor will stop selling tickets to attractions that use marine creatures like dolphins. It will stop selling tickets for SeaWorld in Florida. The ban continues the company's policy of prohibiting ticket sales to attractions where people come into physical contact with animals. The latest ban applies to attractions that "contribute to the captivity" of dolphins, orcas, porpoises and whales.

TripAdvisor commented on its new policy. It said dolphins do not thrive in captivity. It said: "We hope to see a future where they live as they should - free and in the wild." TripAdvisor hopes the current dolphins in captivity will be the last, and it looks forward to seeing this position adopted all over the travel industry. SeaWorld was disappointed by TripAdvisor's action, saying it "ignores the educational value and conservation" of zoos and aquariums.

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Marine Creatures - Level 5

A leading travel website, TripAdvisor, will stop selling tickets to attractions and aquariums that have marine creatures like dolphins and whales. TripAdvisor will not sell tickets for SeaWorld in Florida. A spokesperson said the ban is a continuation of the company's policy of prohibiting the sale of tickets to attractions where tourists come into physical contact with animals. TripAdvisor ended ticket sales to "demeaning animal shows and performances" in 2018. The latest ban applies to attractions that "contribute to the captivity" of dolphins, orcas, porpoises and whales.

TripAdvisor elaborated on its new initiative. It said: "Whales and dolphins do not thrive in limited captive environments, and we hope to see a future where they live as they should - free and in the wild." It added: "We believe the current generation of...dolphins in captivity should be the last, and we look forward to seeing this position adopted more widely throughout the travel industry." SeaWorld said it was disappointed by TripAdvisor's action "that ignores the educational value and conservation" of zoos and aquariums. SeaWorld said it cares for all its animals.

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Marine Creatures - Level 6

One of the world's leading travel websites, TripAdvisor, has decided to stop selling tickets to attractions and aquariums that have marine creatures like dolphins, orcas, porpoises and whales. One top attraction that TripAdvisor will not sell tickets for is SeaWorld in Florida. A TripAdvisor spokesperson said the ban is a continuation of the company's 2016 policy that prohibited sales of tickets to attractions where tourists come into physical contact with animals, like elephant rides. TripAdvisor halted ticket sales to "demeaning animal shows and performances" in 2018. The latest ban applies to any attractions that "contribute to the captivity" of dolphins, orcas, porpoises and whales.

A TripAdvisor spokesman elaborated on his company's new initiative. He said: "Whales and dolphins do not thrive in limited captive environments, and we hope to see a future where they live as they should - free and in the wild." He added: "We believe the current generation of whales and dolphins in captivity should be the last, and we look forward to seeing this position adopted more widely throughout the travel industry." A SeaWorld spokesman said: "We are disappointed by TripAdvisor's new position that ignores the educational value and conservation mission of professionally accredited zoos and aquariums....SeaWorld maintains the highest standards of care for all animals."

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