We just won ANOTHER massive victory for sea mammals in captivity: America's National Aquarium announced it would free all eight of its dolphins and put them in a sea sanctuary.

We secured an historic win against SeaWorld earlier this year when it finally agreed to end its harmful captive breeding program for killer whales. But dozens of SeaWorld’s orcas still remain in captivity in tanks that, to them, are effectively the size of a bathtub.

Like the Aquarium’s dolphins, these whales need to be set free. Many confined killer whales show evidence of self-harm and anguish, and some are violent to other animals or human trainers, as infamously depicted in the documentary Blackfish. There’s only one reason SeaWorld lets this torture go on: profit.

No more. Demand SeaWorld follow the National Aquarium’s lead and send its captive killer whales to sea sanctuaries now.

In the wild, these intelligent and noble animals swim as far as 100 miles per day. And although we should celebrate the termination of the breeding program, for these orcas still confined to tiny tanks, separated from their young and doomed to shortened life spans, it’s simply not enough.

The writing is on the wall for this -- we knew it long before SeaWorld capitulated and ended its breeding program. Now that we know what really happens in its tanks, we don’t want any part of it. After Blackfish, SeaWorld’s revenues plummeted 84%. If SeaWorld wants its audience back, it needs to set its cetaceans free.

But yet again, SeaWorld is dragging its feet. So, yet again, it’s up to us to help it find the right side of history. One million SumOfUs members asked California to ban orca captivity for entertainment purposes in that state -- pressure that eventually led to our landmark victory. We can keep that fight going and give Seaworld’s last remaining whales their freedom.

We’ve ended the breeding program. Now let’s set them free.

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