Should EPCOT's dolphins be released?

[Phonedave]

Thank you for saying that. I still have no idea what walking on the moon has to do with whether or not animals have rights or not.:shrug:

Man is what he is, a wild animal with the will to survive, and (so far) the ability, against all competition. Unless one accepts that, anything one says about morals, war, politics, you name it, is nonsense. Correct morals arise from knowing what man is, not what do-gooders and well-meaning old Aunt Nellies would like him to be. The Universe will let us know - later - whether or not Man has any "right" to expand through it.

- from Starship Troopers (not the claptrap movie, the book. Two vastly different stories)

-dave

 

[palmage]

I love being at the top of the food chain................

 

[EpcotServo]

Submarine's sonar also screw with the heads of all echo-locating creatures in the sea, don't see anyone complaining about Submarines.

Look, do I believe in killing or putting sea creatures in captivity? No. But most people love eating and fishing Tuna. It's no different than a dolphin or whale. So that's bad but Fishsticks at Captain D's, and Bass Pro Shops are just fine?

I think we need to stop being so gun ho about being SO conservative. The trick is balance, which Humans are naturally bad at. The human mind seems to want everything or nothing, with in between scarce.

Moderation, Control, and Appreciation should be the role of a good Activist, not crazy Eco-Terrorism and Demanding to release all the animals.

 

[GoofyRacer11]

Submarine's sonar also screw with the heads of all echo-locating creatures in the sea, don't see anyone complaining about Submarines.

Look, do I believe in killing or putting sea creatures in captivity? No. But most people love eating and fishing Tuna. It's no different than a dolphin or whale. So that's bad but Fishsticks at Captain D's, and Bass Pro Shops are just fine?

I think we need to stop being so gun ho about being SO conservative. The trick is balance, which Humans are naturally bad at. The human mind seems to want everything or nothing, with in between scarce.

Moderation, Control, and Appreciation should be the role of a good Activist, not crazy Eco-Terrorism and Demanding to release all the animals.

My apologies. I should have been more clear about what I meant. I have no problem with having animals in captivity cause sometimes it is necessary to keep them alive, and it also teaches us about them. Believe me, I eat fish and other meat as well. What bothers me is when people talk about killing animals for no particular reason. So I totally agree with your statement.

 

[EpcotServo]

All animal activists should be required to look and dress like this. :wave:

Oh, that reminds me, forgot to pick up some Soylent Green at the store yesterday.

 

[JPatton]

Future Guy asked, “Should EPCOT’s dolphins be released?”

I would answer, “Yes. Improvements could be made there.”

A group of teens and adults calling themselves the Blue Freedom Foundation have organized a petition asking Walt Disney World to release the four dolphins at EPCOT to a sea pen for rehabilitation.

Their initial goal was to collect 4,000 signatures----one thousand for each of the four dolphins.

As of today, they have collected more than 33,300 signatures and new signatures are being added every day.

The four male dolphins at Epcot are named Khyber, Calvin, Ranier, and Malabar. Ranier was captured in the wild; the other three were born in captivity.

Someone said, “Every living thing needs to see sunshine.”

The dolphins at Epcot are housed indoors, under a roof, and appear to be blocked
off from fresh air and sunlight.

In the wild, dolphins can be found in places like Hawaii, Australia, and the Caribbean.

The Disney dolphins live in Florida but never see the light of day.

Leaks, filtration problems, and water clarity issues have reportedly caused unscheduled shutdowns of the attraction---including the dive program, the restaurant, everything.

The attraction’s corporate participant, United Technologies, bailed on them years ago.

Search the web for reviews of The Seas with Nemo and Friends and you will find guests sometimes using the words “cloudy,” “murky,” and “dirty” to describe the water in the tank.

Given that Disney’s dolphin research has been ongoing for more than 24 years, and has been published in a peer-reviewed journal (International Journal of Comparative Psychology in 2010)…

…and given the problems that have plagued this aquarium almost since its inception….

…and given the current emphasis on fantasy, animated films and animated characters at the attraction…

…wouldn’t now be a good time to imagine a better environment for Khyber, Calvin, Ranier, and Malabar?

http://www.bluefreedomblog.org/
http://www.bluefreedom.org/
http://www.freethedisneydolphins.org/
http://www.change.org/petitions/free-the-disney-dolphins
http://dolphinproject.org/

 

[mouse_luv]

The dolphins get to go outside in an outdoor area and swim freely. Anyone ever do the dolphin experience there? They are treated better than any Dolphin in the sea. People always need something to complain about.

 

[wm49rs]

Especially after three years.....

 

[litaljohn]

The dolphins get to go outside in an outdoor area and swim freely. Anyone ever do the dolphin experience there? They are treated better than any Dolphin in the sea. People always need something to complain about.

thank you, I had to stop and laugh at the length misleading things the person before you posted. then again with the depth of their argument being "appears" or perhaps better stated as "I think this to make it seem sad but have no idea what the facts surrounding this concept really are"
they did tug at my heart strings by pulling a quote from that great historical figure "someone"

 

[FutureCEO]

I'm sure that the fish in the tank don't even realize they're not in the ocean. Fish are pretty stupid, after all. ?

I'm pretty sure animals are smarter than humans sometimes

 

[disneyfan295]

They should not be released. Disney is one of the most famous entertainment companies in the world and they have top notch employees that will take good care of the animals on property. If you were to take out the dolphins at Epcot, why not take out all the animals at Animal Kingdom? The dolphins at Epcot are well cared for and the guests that visit the tank will not harm them in any way while the Cast Members are around. Being able to swim with dolphins at Epcot is wonderful experience and something that mosts guests wouldn't expect to be availible to them at a Disney park.

 

[Hakunamatata]

Pretty obvious this is either a troll or activist or both given new member and avatar.

 

[litaljohn]

They should not be released. Disney is one of the most famous entertainment companies in the world and they have top notch employees that will take good care of the animals on property. If you were to take out the dolphins at Epcot, why not take out all the animals at Animal Kingdom? The dolphins at Epcot are well cared for and the guests that visit the tank will not harm them in any way while the Cast Members are around. Being able to swim with dolphins at Epcot is wonderful experience and something that mosts guests wouldn't expect to be availible to them at a Disney park.

amen. if anyone also bothers to study policy and laws they would quickly learn that the united states is one of the most strict when it comes to animal WELFARE. ( I highlight welfare to briefly point out that welfare and rights are not one in the same, while I am a huge animal welfare supporter, the mere concept of animal rights is laughable) what are some of these awful things being done at Disney? oh that's right non evasive monitoring nd behavior studies. helping us learn about new ( and fairly recently discovered) vocalizations in the dolphins we didn't know of, or the recently public study about how we are finding that dolphins may actually name themselves (something not seen in the animal world) that CNN even covered within the last few months. the care that these animals receive is quite frankly better than the care many people get. even if you want to think of all studies as some evil soulless venture consider this. if you are trying to profit you don't want to spend money you don't have to, with the money that goes into research even if you hated animals you would make those things treated like royalty so you don't have to do that same research again raising your cost. I've personally cared for large animals involved in a behavior study where one female alone, in a group containing 10 had close to ten thousand dollars worth of data just pure data, and this was a rather inexpensive quick study. if she had so as a scratch on her hoof you were giving her aid and care.
I should also point out that any invasive study should the need arise in the unite states has
to meet requirements where strict conditions must be met, ensure no animal is harmed needlessly if at all and in many cases studies can be done now using computer simulations.
this dolphin protest with disneyis nothing more than trying to use a big name like Disney to try to gain attention. it's a kardashian trying to cling around the famous in hopes of getting fame. There are actual issues such as standard and practices with regards to invasive research involving simians in some south American countries. but pampered dolphins living a safe happy life would be far down the list for most sane people.

 

[bethymouse]

Grilled and served with a crisp salad would be better

ew!

 

[bethymouse]

I am sure the Disney dolphins are well cared for.
But, I do hate to watch him swim and swim around like he's wanting to get out.
if it's for research, then it's ok. But, just for "show", then no.

 

[AndyS2992]

Me and my sister watched the dolphins for almost an hour on our last visit and she cried because there was what looked like two dolphins just staring at each other sadly, separated by a sheet of glass :/

 

[Goofyernmost]

In case no one noticed...three year old thread. Just saying!

 

[The Empress Lilly]

The dolphins get to go outside in an outdoor area and swim freely. Anyone ever do the dolphin experience there? They are treated better than any Dolphin in the sea. People always need something to complain about.

I don't think the dolphins have an outdoor area. The Seas is fully enclosed.

SEA's dolphins have backstage outdoor basins.

 

[cheezbat]

Last visit to Epcot the dolphin tanks were completely empty...nothing but water in there. Talk about disappointing when one of the sole reasons for going into the seas was to see dolphins!

 

[litaljohn]

Last visit to Epcot the dolphin tanks were completely empty...nothing but water in there. Talk about disappointing when one of the sole reasons for going into the seas was to see dolphins!

I dunno why but I just can't help but picture Dan Marino sitting in a bench all excited hearing a family say they came just to see dolphins, and his subsequent depressed sigh when they walk by him.