SeaWorld Dolphin Bites Girl, Prompts PETA Probe Request

The animal-rights group People for Ethical Treatment of Animals has asked the US Department of Agriculture to investigate a report of a dolphin biting a park-goer at SeaWorld of San Antonio, Texas.

PETA said in its request that a 9-year-old girl was bitten by a dolphin on February 22 while she was trying to pet it.The girl sustained bite marks and swelling to her hand and wrist. SeaWorld's Dolphin Cove exhibit allows visitors to touch and view the dolphins.

"This incident and exhibit clearly endangered both the dolphin and the public," said PETA counsel Brittany Peet in the request, which she described as an "apparent Animal Welfare Act violation." AWA's 9CFR 2.131 (c)(1) requires "sufficient distance and/or barriers between animal and the general viewing public so as to assure the safety of animals and the public."

Source: YahooNews