Sea World

With the nation increasingly concerned about safety in public, three major theme parks announced Thursday that they are adding security measures including metal detectors ahead of the busy holiday season.

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- SeaWorld should be allowed to build a much larger facility for its killer whales, a state government report recommended Friday in a move that outrages animal rights groups that see it as a step toward breeding more orcas in captivity.

NEW YORK (AP) -- After more than a year of public criticism of its treatment of killer whales, SeaWorld said Friday that it will build new, larger environments at its theme parks and will fund additional research on the animals along with programs to protect ocean health and whales in the wild.

A California bill that sought to end killer whale shows at SeaWorld in San Diego and phase out their captivity was put on hold Tuesday, dousing an escalating fight between animal activists and a major tourist attraction.