Sea World & "The Cove"

[challer]

I have to share with you that I am troubled.

First of all, I just saw the movie "The Cove." It is a documentary about the Dolphin trade, Japan's horrible treatment of whales and dolphins in the past & today, and the quest to get video of the Japanese fishermen killing unsold dolphins. Very disturbing and important, and I think you should see it if you get the chance.

Now, I last went to Sea World 6 months ago in San Diego. I was pleased to see how SW supports rescuing aquatic habitats and protection of wildlife. However, after seeing this film, I don't feel so warm & fuzzy. It seems whales & dolphins have a terrible time in captivity (don't let the smile on a dolphin fool you). In addition, the dolphin market is what drives the Japanese to continue to capture dolphins from their coastline and sell them, and eventually kill the rest.

At the end of the film, there are the bullet points of "what you can do." One of these points is to go to http://savejapandolphins.com/ and sign the petition & pledge that you will not go to a dolphin show or any swim-with-dolphins facility (http://www.thepetitionsite.com/5/stop-dolphin-captivity).

I signed it, but not with 100% conviction.

While I understand the problems of placing whale & dolphins in captivity, I do see some benefit to bringing whales and dolphins up close to the public. Swimming with dolphins might inspire us to activism to protect them & their environments. Eduction at a Sea World show might expose our youth to the shrinking population of whales and the damage humankind is doing to them and their habitats. Why would you "Save the Whales" if you don't know what they look like?

If it is so terrible for whales and dolphins in captivity, and it is causing the Japanese to do what they are in their waters, I have no problem with never stepping foot into Sea World again. But I'm not necessarily on board with Sea World = Evil campaign.

Anyone else out there see the movie? Any thoughts?

 

[challer]

I guess nobody saw this movie.

 

[chirurgeon]

Chad, I haven't seen the movie. I can't watch those kind of movies. I saw a clip of it on GMA this morning. Apparently the Japanese fishermen have released the dolphins they had gathered this year.

I am not one of those people who believes zoos and places where animals are evil. I believe they help those of us who don't have the opportunity to interact with wildlife know what they are like and appreciate them.

Kim

 

[aspen37]

I have been to Discovery Cove and all of the Dolphins their have been born and raised by SW. I won't go to any other Dolphin encounters because they are captured Dolphins. At Discovery Cove the Dolphins are not made to do anything they don't want too do. Our Dolphin did not want to jump out of the water so she didn't have too. It was great because our Dolphin want to hang out with us. She was very sweet.

 

[challer]

Chad, I haven't seen the movie. I can't watch those kind of movies. I saw a clip of it on GMA this morning. Apparently the Japanese fishermen have released the dolphins they had gathered this year.

I am not one of those people who believes zoos and places where animals are evil. I believe they help those of us who don't have the opportunity to interact with wildlife know what they are like and appreciate them.

Kim

I don't believe in the "inherent evil" of zoos/marine parks are evil as well. Which is the dilemma I have. If you would have seen the film, you would know that the Japanese fisherman don't keep any dolphins: they sell what they can to purchasers from marine parks, and whatever is left over is brought to another secluded beach where they are speared to death and used for meat. Nothing stays over, so I'm not sure what was released.

One of the shocking parts of the film is to see the lengths the fisherman and the local government go to to keep others from filming this process - especially the spearing beach. They clearly want this kept quiet (which is the fun Mission Impossible/Ocean's Eleven part of the film - to get the elusive film with audio of the process).

It's an intense film, and I can understand why one couldn't bear to see it. But my seeing it made me think twice. It's that profoundly disturbing to the point that I question the whole Marine Park thing.

I am not saying I'm anti-Sea World. I'm just not sure if I am, but I likely won't visit Sea World until I get more answers, or I am convinced that having a place like Sea World is that important to overlook the atrocities related to the dolphin trade. I need that convincing.

 

[challer]

I have been to Discovery Cove and all of the Dolphins their have been born and raised by SW. I won't go to any other Dolphin encounters because they are captured Dolphins. At Discovery Cove the Dolphins are not made to do anything they don't want too do. Our Dolphin did not want to jump out of the water so she didn't have too. It was great because our Dolphin want to hang out with us. She was very sweet.

That's great about Discovery Cove - that they don't use captured dolphins - but how did they get their own dolphins to be born and raised there to begin with? How did they get their "Adam & Eve?" And I commend your decision about not going to Dolphin encounters - it is for that reason that I also may stay away from the Atlantis Resort in Bahamas (even though I love that place).

I do understand that, however the question remains: how well do dolphins actually do in captivity? Their "sonar organs" make a nuclear sub's sonar seem as primitive as a tin toy, and these organs are meant for wide open spaces - not tanks. There was an episode in Baltimore of dolphins leaping out of tanks and suffocating themselves because the filter system noise was driving their sonar organs crazy.

It's also the whole idea of the Marine Park - if there is a park (say Discovery Cove for the time being) that does it right and makes a ton of money off of it, then hundreds of other copycat parks pop up all over the world who don't do it right, obtain their wildlife from their original habitats, and treat them less than humanely - all to cash in. It's all over Japan right now!

While I'm sure Sea World franchise is probably tops when it comes to marine life care, I am concerned because Sea World was so against this dolphin activist (who made the film) even before this film was created. Why would Sea World try to shut him down if they are supposed to be such top-notch advocates for marine wildlife?

I'm waiting for someone who actually saw the film to chime in here.

 

[challer]

Progress seems to have been made here, but apparently the killing continues.

http://www.takepart.com/blog/2009/09/23/progress-made-in-japan-more-work-lies-ahead-for-obarry-and-team/

 

[julieannbabe]

Challer - whats your opinion on captivity this two years later since you first wrote this thread?

 

[challer]

Challer - whats your opinion on captivity this two years later since you first wrote this thread?

Not much of a change (especially after "Dolphin Wars," which was the follow up to "The Cove" that shows the killing still lives on). Although I do feel more strongly that marine parks like SW are a significantly inferior way of getting to know wildlife than other equally or more affordable experiences out there (whale watching tours, sea turtle salvage nurseries, etc.). So, my uncertainty about attending SW based solely on captivity issues remains intact, I feel more strongly that I will not visit any marine park because of my disapproval with its methods of "education" in addition to the captivity issue.

 

[julieannbabe]

Not much of a change (especially after "Dolphin Wars," which was the follow up to "The Cove" that shows the killing still lives on). Although I do feel more strongly that marine parks like SW are a significantly inferior way of getting to know wildlife than other equally or more affordable experiences out there (whale watching tours, sea turtle salvage nurseries, etc.). So, my uncertainty about attending SW based solely on captivity issues remains intact, I feel more strongly that I will not visit any marine park because of my disapproval with its methods of "education" in addition to the captivity issue.

kool. thats good to know.

i am pro freedom too. x

 

[beachwarmer]

Just as a note the US Navy in San Diego had a dolphin program. The dolphins that are in the original dolphin programs came from the retired Navy animals.

Dolphin are much like humans in that they engage in reproduction activity for fun. Male dolphins are the ones who need to reach sexual maturity. It is a natural behaviour for the dolphins, thus the breeding within the programs.

These dolphin need to be looked after and due to their nature there will be new births on a regular basis. Using them to educate the public about marine life and the various effect seems to be a good option. With the assistance of the Nation Association of Marine Mammal Parks as well as governments in various counties that host these programs no new dolphins need to be purchased.

 

[MacDisney]

I saw the movie and I am shocked more people haven't either seen or heard of it. I too have stopped going to marine life parks (I am not a fan of the circus either) I visited the one near my home (on LI) that is a rescue. My daughter begged me on our last cruise to do the dolphin encounter and I had just seen the movie and said no - we are now planning our next cruise for this July and I was searching for info on how these animals were obtained since of course she wants to pet a dolphin. SO far I have talked my kids into watching the animals from the boat as we leave port...but I am wondering if there are any dolphin rescues?