SeaWorld's Response to "The Cove"

[AnninIowa]

Listening to the podcast now and Pete talking about watching the documentary, "The Cove". I have only seen parts of this on Oprah last week; not sure I have the stomach to watch the whole thing. I don't know that I'll be able to visit a park with dolphins again.

However, SeaWorld has put out a response the the accusation the they get their dolphins from these hunts: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32274599.

Still, regardless of where SeaWorld gets their dolphins, I now feel terribly guilty for going to SeaWorld!

 

[iwrbnd]

I'm having the exact same feelings!

 

[maiziezoe]

I own The Cove and I still haven't watched it. I heard it's disturbing but I do want to see it.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Listening to the podcast now and Pete talking about watching the documentary, "The Cove". I have only seen parts of this on Oprah last week; not sure I have the stomach to watch the whole thing. I don't know that I'll be able to visit a park with dolphins again.

However, SeaWorld has put out a response the the accusation the they get their dolphins from these hunts: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32274599.

Still, regardless of where SeaWorld gets their dolphins, I now feel terribly guilty for going to SeaWorld!

You know there are dolphins at Epcot.

It is horrible what they do and I know I will never be able to watch that documentary. I saw a snippet of Hayden Panitierre talking about it and that was more than enough for me.

Suzanne

 

[AnninIowa]

You know there are dolphins at Epcot.

It is horrible what they do and I know I will never be able to watch that documentary. I saw a snippet of Hayden Panitierre talking about it and that was more than enough for me.

Suzanne

I can't stand the Seas Pavilion at Epcot. At least at SeaWorld the animals have space and fresh air - the poor ones at Epcot are just stuck inside those indoor tanks. Sad!

 

[MelissaFromRI]

I started sobbing when I heard Pete describe what he saw in "The Cove"

I am an animal lover and I can't imagine hurting an innocent dolphin

 

[richard_andmel]

Richard watched this movie on a plane about 10 months ago. I haven't been able to bring myself to watch it. We have come to the decision though that we will not be visiting seaworld or any park associated with it.

 

[doconeill]

I think people should read the article linked in the OP...

Even O'Barry said that SeaWorld is not currently in any way currently involved in the actions in Taiji (although may have 20+ years ago, along with everyone else at the time), but blames SeaWorld for creating a "market" for dolphins which allows Taiji to still exist, and takes no direct action against them.

That's like saying that so-and-so high end clothing maker, with everything made with skilled and properly paid labor, is responsible for 3rd world sweatshops making cheap knockoffs because they created a "market" for them...

Not saying that SeaWorld is completely blameless, though...they obviously have problematic "friends"...

Edit: I may have been coming off like a SeaWorld defender - it was more my interpretation of that article that makes it seems like SeaWorld is being vilified a little too much in light of The Cove, and that statement really stood out for me. It still disgusts me that this stuff still happens at all, and that SeaWorld and others benefited in the past from it.

 

[crazy4stitch]

I haven't seen this documentary yet, I did order it from Netflix after hearing Pete talk about it. I have been fighting the urge to go to SeaWorld now for a few years because I have been uncomfortable about "encouraging" the captivity of orcas and dolphins. My youngest and I are avid watchers of Whale Wars, I sometimes refer to her as my little ecoterrorist. It is her dream to become a marine biologist. I was glad to read the link listed above and see that SeaWorld is no longer getting their animals this way, but I still don't like the idea that they keep them in small tanks and out of their natural habitat. I get that they are born in captivity and can't be released, but I just don't think they should have a breeding program. At the same time, I know SeaWorld has a great program that rescues animals. Like all the turtles that got caught in the cold this past winter. Can you tell I'm conflicted? I hope Pete can get some more info, and am interested in the rest of the boards opinions.

 

[dkostel]

I've heard good things about Seaworld, what they do for animals in the wild and their rescue programs. And unfortunately, people seem to care more about creatures that they've had some experience with, which is another role places like sea world and zoos play. It would be nice if there wasn't a need for these places, if they were strictly entertainment enterprises it would be easy to be against them. But unfortunately there are currently some species that only exist in captivity, and others that have been brought back from the brink of extinction by captive breeding programs.
I cannot speak for Seaworld employees, but in college I worked in a local zoo and you'd have a hard time finding people that care more about animals than the people that I knew there. They weren't there because they loved cleaning animal dung, and they definitely weren't there for the money.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I haven't seen this documentary yet, I did order it from Netflix after hearing Pete talk about it. I have been fighting the urge to go to SeaWorld now for a few years because I have been uncomfortable about "encouraging" the captivity of orcas and dolphins. My youngest and I are avid watchers of Whale Wars, I sometimes refer to her as my little ecoterrorist. It is her dream to become a marine biologist. I was glad to read the link listed above and see that SeaWorld is no longer getting their animals this way, but I still don't like the idea that they keep them in small tanks and out of their natural habitat. I get that they are born in captivity and can't be released, but I just don't think they should have a breeding program. At the same time, I know SeaWorld has a great program that rescues animals. Like all the turtles that got caught in the cold this past winter. Can you tell I'm conflicted? I hope Pete can get some more info, and am interested in the rest of the boards opinions.

I'm not well researched on the subject, but are the dolphins at Sea World all that much different than the animals at Animal Kingdom? They are also kept in a very small enviroment, compared to being in the wild? I know that Disney does alot of rescue work and work for endangered species, ect...but so does Sea World.

 

[ericafny]

I am so torn on this topic. It was extremely hard for me to listen as Pete describe some of the scenes in the Cove movie (which I am not sure if he mentioned but it won an academy award). I am a huge animal lover and hate to hear anything bad about animals being harmed. I have never been to Seaworld either but this has nothing to do with any of this, it just doesn't interest me. I have been to many "aquariums" so when I go to Orlando I would rather do Disney and Universal.

However, I do understand Seaworld's point that they spend a lot of money on research and education. There are always two sides to every story so who REALLY knows what goes on..

I enjoy going to zoos and I really enjoy walking the trails at AK. I would like to think the people working directly with the animals have all the best intentions and truly care for them.

 

[dpuck1998]

Richard watched this movie on a plane about 10 months ago. I haven't been able to bring myself to watch it. We have come to the decision though that we will not be visiting seaworld or any park associated with it.

Based on hearing about the movie? You should read the article posted above.

I think people should read the article linked in the OP...

Even O'Barry said that SeaWorld is not currently in any way currently involved in the actions in Taiji (although may have 20+ years ago, along with everyone else at the time), but blames SeaWorld for creating a "market" for dolphins which allows Taiji to still exist, and takes no direct action against them.

That's like saying that so-and-so high end clothing maker, with everything made with skilled and properly paid labor, is responsible for 3rd world sweatshops making cheap knockoffs because they created a "market" for them...

Not saying that SeaWorld is completely blameless, though...they obviously have problematic "friends"...

Edit: I may have been coming off like a SeaWorld defender - it was more my interpretation of that article that makes it seems like SeaWorld is being vilified a little too much in light of The Cove, and that statement really stood out for me. It still disgusts me that this stuff still happens at all, and that SeaWorld and others benefited in the past from it.

my thoughts exactly.

 

[Neverland98]

I haven't seen the movie, but I read the response article posted by the OP. I can agree with the anger that is going about...why can't there be a way to stop these killings? I think pointing to the past and saying that is how it used to be is naive. Lots has changed. I hope that as we grow as a human population, so does our conscience.

I do hope zoos, aquariums, and other centers that "hold" animals consider turning more toward rescue and preservation, as opposed to breeding (except for endangered species) or capture/collection. We've visited zoos and aquariums with our own family and it does pull you two ways, not to mention the questions from your children. I'd prefer to NOT see an animal on display if it was simply captured to be brought there, especially ones that require large amounts of space in which to live. I believe there could be more effort in protecting the NATURAL areas in which these animals live and promoting tourism to visit them in more eco-friendly ways. (Just look at the US National Park system, and you have an avenue into viewing animals where they live, free to be wild, but still protected while on those lands)

This might mean I may never see a Bengal tiger up close. However, I may visit the Southwest US and see javelina and coyotes. Or I may travel to the Northeast US and view deer, moose, and bear.

Perhaps there will be a shift, but it will be slow. Also, zoos and aquariums will always play a role in the preservation of endangered species, the home to current captive animals, and a part in the rehabilitation of injured animals.

 

[richard_andmel]

Based on hearing about the movie? You should read the article posted above.



my thoughts exactly.

I have read the article. The reason we have decided has more to do with the fact we aren't happy with dolphins being held in the first place. We both feel they are too inteligent / quite possibly sentient to some extent. This is a very personal decision we have made. We aren't trying to make this decision for anyone else.

I will say that I don't think a company doing good works in one area, even extremely good work as Seaworld appears to do negates anything bad they do. So this part of the argument doesn't sway me.

Once again, everyone should do what their own feelings lead them to. No judgement here. I just wanted to say what we had decided.

Mel

 

[dpuck1998]

I have read the article. The reason we have decided has more to do with the fact we aren't happy with dolphins being held in the first place. We both feel they are too inteligent / quite possibly sentient to some extent. This is a very personal decision we have made. We aren't trying to make this decision for anyone else.

I will say that I don't think a company doing good works in one area, even extremely good work as Seaworld appears to do negates anything bad they do. So this part of the argument doesn't sway me.

Once again, everyone should do what their own feelings lead them to. No judgement here. I just wanted to say what we had decided.

Mel

Based on your post it sounded like the movie swayed your from going and not just the fact that dolphins are kept in captivity. I can understand the second part if that is the case. What bad things to see Seaworld doing other than keeping animals in captivity? Like others have said, this should keep you from going to Animal Kingdom and EPCOT also.

 

[kaligal]

I have read the article. The reason we have decided has more to do with the fact we aren't happy with dolphins being held in the first place. We both feel they are too inteligent / quite possibly sentient to some extent. This is a very personal decision we have made. We aren't trying to make this decision for anyone else.

I will say that I don't think a company doing good works in one area, even extremely good work as Seaworld appears to do negates anything bad they do. So this part of the argument doesn't sway me.

Once again, everyone should do what their own feelings lead them to. No judgement here. I just wanted to say what we had decided.

Mel

Will you also be scratching Disney off your list of parks to visit?

 

[pktbMouse]

We went to Seaworld last year and did the Dining with Shamu thing. I think thats when it really hit me. We were sitting there enjoying lunch and these poor Orcas were just laying there in the small pool, floating and not moving. They were totally listless. They were covered with scars that you could only see up close and all their dorsal fins had completely flopped over ( a sign of stress I have recently found out). It was heartbreaking to see them like that. My husband and I were shocked...there poor creatures, what a terrible life it must be for them. These animals primarily live by sonar so you could imagine what it must be like for them in such a small confined space. Like taking someone , blindfolding them and making them deaf or something similar. When I asked about all the scars on them they said that happens alot in captivity as they are in a small space and they can get aggressive with each other.
We have never been back to Seaworld after that day and dont think we will in the future. The whole experience really opened our eyes.
On a different note..I see that one of the female dolphins today died at Discovery Cove when they collided in mid air. No doubt due to the small space they are made to perform in. Yet again something that sours my taste for anything Seaworld.
I apologise if this offends anyone..but its just our personal experience.

 

[Joshua_me]

 

[AnninIowa]

I was thinking about this again last night and remembering how much I loved visiting SeaWorld. I don't believe SeaWorld gets their dolphins from Japan or in these kinds of captures. However, I struggle with these animals being in captivity. Those who have posted about Animal Kingdom are absolutely right in their points - is there a difference between a dolphin in captivity or a giraffe in captivity? Are we okay with the birds in captivity but not the orka whales? As brutal as the scenes in "The Cove" are, is herding up cows and pigs for market any better? Have you seen how chickens are slaughtered?

I struggle with eating meat - while I'd like to give it up completely, I (and most of us) are used to eating meat. When at Disney, I stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge and eat my chicken Ceasar salad while looking out at the birds on the Savannah. We don't often think about how our burgers and chicken fingers end up on our plates. Being in Iowa, I always joke that there is pork in the water!

I guess we all have to find the place we are most comfortable with in terms of eating and interacting with animals. It's like some vegetarians who eat fish.

As for SeaWorld, I really do think that on the whole their hearts are in the right place. They have learned and grown over the years, too, and haven't captured dolphins for their parks in decades. I really believe that the trainers and keepers there love the animals and do the best for them. Is the best thing to keep them in captivity? Well, that's for each one of us to decide individually, at least for now.