SeaWorld To End Orca Breeding

[Disneyfanman]

I'm surprised but not shocked at this decision. After Blackfish came out I personally knew dozens of people who completely bought into the message. Although it is a very good decision (IMHO), it's tough to see if it's driven by desperation or vision. I suspect that SeaWorld's financial situation is more tenuous than advertised. After all, the Orca has been the symbol of SeaWorld as long as I can remember. I think the next natural move is a potential sale of the SeaWorld side of the business and that the brand is on the brink of a death spiral. Public perception is the heartbeat of their business model.

 

[matt78]

They mentioned in the comments section of their Instagram that blue world is officially done at all three parks and they will simply be retheming their existing stadiums to resemble a more natural setting. Like a waterfall (you know- just like the ocean).

So the animal activists won and the whales are getting screwed out of bigger tanks because of it. Doesn't seem fair to me.

 

[BrianV]

Alas this and other moves to eliminate exotic animals from zoos and aquariums may well result in the public caring less about them and their habitats. Why should a kid who has never seen an elephant or an orca care about keeping them alive? Also ever notice that the extremists only ever seen to care about cute animals?

Good intent but I fear a bad result.

 

[andysol]

So the animal activists won and the whales are getting screwed out of bigger tanks because of it. Doesn't seem fair to me.

Extremists are never interested or accepting of compromise. They'd rather be dead right than realistic. So now they reap what they sow- yet they'll still take no responsibility whatsoever and shift all blame onto Seaworld for not expanding the tank sizes.
It's ridiculous they can get funding, honestly.

 

[Dead2009]

PETA and all those other animal activist wackjobs are celebrating this while turning their noses up at more pressing issues. What a joke.

 

[No Name]

Wow. This is excellent news. It takes a brave leader to move away from an immoral but mostly successful business model to one that is moral but new and risky. But I have the confidence that SeaWorld's leaders will be very successful on this new route. And for the first time in a long long time, I am rooting for SeaWorld to succeed. Because they made the right decision. This is a cause to celebrate, not because of victory over the villain, but becuase the villain is changing.

Though they're still in captivity, this will be much better for the animals. The breeding process was very unnatural, and very disgusting and painful to see. And training and having them perform in shows is just extremely poor behavior. Using animals as performers without the animals' consent is just inhumane. To those people complaining that "oh well it's too bad my kids won't be able to see it, it was so fun to watch, etc," well, please look at it from the whales' perspective.

It sounds like they eventually plan to phase out other animals as well (hopefully dolphins soon). I do understand the one-at-a-time approach. If they got rid of all of their animal shows today, their business would take a huge hit. What they need to do is accompany for each perceived "loss" that this freeing of the animals creates by adding something else in replacement. That will take years, but it is happening and it's going in the right direction.

In summary, instead of ignoring and denying their problems like they have in the past, SeaWorld is facing reality and taking moral action. Joel Manby sounds like he really understands what he's saying and why this is the right thing, and to be honest, I'm starting to like the guy. I hope they not only go through with this, but also keep progressing down this road in the coming years.

 

[Jane Doe]

Alas this and other moves to eliminate exotic animals from zoos and aquariums may well result in the public caring less about them and their habitats. Why should a kid who has never seen an elephant or an orca care about keeping them alive? Also ever notice that the extremists only ever seen to care about cute animals?
.

Quite frankly, a ludicrous post. Are you saying that when Seaworld's last orca dies there is going to be a sharp rise in illegal dumping of pollutants into Puget Sound and hate attacks on large aquatic mammals?

If a kid only cares about animals they have witnessed in the flesh they are obviously going to grow up to be an atrocious individual and probably seek a career in dentistry.

The only people who care solely for "cute" animals are the ones who are struggling to accept what passes for acceptable, ethical entertainment nowadays. Seaworld's knows that, even without Blackfish, the game is almost up with regards to performing animals, this way they get to keep orcas for a few more years and get to look ethical at the same time. It's a small victory for both sides concerned.

 

[BrianV]

Quite frankly, a ludicrous post. Are you saying that when Seaworld's last orca dies there is going to be a sharp rise in illegal dumping of pollutants into Puget Sound and hate attacks on large aquatic mammals?

If a kid only cares about animals they have witnessed in the flesh they are obviously going to grow up to be an atrocious individual and probably seek a career in dentistry.

The only people who care solely for "cute" animals are the ones who are struggling to accept what passes for acceptable, ethical entertainment nowadays. Seaworld's knows that, even without Blackfish, the game is almost up with regards to performing animals, this way they get to keep orcas for a few more years and get to look ethical at the same time. It's a small victory for both sides concerned.

Talk about ludicrous...yours takes the cake!

I am saying that a significant part of conservation is exposure. People only care about global warming when they feel the effects. If it only takes place elsewhere far away they don't notice. It's human nature.

Likewise with animal habitat loss, people only care when they see what is being lost. That is true for killer whales too.

The few killer whales in captivity have done more for the preservation in the wild than almost anything else.

I HOPE you are right, but out of sight generally means out of mind.

(That said there is a massive level.of hypocrisy among those cheering this result who then go eat meat, but I guess killer whales are pretty darn cute.)

 

[DarthMileZ]

R.I.P seaworld

this was a big draw for them in orlando. they also have Animal Kingdom and Busche to contend with.

 

[BrianV]

R.I.P seaworld

this was a big draw for them in orlando. they also have Animal Kingdom and Busche to contend with.

Well, I don't see how animal kingdom can survive either. Plenty of animals being held against their will at Disney. Extremists will set their eyes their direction soon. Maybe WDW sees the writing on the wall and that's why they are doing avatar world since those animals are imaginary.

 

[No Name]

Alas this and other moves to eliminate exotic animals from zoos and aquariums may well result in the public caring less about them and their habitats. Why should a kid who has never seen an elephant or an orca care about keeping them alive? Also ever notice that the extremists only ever seen to care about cute animals?

Good intent but I fear a bad result.

Zoos and Aquariums never got to me in that way, but after going to SeaWorld, for the first time I really began to appraciate animals and realize how bad it is for them to be in captivity. I was so disgusted by the orca performances and how they were sort of "played with" by the trainers, and that's what really sparked my opposition toward zoos and aquariums and all unnatural holding of animals.

So I certainly believe that the conservation message needs to stay, but when people are learning that message because they're so appalled at what they see at the park... that's not a good way of educating and creating appreciation for the animals. SeaWorld shouldn't teach by being the bad example, they should teach by being the good example. And I believe they can find a way to do that.

Well, I don't see how animal kingdom can survive either. Plenty of animals being held against their will at Disney. Extremists will set their eyes their direction soon. Maybe WDW sees the writing on the wall and that's why they are doing avatar world since those animals are imaginary.

Oh yes. Animal Kingdom is next, and I'd love for them to create or work with a program to release their animals into the wild. Well actually The Seas pavillion might be the prime target, I really can't stand that place anymore. Either way, Disney will inevitably be pressured to get rid of their animals some day, and while I love Animal Kingdom, I don't think that's a bad thing.

And I doubt we'll ever see a new land (such as Australia) with new animals being brought to the park. Disney won't want the risk of that kind of media attention overshadowing the positive reviews of the new land. Even Joe Rohde has implied that it's not in the park's best interest. So I would be fine with a focus on mythical, fantastical, and extinct animals, and real animals can be portrayed in things like Rivers of Light or in rides with animatronics.

 

[Bairstow]

Alas this and other moves to eliminate exotic animals from zoos and aquariums may well result in the public caring less about them and their habitats. Why should a kid who has never seen an elephant or an orca care about keeping them alive?

SeaWorld used this lame excuse for years and I never bought it.
If people only care about animals after they see them in person, why were they paying 50 bucks to get into your park in the first place?

 

[Princess Kaylee]

will they at LEAST keep the dolphin shows?

Hopefully not. This is a huge victory for Orcas. Animals are not meant to perform for humans entertainment.

 

[BrianV]

SeaWorld used this lame excuse for years and I never bought it.
If people only care about animals after they see them in person, why were they paying 50 bucks to get into your park in the first place?

I hope you are right, but in my heart sadly I know you are wrong. People are really self centered and only care about what they know. We'd be opening our country and our houses to refugees from Syria if we saw what they were going through. But out of sight out of mind. Killer whales out of sight...let's hope not out of mind.

 

[Dead2009]

Hopefully not. This is a huge victory for Orcas. Animals are not meant to perform for humans entertainment.

As opposed to being fished and killed for sport, that gets a free pass.

Once again, the proof is there that animal activists only care about those poor little animals locked up in tanks.

 

[lazyboy97o]

SeaWorld used this lame excuse for years and I never bought it.
If people only care about animals after they see them in person, why were they paying 50 bucks to get into your park in the first place?

It not an excuse pushed by SeaWorld. People from other zoos and aquariums will say the exact same thing, and they do struggle to get people through their doors since they lack the shows and rides which can be marketed.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

So how long before the #activists start attacking Animal Kingdom and Bush Gardens?

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Talk about ludicrous...yours takes the cake!

I am saying that a significant part of conservation is exposure. People only care about global warming when they feel the effects. If it only takes place elsewhere far away they don't notice. It's human nature.

Likewise with animal habitat loss, people only care when they see what is being lost. That is true for killer whales too.

The few killer whales in captivity have done more for the preservation in the wild than almost anything else.

I HOPE you are right, but out of sight generally means out of mind.

(That said there is a massive level.of hypocrisy among those cheering this result who then go eat meat, but I guess killer whales are pretty darn cute.)

Correction: SOME people.



Most people don't need to see something or feel it in order to understand it or empathize. That is very, very foolish.

I've never seen the Galapagos Islands, but I can appreciate them and understand the need to preserve them.

Anyone can think that way, you just have to want to. You have to stop thinking about yourself for a moment, though.

There is a difference between zoos, preserves, etc. vs. tricks every day on command.

 

[BrianV]

Anyone can think that way, you just have to want to. You have to stop thinking about yourself for a moment, though.

Agreed. But most people don't.

I don't really care all that much. I want all the animals to have great lives and be happy, if we care to give animals human qualities. That includes cows and chickens too. But I care a whole lot more about the survival of the species of animals than the individual animals.

 

[Bairstow]

So how long before the #activists start attacking Animal Kingdom and Bush Gardens?

The conditions by which large marine mammals are kept in captivity are are egregious in a way that goes far beyond the state of terrestrial zoo animals. Besides that, Both Busch Gardens and Animal Kingdom are quite renown for the quality of the habitats and care of the animals they keep. Even if they're high-profile, the obvious comparison between them and any number of smaller regional zoos makes these two theme parks hard to generate large-scale outrage against.

Now, I wouldn't be surprised if someone, somewhere raises a stink about them- it's happened before and has probably already been happening to some degree. However, the chances of such activist protests gaining any real momentum are remote.