Organization People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has ramped up its war of words with SeaWorld Entertainment, claiming one of PETA’s activists was actually an undercover spy working for the theme park operator.
PETA said California activist they knew as Thomas Jones is actually Paul McComb, who has worked in at SeaWorld since at least 2008.
Jones had protested at several PETA demonstrations aimed at SeaWorld and even got himself detained by police when protesting at the 2014 Rose Parade in Pasadena, California.
Suspicions arose after Jones was released without charge and his name did not appear on arrest sheets following the Rose Parade demonstration, said Lisa Lange, senior vice president at PETA, who accused SeaWorld of a "corporate espionage campaign".
"Instead of creating a dirty tricks department, SeaWorld should put its resources into releasing the orcas into coastal sanctuaries," Lange said.
Jones had posted several times on social media prior to PETA demonstrations encouraging other activists to ‘get a little aggressive.’
One post said: "Grab your pitch forks and torches. Time to take down SeaWorld."
PETA also said an address used by Jones was a post office box registered in the name of Richard Marcelino, who is director of security at SeaWorld San Diego.
If proven there was a dirty tricks campaign against PETA, it would be another PR disaster.
SeaWorld’s response was ambiguous but seems to add validity to the claim.
"We are focused on the safety of our team members, guests and animals, and beyond that we do not comment on our security operations," said Fred Jacobs, a SeaWorld spokesman.
"This is a responsibility that we take very seriously, especially as animal rights groups have become increasingly extreme in their rhetoric and tactics."
