SeaWorld says goodbye to killer whales

[crazy4wdw]

SeaWorld says current generation of killer whales at parks will be its last

(CNN)The killer whales currently in SeaWorld's care will be the last generation of the mammals enclosed at the water parks, according to a company announcement posted on its website.

"Why the big news? SeaWorld has been listening and we're changing. Society is changing and we're changing with it," the company said. "SeaWorld is finding new ways to continue to deliver on our purpose to inspire all our guest to take action to protect wild animals and wild places."

http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/17/us/seaworld-last-generation-of-orcas/index.html

https://seaworldcares.com/future

 

[anneboleyn]

Yay!! It is about time!!

I wish there was something they could do with the current whales that they have, though They have suffered enough.

 

[kamik86]

Yay!! It is about time!!

I wish there was something they could do with the current whales that they have, though They have suffered enough.

The current whales would end up either being euthanized or sold to another park where they were in the same conditions if they stopped the shows. Many of the ones they have have been there for years could no longer survive in the wild or in some cases never have because they were born at the parks.

 

[anneboleyn]

The current whales would end up either being euthanized or sold to another park where they were in the same conditions if they stopped the shows. Many of the ones they have have been there for years could no longer survive in the wild or in some cases never have because they were born at the parks.

Oh I am fully aware that there is nothing that can be done. It is actually worse than just being born at the parks...they have created a species by breeding two separate species of orcas. There is no way they can survive in the wild. That's why my wishful thinking of a better life for them is nothing more than wishful thinking.

God, I hate SeaWorld.

 

[rteetz]

Oh I am fully aware that there is nothing that can be done. It is actually worse than just being born at the parks...they have created a species by breeding two separate species of orcas. There is no way they can survive in the wild. That's why my wishful thinking of a better life for them is nothing more than wishful thinking.

God, I hate SeaWorld.

Personally I've never been to seaworld. While I don't think orcas should be held in captivity seaworld still does amazing work that often gets overshadowed. Seaworld is always out as one of the first organizations when there's an oil spill or when an animal is injured to help them. Seaworld really isn't all that bad. Yes they have done some bad things but they also do a lot of good.

 

[anneboleyn]

Personally I've never been to seaworld. While I don't think orcas should be held in captivity seaworld still does amazing work that often gets overshadowed. Seaworld is always out as one of the first organizations when there's an oil spill or when an animal is injured to help them. Seaworld really isn't all that bad. Yes they have done some bad things but they also do a lot of good.

Eh, we will have to agree to disagree then. I don't think any amount of so-called good work can overshadow the horrible things they have done to some of the most intelligent animals on the planet.

To me, going to SeaWorld is no better than going to a dog fight.

 

[rteetz]

Eh, we will have to agree to disagree then. I don't think any amount of so-called good work can overshadow the horrible things they have done to some of the most intelligent animals on the planet.

To me, going to SeaWorld is no better than going to a dog fight.

Like I said sea worlds good deed never make national news like their bad things do. Also blackfish the cause of this problem exploding like it has had a one side agenda. Just a couple days ago I saw a Seaworld story about them helping an animal in distress. They really do a lot of good work.

 

[anneboleyn]

Like I said sea worlds good deed never make national news like their bad things do. Also blackfish the cause of this problem exploding like it has had a one side agenda. Just a couple days ago I saw a Seaworld story about them helping an animal in distress. They really do a lot of good work.

I admire your optimism haha.

 

[rteetz]

I admire your optimism haha.

Look I agree with you about the orcas but people don't realize they do, do good things. If you think everything sea world does is bad than the same could be said for Disney who has plenty of animals in captivity at AK.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

The most obvious announcement in history

 

[sunshine1]

I admire your optimism haha.

SeaWorld help animals in the wild but it is only .6% of their profits that they spend.

 

[anneboleyn]

Look I agree with you about the orcas but people don't realize they do, do good things. If you think everything sea world does is bad than the same could be said for Disney who has plenty of animals in captivity at AK.

I think the main motive behind this "good work" is trying to get people off their backs for being horrible to other animals.

 

[rteetz]

I think the main motive behind this "good work" is trying to get people off their backs for being horrible to other animals.

No I really don't think it is. SeaWorld isn't trying to be evil they just unfortunately fell into it. They have good intentions. Like I said before if you think SeaWorld is so horrible than so is Disney, Busch gardens, and most zoos.

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2016/03/seaworld-releases-manatee-rescued-in.html?m=1

 

[anneboleyn]

No I really don't think it is. SeaWorld isn't trying to be evil they just unfortunately fell into it. They have good intentions. Like I said before if you think SeaWorld is so horrible than so is Disney, Busch gardens, and most zoos.

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2016/03/seaworld-releases-manatee-rescued-in.html?m=1

well, actually, I do think most of those places are horrible haha.

And I don't count stealing baby whales from their mothers as good intentions.

 

[rteetz]

well, actually, I do think most of those places are horrible haha.

And I don't count stealing baby whales from their mothers as good intentions.

Ok honest question then. If you think Disney, Busch Gardens, and Seaworld are horrible why are you on a Disney board?

We have differing opinions and that's fine I'm just trying to shed light on the fact that Seaworld does do good things.

 

[anneboleyn]

Ok honest question then. If you think Disney, Busch Gardens, and Seaworld are horrible why are you on a Disney board?

We have differing opinions and that's fine I'm just trying to shed light on the fact that Seaworld does do good things.

I don't consider Disney to be bad. I know they have animals, and I wish those animals could be in their natural environment, but Disney has given them wonderful enclosures where they can be with other animals. And to be honest, it's a lot different to have lions and giraffes in captivity than whales and other animals that have a higher intelligence. I'm not saying animals with lower intelligence don't deserve to be free, but they definitely don't suffer the way whales do.

I included a picture that shows the size of SeaWorld's parking lot (outlined in greenish) compared to the whales' tanks (outlined in blue). How anyone can think this is okay is beyond me.

And maybe I am just a *******, but I refuse to let people off the hook for the horrible things they do just because every now and then they do something nice.

 

[SureAsLiz]

I don't consider Disney to be bad. I know they have animals, and I wish those animals could be in their natural environment, but Disney has given them wonderful enclosures where they can be with other animals. And to be honest, it's a lot different to have lions and giraffes in captivity than whales and other animals that have a higher intelligence. I'm not saying animals with lower intelligence don't deserve to be free, but they definitely don't suffer the way whales do.

I'm not sure I would call the dolphin enclosures wonderful in any way, especially in relation to their intelligence

 

[robinb]

I think this is a step in the right direction. I was thinking about visiting SW last year but had second thoughts. I will definitely reconsider that for next year.

I included a picture that shows the size of SeaWorld's parking lot (outlined in greenish) compared to the whales' tanks (outlined in blue). How anyone can think this is okay is beyond me.

I know you're passionate about this but throwing out red herrings like comparing the parking lot size and the orca enclosure size does not help your arguments.

 

[Eoghann]

It's something they needed to do. Public opinion on this subject has turned dramatically in the last few years.

If you go back 30 years what was considered acceptable in Zoos etc. would be unthinkable today. I don't see much value in harping on mistakes of decades past, but it is important to keep up with current attitudes.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I don't consider Disney to be bad. I know they have animals, and I wish those animals could be in their natural environment, but Disney has given them wonderful enclosures where they can be with other animals. And to be honest, it's a lot different to have lions and giraffes in captivity than whales and other animals that have a higher intelligence. I'm not saying animals with lower intelligence don't deserve to be free, but they definitely don't suffer the way whales do.

I included a picture that shows the size of SeaWorld's parking lot (outlined in greenish) compared to the whales' tanks (outlined in blue). How anyone can think this is okay is beyond me.

And maybe I am just a *******, but I refuse to let people off the hook for the horrible things they do just because every now and then they do something nice.

This is as cherry picked an argument as i can think of...

No "enclosure" is proper for an African elephant or a bottlenose dolphin. No matter how much money joe rohde blew on it.

They are nearly as intelligent...they just don't have hands, access to munitions, and greed Ingrained into their Dna.

The real invasive species on this planet is heavily overpopulated and destructive. There are about 8,000,000,000 of them...hint hint.

Here's the reality: this planet isnt biggest enough for the entire kingdom of life and the one species that thinks it owns it...and makes up fancy stories to justify.

Not all people are "bad"...most are not "good"...
But there have been studies done that since th rise of public zoo's in the late 1800's that they have done more good than harm. Things do raise consciousness for the better...and most zoos and aquariums bring as much good as bad. It may be a 51/49% split...but still.

We knock off species - forever - on an almost daily level. But the reality is it possibly could be worse without the zoo's and the seaworlds of the world.

It's not that some beatniks saw a lion or an orca In a zoo and then said "I'm gonna go get me one"...though that happens...

It's that the invasive species takes too much. In South Africa elephants are culled annually because they require too much range - farmland - and the people are spreading out...it's not their fault.

I'll take an educational facility that makes hard choices to do some good...even if they make a profit. Sea world deserves grief but they have probably gotten too much. Ringling brothers...for all their outdated dispicable record...may have done good.

And don't think the Walt Disney company...on a profit driven pricing bender and in bed with perhaps the most dispicable regime on earth...is on the high ground.