The State : Whale Riders Back at Work

Sea World has put its killer whale trainers back into the water, ending a five-month ban imposed after a series of accidents. Trainers at the San Diego park will enter the water for public performances as soon as practice sessions show that the whales are completely retrained, training director Michael Scarpuzzi said Wednesday. Sea World took its trainers out of the water during performances in November after a whale breached during a show and landed on a 26-year-old trainer riding another w1751215205the trainer in the water and pay attention to the trainer on stage, Scarpuzzi said. Park officials deny that there has been pressure to put whale trainers into the water to increase Sea World’s revenues. Attendance so far this year is up 4% despite the ban, they said.