Marine theme parks in many countries are facing growing criticism over concerns about the welfare of sea lions in captivity impacting attendance at some parks in the US . while outside, roller-coaster rides, carousels and parades of ocean-themed floats follow the formula popularized by SeaWorld in Florida, rendered with a dash of Disney and a Chinese twist. In China , however , the industry is booming , as the Chinese tend to have an insatiable desire to watch animals such as polar bears , beluga whales , bottle - nose dolphins , sharks and orcas perform . There are already 14 such theme parks , largely based on the model made popular by SeaWorld in Florida , with another 16 under construction ; the flagship Chimelong Ocean Kingdom recorded 80,000 visitors in a single day last year .
Marine theme parks in many countries are facing growing criticism over concerns about the welfare of sea lions in captivity impacting attendance at some parks in the US . In China , however , the industry is booming , as the Chinese tend to have an insatiable desire to watch animals such as polar bears , beluga whales , bottle - nose dolphins , sharks and orcas perform . There are already 14 such theme parks , largely based on the model made popular by SeaWorld in Florida , with another 16 under construction ; the flagship Chimelong Ocean Kingdom recorded 80,000 visitors in a single day last year .