• Orca Network/facebook
    1 of 10

    New photos from SeaWorld in San Diego, Calif., have the park in troubled waters again. According to the U.K. Daily Mail, an unknown photographer has leaked photos of one of the park's whales with a severe injury that left the animal's jawbone exposed. 

  • Orca Network/facebook
    2 of 10

    In the shots, the 11-year-old killer whale, named Nakai, is shown with a large gash on his chin. SeaWorld has issued a statement in response stating Nakai received the gruesome-looking mark as a result of coming in "contact with a portion of the pool environment."

  • Orca Network/facebook
    3 of 10

    Others online claim that the park is lying about the gash and that injury actually occurred during an altercation among several whales. 

  • Orca Network/facebook
    4 of 10

    These claims suggest that Nakai was either bitten by one of the other animals or slammed up against the wall of the pool. 

  • Orca Network/facebook
    5 of 10

    The fight is said to have occurred on Sept. 20 during one of the park's nighttime shows. Along with Nakai, the incident also involved killer whales Keet and Ike. 

  • Orca Network/facebook
    6 of 10

    Tim Zimmermann, a reporter at the scene, described the incident to Daily Mail: "It’s not clear if there was an aggressor or instigator, or if they all suddenly went after each other. In response to the altercation, Nakai split to the back pool. The onstage trainers, not realizing how badly injured he was, continued the show with the other whales."

  • Paruula/flickr
    7 of 10

    Allegedly, trainers at the park did not notice the severity of Nakai's injury until after the show in the late evening. 

  • Paruula/flickr
    8 of 10

    In response, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has filed a complaint against SeaWorld to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The complaint states that the park is housing imcompatiable whales together, which is in violation of the Animal Welfare Act.

  • Paruula/flickr
    9 of 10

    A representative of PETA elaborated on the group's complaint stating, "SeaWorld parks have a long history of housing incompatible orcas from widely divergent groups together in enclosures—and the result has been stress, agitation, aggressive and bloody raking, serious injury, and death."

  • Martin & Julia/flickr
    10 of 10
    Next: Swimmer Caught Riding Injured Whale Before It Died

    A spokesperson for SeaWorld responded that the park is dedicated to the humane treatment of the animals under their care, especially their mental and physical welfare. Nakai is now being treated with antibiotics and is said to be recovering nicely and socializing well with the other whales.