As of today SeaWorld ending all orca breeding

[sunshine1]

As of today, march 17th, SeaWorld ending all orca breeding. http://www.seaworldinvestors.com/ne...-Generation-Of-Orcas-In-Its-Care/default.aspx

 

[mshanson3121]

So what I'm wondering, and what they did not make clear in their press release is: will the orca shows be ending immediately? Or are they going to continue them until 2019, when they finally get their more natural, interactive set up finished?

 

[Ametista]

So what I'm wondering, and what they did not make clear in their press release is: will the orca shows be ending immediately? Or are they going to continue them until 2019, when they finally get their more natural, interactive set up finished?

Here is the email they sent me:

You're one of the first to learn about several historic announcements that SeaWorld is making. When we opened our doors more than 50 years ago, killer whales were feared and even hunted. Now, they are among the most beloved marine mammals on the planet thanks, in part, to SeaWorld.

Today's announcements reflect changes in society and SeaWorld's evolution with those changes:

• Last generation of killer whales: The killer whales in our care will be the last at SeaWorld. We haven't taken a whale from the wild in nearly 40 years. Now, we're going further and will end our orca breeding programs as of today. With the skills and dedication of our entire SeaWorld team, we will protect and care for these whales -- here at our parks -- for the rest of their lives where guests will continue to view and be inspired by them.
• Introducing new, inspiring, natural orca encounters rather than theatrical shows: We will introduce new, inspiring, natural orca encounters rather than theatrical shows, as a part of our ongoing commitment to education, marine science research and the rescue of marine animals. Everything will reflect the natural world and will focus on the research, education, care and respect that align with our mission to advance the well-being and conservation of these beautiful creatures. These programs will focus on orca enrichment, exercise and overall health, and the change will start in our San Diego park next year, followed by San Antonio and then Orlando in 2019.
• New partnership to protect oceans and marine mammals: We are pleased that The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) supports the changes we announced today. These two leading organizations are coming together for an agreement that will further both groups' missions. SeaWorld and the HSUS are joining together in a partnership focused on the health of our oceans and the animals that call them home. HSUS and SeaWorld have common ground, in that both of our organizations love animals and want to protect them. The partnership helps each group extend its own mission and is based on their joint interest in preserving and protecting wild animals and the places they live. The issues around animal conservation and protection are much bigger than any one organization, and we can be much stronger together.

While these decisions were not easy to make and represent a shift in our business, they do not change our core values and purpose: to protect animals in the wild and inspire our guests to join us in this critical mission.

Thank you for your continued support and we invite you to learn more about the new SeaWorld at SeaWorldCares.com/Future

 

[dnkmmw]

I am so happy to see this news! This is so long overdue. I'd love to see many more modifications for the animals that are currently there, but one step at a time. Hopefully putting a stop to forced inteactions will be next!

Dawn

 

[Jadeey]

I think this is a really good move, I suspect they would continue to struggle with their public image as long as they keep breeding orca. Hopefully this change will allow people to move away from criticising SeaWorld for having orca in captivity and have people start remembering all the amazing work that SeaWorld do.

 

[NorthshoreTigerFan]

^^^ What Jadeey said. I personally feel SW gets too bad of a rap for their orca shows. I can't say that I personally feel it is perfectly acceptable for SW to have the orca shows, but I can say that I appreciate all the positive work SW has done over the years and continues to do.

 

[Shanti]

Wonderful news and a great decision made by Sea World. Orcas are too large, mobile, family-oriented and intelligent to thrive in captivity. So glad to know that this is the last generation of orcas to have to suffer through that at Sea World. Hope this has a ripple effect to all other marine mammal parks around the world.

 

[Hannahinwonderland]

This is a great decision by SeaWorld! Perhaps they will even entice me to go there someday.

 

[macraven]

^^^ What Jadeey said. I personally feel SW gets too bad of a rap for their orca shows. I can't say that I personally feel it is perfectly acceptable for SW to have the orca shows, but I can say that I appreciate all the positive work SW has done over the years and continues to do.

So many people like to remember the past.
They won't let go of it.

I totally agree with you this is a step in the right direction and how Jadeey said it.

Hopefully, we all can find things about Sea World that will have us return each trip to Orlando.

Like you, I'm leaving the past behind and going forward with excitement of a new image of Sea World.

 

[Joanna71985]

I don't like this

 

[Shanti]

I don't like this

The orcas do.

 

[Shanti]

And you know this...how?

They've suffered greatly in captivity, and this spells the gradual ending of orca captivity. Orcas at Sea World have been kept in inappropriately small enclosures, been artificially inseminated several years younger than they would ever begin to breed in the wild, been traumatically separated from mothers/calves (orca mothers & calves stay together for life in the wild), & suffer captivity-related health problems (such as eroded teeth from chewing on bars & scraping off pool paint from boredom), being repeatedly "raked" by the teeth of other whales they can't escape from, contracting mosquito-borne viruses they would never be exposed to in their native northern waters, etc, etc, etc.

Sea World is finally doing the right thing now.

 

[keishashadow]

if i'm reading correctly, no changes to Orlando's 'theatrical shows' until 2019? as in they will continue until then to be replaced by 'encounters'.

is it safe to assume the dolphin & sea lion shows will continue?

maybe they'll bring the mime back

 

[Disney Fan Katt]

They've suffered greatly in captivity, and this spells the gradual ending of orca captivity. Orcas at Sea World have been kept in inappropriately small enclosures, been artificially inseminated several years younger than they would ever begin to breed in the wild, been traumatically separated from mothers/calves (orca mothers & calves stay together for life in the wild), & suffer captivity-related health problems (such as eroded teeth from chewing on bars & scraping off pool paint from boredom), being repeatedly "raked" by the teeth of other whales they can't escape from, contracting mosquito-bourne viruses they would never be exposed to in their native northern waters, etc, etc, etc.

Sea World is finally doing the right thing now.

Well said. Before people criticize the recent changes to the SeaWorld Orca policy they should pick up a book and do a little investigation into what the reality of the situation is. Look at some of the research that is being done with wild Orca. I think that this is a positive step for all parties involved. I don't understand why people feel the only way to enjoy an Orca is to have them dance for them in an unnatural setting. Go on a whale watch, take a trip to Alaska, enjoy the natural world. I vowed never to return to SeaWorld after seeing the conditions of the animal enclosures. Now that they are beginning to clean up their act, I may return.

Before all the haters jump in, I do enjoy well designed zoos and animal parks where the occupants are physically and mentally in a good state.

 

[mshanson3121]

[QUOT. "Disney Fan Katt, post: 55373702, member: 149173"]Well said. Before people criticize the recent changes to the SeaWorld Orca policy they should pick up a book and do a little investigation into what the reality of the situation is. Look at some of the research that is being done with wild Orca. I think that this is a positive step for all parties involved. I don't understand why people feel the only way to enjoy an Orca is to have them dance for them in an unnatural setting. Go on a whale watch, take a trip to Alaska, enjoy the natural world. I vowed never to return to SeaWorld after seeing the conditions of the animal enclosures. Now that they are beginning to clean up their act, I may return.

Before all the haters jump in, I do enjoy well designed zoos and animal parks where the occupants are physically and mentally in a good state.[/QUOTE]

This. I get a kick out of people acting like the future of children becoming interested in marine biology is now impossible without captive orcas parading around a tank. Please. Marine biology existed before Sea World, the interest likely spawned by seeing the animals in their natural habitat.

 

[Shanti]

Out of curiosity what makes you qualified to judge the institutions?

Information about the institutions that is available through court cases, research articles, nonfiction books & films, and interviews with people who work and have worked there. That, and the fact that we all have the right to make moral judgments.

 

[macraven]

This forum is for park questions and trip planning. It's not about sharing your views on animal rights or encouraging others to watch movies regarding SeaWorld. If you feel you need to post this kind of thread, you will need to post on the main Community Board...not this one.




Lets move on as Sea World has heard what the public has said about their past practices.
Sunshine gave us the link to the story and it sounds promising.
It's encouraging that SW has listened to the public.

If you can't play nice here, I will close the thread.

 

[KathyTX]

I've removed several comments from this thread.

This is a trip planning site, not a place for activism or debate. Please cooperate with our moderators.

 

[macraven]

No need for us to educate each other, we all believe what we want to believe and not much will ever change that.


Let's drop the debates at this point as the webmaster has already requested we do so in the post above.



Play nice and stop trying to one up each other on how they should believe.
So far this thread has information for both sides of the discussion and it is not for any of us to have this escalate to the point where a thread needs to be closed.

 

[Joanna71985]

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