Animal activist Jane Goodall condemned SeaWorld for its treatment of trained orca whales.

SeaWorld has come under fire for its treatment of killer whales, or orcas, after the sharply critical documentary 'Blackfish' that aired in theaters in the summer of 2013 and on CNN in the fall of that year.

Goodall, 81-year-old primatologist and animal welfare activist, is known for her work on chimpanzees. In a recent interview with The Huffington Post, she described that the whales and dolphins communicate with sonar-like sound waves.

They are kept in confined tanks, which means those sound waves bounce off of the walls and echo back. She described the theme park as 'acoustical hell" for the animals.

Goodall said that the whales and dolphins should never be held in captivity and the theme park should be put out of business.

However, SeaWorld defended its practices and on Tuesday and tweeted a link to its website. The Florida-based marine park claimed that it has worked with bio-acoustics experts to ensure that its animals are not being harmed.

SeaWorld said, "Our underwater noise levels are quieter than the ambient ocean. And those above water sounds don't transfer underwater. So, based on these studies, we are confident the sounds in our environment are not detrimental to the animal's wellbeing".

The company also said that Goodall may not be familiar with recent research on whales and dolphins kept in zoos. It said that zoos and marine mammal parks like SeaWorld allow people to experience animals in a way that is inspiring and educational.

However Goodall said that she is hopeful that humans are becoming less interested in watching orcas perform and more sympathetic to their condition in captivity.