Blackfish

[Spectro shire]

I'm surprised nothing came up during my search for this. Disney is supposedly changing Nemo 2 from the documentary which looks very interesting. Go here for the trailer. Sea World and other zoos and aquariums will get a backlash from this. I love zoos and aquariums but I'm always shocked on how small the cages and areas are for most animals. The Hershey Park Zoo was the worst in this. But how about Animal Kingdom? I mean, it's basically a theme park zoo. Even though the animals are not in cages, there are the little boundaries that guest don't see. So will Disney do anything or do nothing? And don't forget the Living Seas.

 

[Jenna]

I watched Blackfish and agreed with much of what they were saying for example, seperating the mother and baby whales, and even though I thoroughly enjoy watching it training the whales to make them do tricks is probably not morally correct but I don't think the same can be said for Disney, specifically Animal Kingdom.

Whilst there are boundaries that are hidden from the guest eye these animals still are provided with a relatively wide area to roam, are looked after well-fed, veterinary care etc. and the landscape is adjusted each evening to make sure it's stimulating and safe.

I would class Animal Kingdom as more of a safari park type area than a zoo. In a zoo animals are in a cage and the guest can't really miss them. In AK they are free to roam and hide.

Just my two pence worth, I'm sure there will be many others

 

[unkadug]

This thread will be a rehash of http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/the-story-of-tilikum.866636/

 

[tare]

Very interesting. Thx for sharing.

 

[luv]

It's on the Sea World forum. I've said this before, but here's my $.02

I love animals and get the "Born Free" thing. But I doubt I'd have loved animals (and certainly not killer whales) if I'd had no exposure to them. I think it is wonderful that we are lucky enough to have been able to see all these animals. If it weren't for zoos and aquariums, we wouldn't be able to do that. The zoos serve a worthwhile purpose.

I realize this means the animals don't live free, which pulls at the heart strings a little. However, I think it's okay for us to keep a few in captivity so that we know what they look like in person (or in animal, lol.). Zoos educate us about animals, which leads to caring for them.

Sea World always takes in aquatic animals that are in trouble. They rehab and release them, if possible. If they can't release them, they hang on to them. I have yet to hear that the documentary people have set up aquariums, hired vets and taken care of animals in trouble. Please let me know if they have.

Finally, it's just selfish. I want to see the animals - how they walk, how they turn their heads, etc. I cannot wait to see pandas in person.

Sea World is also my favorite of the Orlando parks. It's so pretty and there is so much to see and do there. If I could only keep one AP, it would be for Sea World. Love it there!

 

[tonganprince]

AK is Natazu!

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Sea World always takes in aquatic animals that are in trouble.

But one of the points of the documentary was that SeaWorld does not take care of their own animals so well. I agree that zoos serve a purpose, but if any of them are running a sketchy place behind the scenes, they deserve to be called out on that. I can't say for sure SeaWorld does, but I think it's someting everyone can agree on and proper leglislation/rules/standards should be in place for that.

 

[luv]

But one of the points of the documentary was that SeaWorld does not take care of their own animals so well. I agree that zoos serve a purpose, but if any of them are running a sketchy place behind the scenes, they deserve to be called out on that. I can't say for sure SeaWorld does, but I think it's someting everyone can agree on and proper leglislation/rules/standards should be in place for that.

Sea World is doing a better job than everyone else. If anyone is in a position to recommend what the standards should be, it is Sea World.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Sea World is doing a better job than everyone else. If anyone is in a position to recommend what the standards should be, it is Sea World.

I get that, but I assume they are not infallible. For me "standards" also implies some sort of accountability, so that if something doesn't get done (say, nobody wants to send the money this year on that) it doesn't stay that way. This goes for all marine parks/zoos/whatever. I don't doubt SeaWorld is better at taking care of its marnie life than other operations, but I'm not going to assume they're always perfect, or alternatively, as bad as some may say.

I also finally reviewed that tilikum thread and...ya...I'm not touching that.