SeaWorld is being investigated by two US federal agencies looking into public statements by executives before and during August 2014, including comments about the controversial Blackfish documentary.

Blackfish, which was released in 2013, led to anti-SeaWorld campaign by animal rights activists, with campaigners accusing the company of mistreating its orcas.

In August 2014, SeaWorld’s share value dropped 33 per cent in a single day, after the operator blamed public scrutiny over the treatment of animals under its care for reported earnings in that period.

The company was served with subpoenas from both the US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission in connection to public statements made by the company regarding “the impact of Blackfish and trading in the company’s securities”.

“On 16 June 2017, the company’s Board of Directors formed a special committee comprised of independent directors with respect to these inquiries,” said a company filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission. “The special committee has engaged counsel to advise and assist the committee.”

A company representative told Attractions Management that SeaWorld was cooperating with the inquiries and that it intended to “continue to cooperate with any government requests or inquiries”.

Since the release of Blackfish and under the watch of CEO Joel Manby, SeaWorld has taken a number of steps to repair its public image, chiefly ending its decades-long practice of breeding orcas in captivity and also putting an end to its theatrical orca show in favour of a more natural version, which recently debuted at SeaWorld San Diego.