SeaWorld officials acknowledged Thursday that company employees spied on critics by posing as animal welfare activists
The company has ended the practice “in which certain employees posed as animal rights activists,” SeaWorld CEO Joel Manby said on an earnings call, the Orlando Sentinel reports. Manby said the company had begun the spying “in the face of credible threats,” according to the Sentinel.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals made the spying allegations last year. One employee who had been suspended during an investigation has returned to his job. SeaWorld did not reveal whether any employees were punished as a result of the investigation.
The acknowledgement comes as the embattled park operator tries to restore its public image. The company has been hampered by protests over ethical concerns regarding the treatment of animals in recent years, particularly after the release of the documentary Blackfish.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Why Trump’s Message Worked on Latino Men
- What Trump’s Win Could Mean for Housing
- The 100 Must-Read Books of 2024
- Sleep Doctors Share the 1 Tip That’s Changed Their Lives
- Column: Let’s Bring Back Romance
- What It’s Like to Have Long COVID As a Kid
- FX’s Say Nothing Is the Must-Watch Political Thriller of 2024
- Merle Bombardieri Is Helping People Make the Baby Decision
Write to Justin Worland at justin.worland@time.com