Post by Flitzerbiest on Apr 7, 2014 23:14:44 GMT -6
hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_XGR_KILLER_WHALE_CAPTIVITY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
"Blackfish" is certainly not a dispassionate offering of cold, hard fact, but given the disparate stories being told by SeaWorld and "Blackfish", which do you personally find more credible, and do you think that ending the Shamu shows is a good idea.
I went to SW as a kid and once about 18 years ago. We also took our kids to one of the proliferating "Dolphin Experience" type areas perhaps 12 years ago. Here is what observed:
1. SW's made (at least 18 years ago) repetitive and nauseating claims to be operating at the forefront of Orca research despite the obvious circus nature of the shows they present. It struck me as if Ringling Brothers claimed to be doing serious lion research.
2. The trainers at all of the above sorts of facilities really seem to love the animals. I doubt there is much fault there.
3. The claims of the trainers, for example at a recent conference hotel where I stayed in the FL keys, can be demonstrated to be false through sites like this: www.ceta-base.com/phinventory/
4. The DE-like places are basically high priced petting zoos, some with shockingly small and shallow swimming areas.
Among the false claims were that none of their animals were ever wild captures, that they lived longer in captivity than in the wild, that they were so happy that they would never try to escape, etc. Again, in line with #2 here, I think what is going on is mostly shortish term employees regurgitating their employers' and supervisors' party line. I was able to find the life history of all four of the beauties before that part of the facility opened.
Over all, I feel bad that we participated in this. Have any of you? Did you sour on the experience too?
"Blackfish" is certainly not a dispassionate offering of cold, hard fact, but given the disparate stories being told by SeaWorld and "Blackfish", which do you personally find more credible, and do you think that ending the Shamu shows is a good idea.
I went to SW as a kid and once about 18 years ago. We also took our kids to one of the proliferating "Dolphin Experience" type areas perhaps 12 years ago. Here is what observed:
1. SW's made (at least 18 years ago) repetitive and nauseating claims to be operating at the forefront of Orca research despite the obvious circus nature of the shows they present. It struck me as if Ringling Brothers claimed to be doing serious lion research.
2. The trainers at all of the above sorts of facilities really seem to love the animals. I doubt there is much fault there.
3. The claims of the trainers, for example at a recent conference hotel where I stayed in the FL keys, can be demonstrated to be false through sites like this: www.ceta-base.com/phinventory/
4. The DE-like places are basically high priced petting zoos, some with shockingly small and shallow swimming areas.
Among the false claims were that none of their animals were ever wild captures, that they lived longer in captivity than in the wild, that they were so happy that they would never try to escape, etc. Again, in line with #2 here, I think what is going on is mostly shortish term employees regurgitating their employers' and supervisors' party line. I was able to find the life history of all four of the beauties before that part of the facility opened.
Over all, I feel bad that we participated in this. Have any of you? Did you sour on the experience too?