Should orcas (killer whales) be released back to ocean or remain the attraction?

[PoP]

I was watching a documentary on orcas called "Blackfish" on CNN that one weekend, the film shows orcas were famous attractions on water parks like "SeaWorld", "Marine Land", "Loro Parque and the defunct "Sealand of the Pacific". The film mainly focuses on a famous orca Tilikum was the main attraction to both "Sealand of the Pacific" and "SeaWorld", but the film explained that Tilikum was responsible to a very few deaths including the recent death of Dawn Brancheau. I was really skeptical about the film, I think the water parks are just covering up the truth over the controversy. As for Tilikum, I find him very different to Keiko as we all know as "Willie" in the film "Free Willy", but they both have their dorsal fins drooped and they worked with the same trainer Colin Baird. And I recently heard that theLegislative Assembly of Ontario passed the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment Act, which prohibits the acquisition or breeding of Orcas in Ontario, which I believed it was best.

I have to say I believe that Tilikum should be released back to the ocean and other orcas too, like Keiko have been released years ago. I really do love to see the orcas in water parks, but I think I'd rather see them in the wild if I have to.

*Yes meaning for releasing back in the ocean
*No meaning for remaining in captivity

 

[reibish]

Ok...so...

I work in the same industry. Attractions. Tourism. Amusement and theme parks.

There is a LOT about Blackfish that people don't know. Many people in that film were duped into the type of production it was. CNN promotes Blackfish so hard because it owns the production company that produced it.

I am going to tell you, as someone who works in this industry (for ten years) ... these animals' lives, well-being, and health are NUMBER ONE. Period zip the end. No matter what people what to tell you. There is SO MUCH R&D (research and development) that goes into each and every thing ever put into a park - especially attractions involving live animals. SeaWorld operates one of the most prolific conservation programs.

Does that mean everything they do is perfect? No, of course not. I know the corporate greed and such first-hand. But for the risk involved of having a live animal act, especially one that requires capturing calves - that is not something they take lightly. BECAUSE of things that Blackfish tries to expose, that is the risk they want to eliminate as much as possible.

Does Blackfish make valid points? Absolutely. Are they honest? Welp...all I can say is that there is a lot Blackfish fanatics don't understand about the attractions industry. There is a lot of perceived risk versus actual risk and they are very different. In the end I'm on SeaWorld's side for the most part. And FWIW, I'm a vegetarian who hates PETA but also cannot stand any animal cruelty. I get where people are coming from, but I understand internal stuff way too well to not be able to speak up on that matter.

Marine biologists know heck of a lot more than someone who watched 90 minute film and suddenly realized animals matter.

 

[MJloverszone]

do you like naruto or death note?:rollin:

 

[PoP]

Well I do believe Tilikum might've done for what happened then for some reason, like he could be sick, stressed, home sick or just instincts. I'm not trying to fault the water parks, all I'm saying is I think it might be best for Tikilum and other orcas should be released back to the ocean. People wanted Keiko to be released back to ocean and they did. And if you wanna stick by SeaWorld and leave the orcas in captivity that's fine, that what I was asking and did a poll for. And those who cared for the orcas did a great job of keeping them as healthy as possible. Really.

do you like naruto or death note?:rollin:

This isn't the anime thread, you going off topic here. Ask me again at the Anime Thread will you please and I will answer.

 

[MIST]

Orcas are big animals and in the wild they travel long distances together with their family.
In Seaworlds world they are prisoners.
In seaworld they can say these animals are number one for us and we care about their health but as she says in this video orcas in captivity are not like orcas in the wild.
She is an orca biologist by the way.
Orcas in the wild don´t have stereotyped behavior.
[video=youtube;X6EzCHKpWvo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6EzCHKpWvo[/video]

They say that Lolitas mother is still alive 80 years old in the ocean, but it seems it´s not common to survive 43 years in captivity

Hugo´s story
[video=youtube;asq8rUWn2Sw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asq8rUWn2Sw[/video]

Orcas , dolphins should be released into sea pens to begin with.where they are trained to hunt and other things they need to know to live in total freedom
Maybe there are animals who never learn to hunt but they still have more space in a sea pen than in a tank.

I´ve noticed that orcas in captivity have babies.Another thing I´ve noticed is that most babies dies very young- it´s the same for dolphins.

[video=youtube;5Jlp8uUZsFw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Jlp8uUZsFw[/video]

 

[CaptainEoLove85]

Ultimately yes, unless under certain circumstances such as for rehabilitation or if they can't survive in the wild. For performing tricks, no. They're not dogs. I used to go to Seaworld when I was a kid and I enjoyed those shows, but I didn't know any better back then. I wouldn't go there now. I've seen dolphins and whales in the wild and that's the best way to see them if you have the opportunity.

 

[MIST]

 

[Bubs]

No animals should be kept in captivity to entertain people

Just to prove #SeaWorld is all about profit, the car park is bigger than the Orca tanks...#Blackfish

Oceans are their homes and to see tiny tank where they have to live is mind boggling:no:

 

[PoP]

Here's a documentary on the life of Keiko and how he's being released back in the ocean home.

[YOUTUBE]YYyU3USJ-8E[/YOUTUBE]

And a pic of Michael seeing an orca as a bonus.

 

[MIST]

Miami Beach Mayor Takes a Stand to Free Lolita the Loneliest Orca

Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine publicly announced that Lolita the orca must be released from Miami Seaquarium, adding yet another voice to the hundreds of thousands calling for an end to her captivity.

Lolita is the orca who has been held against her will since 1970 at Miami Seaquarium after being stolen from the ocean along with six other orcas during the infamous Penn Cove round up in Puget Sound, Washington–the horrific, violent incident that left some of her fellow whales dead.

In 2003, Lolita was the subject of the documentary Lolita: Slave to Entertainment, which told the story of the barbaric hunt. Of the seven orcas ripped from their family that day and sold to marine parks across the world to live out their lives in slavery, three decades later, Lolita is the lone survivor.

She “lives” in captivity at the Miami Seaquarium, if you consider a 20 feet long, 7,000 pound whale confined to a ridiculously small tank living. Her tank is so small, it violates the Animal Welfare Act’s minimum size requirements, which explains why charges were filed against the USDA challenging its absurd decision to renew Seaquarium’s federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA) license. The area she swims in is 80 feet wide with 35 feet between the outer wall and the island barrier in the middle.

Her history marred by tragedy, since Lolita’s capture from the wild there has been a steady stream of actions calling for her release from activists, animal specialists and celebrities.

But still she remains “Lolita the Loneliest Orca“ since her former orca tank mate Hugo died in 1980 after repeatedly smashing his head into the walls of the tank. Animal Legal Defense Fund says, “Hugo’s sudden death left Lolita moping at the bottom of her tank in a state not unlike bereavement.” She hasn’t had an orca companion since; that’s 35 years of loneliness, and counting.

People Continue Fighting for Lolita’s Release

Since Lolita’s capture in 1970, animal advocates have been calling for her release.

In January hundreds of protesters marched at Virginia Key Beach Park to demand the release of Lolita. Activists called their action “an anti-captivity movement.”

In 2013, the Orca Network, Animal Legal Defense Fund and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals filed a petition seeking to have Lolita protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and earlier this year the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced the good news that she will be included.

Things seemed to be looking up for Lolita until the National Marine Fisheries Service announced that the whale’s inclusion in the endangered listing does not impact the animal’s stay at the Florida facility. And so she remains at Seaquarium.

PETA and other groups have sued in Miami federal court, saying that Lolita should be removed to a sea pen under a retirement plan that would more closely mimic her natural Pacific Ocean environment. But Seaquarium officials say Lolita is healthy and removing her would be “cruel and traumatic.”

That’s funny. Those two words could also be used to accurately describe Lolita’s capture back in 1970.

Just recently, Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine, developer Jorge Perez, the Miami Heat’s official DJ, TV host Daisy Fuentes, celebrity chef Ingrid Hoffman and others joined PETA in demanding freedom for Lolita, issuing statements of support for Lolita’s release.

Louis Aguirre, television anchor of The Insider, had to say about Lolita:

“She was violently kidnapped from her mother while she was still only a baby and has spent 45 years in captivity, living in one of the smallest whale enclosures in the world, without contact with another orca for 35 of those years. It’s time to have some compassion and do what’s right. She deserves to be free for the rest of her life, as nature intended. I pray that sanity and reason prevail here.”

There have been more actions too. Members of PETA and the local Animal Activists Network chose August 9 to protest at the entrance of Miami Seaquarium because the weekend marks 45 years since Lolita was captured. They attempted to persuade park guests not to buy a ticket, and PETA protester Ashley Byrne told Local 10 News, ”It’s time for the Seaquarium to do the right thing and let Lolita go to a sea pen, where she can reunite her family and finally have a life that’s natural for her.”

According to the Miami Herald, Mayor Levine publicly spoke about Lolita’s conditions but did not attend the August 9 protest. Levine said in a statement, “Miami should be known as the beautiful, modern city that it is — not as the home of the smallest orca tank in North America.” His call to action: “This endangered animal must be released as soon as possible from the appalling conditions at the Seaquarium and moved to a sanctuary in her home waters.”

So for the record — the mayor wants Lolita released, South Florida leaders want her released, and over a hundred thousand people signed this petition pleading for her release. And yet, Andrew Hertz, general manager of the Miami Seaquarium remains firm in his position, saying that “Lolita will continue to be an ambassador for her species from her home at Miami Seaquarium.” He issued this statement:

“There is no scientific evidence that the 49 year-old post-reproductive Lolita could survive if she were to be moved from her home at Miami Seaquarium to a sea pen or to the open waters of the Pacific northwest…It would be reckless and cruel to treat her life as an experiment and jeopardize her health and safety in order to appease a fringe group.”

I would hardly classify over 100,000 petition signers as belonging to a “fringe group.” And as for “reckless and cruel,” stealing a huge marine mammal from the open ocean and confining it to a tiny, lonely space for over four decades–now that’s reckless and cruel, as was her capture.

As for her well-being if she were to be released, there is a proposed retirement plan in place that aims to ensure Lolita’s transport and transition back to her native waters are accomplished as smoothly as possible.

Orca Conservancy reminds us that a captive whale has been successfully released back into the wild before, and assures, ”If given the opportunity of returning Lolita to her home waters, perhaps even back to her family, we will make it work.”

Still, Seaquarium curator Robert Rose told Local 10 News, “This animal is not for sale and she is not going to be released. This is her home and has been her home for 45 years.”

She was for sale 45 years ago when she was stolen from her family and Seaquarium paid $6,000 for her.

Animal Legal Defense Fund shares:

“In the wild, orcas spend their entire lives with their mothers. In 1996 (26 years after her capture), Lolita was played a recording of her family’s calls. Heartbreakingly, Lolita returned the distinct dialect of her family’s calls, recognizing familiar voices. And at more than 80 years old, Lolita’s mother (one of the endangered southern resident orcas off the coast of Washington) still thrives in a seaside sanctuary, waiting for Lolita to come home.”

What else can we do to make that happen?


Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/miami-b...-lolita-the-loneliest-orca.html#ixzz3kHHsMy00

here is a comment to the article

Any time someone says these whales cannot be rehabilitated, I am reminded of Annessa. Yes, Annessa is a bottle-nosed dolphin, but orcas are ALSO dolphins. Don't underestimate these beautiful creatures! Annessa was BORN IN CAPTIVITY in 1981 at the Dolphin Research Center in Florida. In 1992, during Hurricane Andrew, she escaped and was believed lost. However, she has since been seen numerous times, having been adopted by a wild pod, and thriving, swimming between Key Largo and Tavernier. This is a dolphin who had NEVER known the wild and had absolutely NO rehabilitation. Yet, she is doing just fine. Lolita would also do better, being near, or with, her own family.

I made acomment about Keiko

They began to prepare Keiko for a life in the wild 1998 when he was taken to Iceland.
He first lived in sea pen with supervised swims in the open ocean and he was released 2002.
It seemed he could feed himself but he failed to reintegrate with wild whales and he was seeking contacts with humans.
He still had his team with caretakers and they went to Norway to support him.
"He was coming and going as he pleased but he was always coming back to the team."
He wanted contact but he was exploring things too.
Maybe he just needed more time to become really independent but he died 2003

It was over 10 years ago and people have learned more about orcas.
In Lolitas case they know where her family is.

Maybe the biggest reason Seaworld gave up Keiko was that he was sick and they couldn´t get more money from him.(Keiko´s caretakers nursed him back to good health),
If Lolita can´t manage of her own in the wild it must still be better for her in a sea pen than to live where she is now.
They got to try to give her freedom, she deserves it

Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/miami-b...-lolita-the-loneliest-orca.html#ixzz3kHIw7vTU

 

[KOPV]

I always get mixed feelings about this... while I feel that animals/mammals in general should be in there natural habitat, and a lot of people would agree.. How contradictory would be happening if I say that and lets say have a small fish tank at home.. or own a large animal and live in an apartment (neglect walking too)..

All in all... I have feelings against trapping animals (while I don't have animals) I would feel like a hypocrite to attack zoos, or places like Sea World when I know I have the power to have animals and not have them in there natural habitat.

 

[CodaBroda]

To Reibish:

Some very great insight. I hadn't watched the film yet, but I'll have an open mind if I do. Thank you.

EDIT: If attractions like SeaWorld or zoos can raise more money to preserve wildlife as a whole, then I think it's worth the slightly unnatural habitat of a few animals.

 

[barbee0715]

To Reibish:

Some very great insight. I hadn't watched the film yet, but I'll have an open mind if I do. Thank you.

I agree-great insight. I, too, have real mixed feelings about it-it's pretty horrifying to look at pictures of the size of the parking lot vs. the size of the water tanks-I think all animals should be made to feel as at home as possible-and never ever abused or beaten or hurt in any way-ever. But if it weren't for zoos or places like Seaworld, people like me would never ever get to see a wild animal-I have great memories of going to the zoo, and wanted to share that with my niece and nephews-but at the same time, I expect the animals to be treated like the treasures they are.

 

[MIST]

I always get mixed feelings about this... while I feel that animals/mammals in general should be in there natural habitat, and a lot of people would agree.. How contradictory would be happening if I say that and lets say have a small fish tank at home.. or own a large animal and live in an apartment (neglect walking too)..

All in all... I have feelings against trapping animals (while I don't have animals) I would feel like a hypocrite to attack zoos, or places like Sea World when I know I have the power to have animals and not have them in there natural habitat.

Places like Seaworld says they are educating people then we should learn from them that about what animals need.

There is a quote which compare study orcas in captivity with to study prisoners when you want to study humans.
Now seaworld are teaching that you can have animals in small places and force them to do things.

 

[MIST]

We can see Tilkum´s story in Blackfish, he caused 3 deaths.

Tilkum isn´t alone there are other orcas too who had enough, but it have stopped with incidents.

[video=youtube;tEKU-39IK3g]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEKU-39IK3g[/video]
I read in the comments that the trainer was an experienced scuba diver, he knew how to breathe and could hold his breath.
He was very calm too(maybe not inside)
[video=youtube;4waz30EbI8o]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4waz30EbI8o[/video]

 

[Bubs]

'I Was Disgusted': How One Trainer Left The SeaWorld Horror Show

After nearly two decades at SeaWorld, senior orca trainer John Hargrove still believed in the marine park's mission.

"This is the cult-like experience you've been programmed to defend your entire life," Hargrove, now 41 years old and three years out from his job at SeaWorld's Shamu Stadium in San Antonio, told The Dodo.

Soon enough, though, something snapped.

"You do love those whales, but love is not enough. It doesn't mean that's right, or make the situation OK," he said. "That's where it's kind of sick."

Hargrove walked The Dodo through his choice to leave SeaWorld, a company he would once have defended with all he had, in 2012.

Risks abound
At 27, Hargrove was pulled underwater by a 7,000-pound orca whale named Freya. Her teeth pressed against his hip bones — he was "a twig in a dog's mouth," at the whale's mercy, he said. When she finally let him float up to the surface, he calmly signaled to the other orca trainers on land to call the paramedics and prepared to be pulled down into the chlorinated water once more.

After the orca, who was captured in Iceland in October 1982, released him, he was finally able to escape, thanks to clever maneuvering of the trainers. He describes the harrowing incident in his new book, "Beneath the Surface: Killer Whales, SeaWorld, and the Truth Beyond Blackfish." He describes the day as one that "could have been the end of my life."

This wasn't Hargrove's last brush with injury in his long tenure working with orca whales. In fact, perhaps more than many trainers, Hargrove is keenly aware of the safety dangers that one assumes when pulling on the wetsuit. Not only did he suffer multiple broken ribs, fingers, toes and even facial fractures from the strenuous nature of the job, he was once even hit in the back by a 7,500-pound whale.

He's quick to point out that these incidents, though harrowing, could not be blamed on the whales. Rather, he said, it's the conditions of captivity, the boredom, the havoc that being in a tank for years on end can wreak on their mental states.

What's more, Hargrove, who also worked at SeaWorld San Antonio and SeaWorld San Diego parks as well as a park not owned by SeaWorld in Antibes called Marineland, watched his colleagues get hurt by whales. He saw one young trainer's arm get snapped in half by a misbehaving whale, and another nearly crushed between a whale and a concrete stage. For two of them, these incidents would end in tragedy.

Right back in the water
In 2009, an orca owned by SeaWorld named Keto killed 25-year-old trainer Alexis Martinez while on loan to a park called Loro Parque in Spain.

"When Brian [another trainer] dove in, Alexis was just on bottom of pool, dead," Hargrove said. "When they pulled him from the water, blood was coming from every orifice. The autopsy report showed that he suffered massive internal injuries, both his lungs collapsed. [Back at SeaWorld] none of these things were communicated to us."

An incident report obtained by The Dodo reveals that SeaWorld was informed about the details of Martinez's death. In its analysis of the incident, though, they did not communicate these to their own trainers, Hargrove said.

"I was personally swimming in the water with whales after two days in San Antonio — that was another thing that made me so sick with [former CEO] Jim Atchison," he explained. "In the press he'd say, 'We are such a tight family; we're pulling the trainers out of water for a safety review.' None of that was done with Alexis because they didn't care. There was just no media attention to it."

Despite its gruesome nature, few people knew about Martinez's death until dolphin activist Ric O'Barry showed up on Larry King Live in August 2010 and announced the news. Hargrove said that nothing changed after the death of Martinez and that the trainers were back in the water within two days of his death.

Now 36, Hargrove experienced yet another colleague's tragic death. Dawn Brancheau, a fellow trainer had been killed by an orca at SeaWorld exactly two months after Martinez had been killed by an orca at Loro Parque. That incident — and the backlash that followed — would eventually be chronicled in the 2013 documentary "Blackfish." It was also, Hargrove said, the final straw.

"During an OSHA [Occupational Safety and Health Administration] hearing, SeaWorld testified in court that they had no knowledge that we [the trainers] had a dangerous job," he said. "At that point, I still believed that they would have protected me. But after that I knew: They'll throw me under the bus in a heartbeat. Every passion I had for SeaWorld was completely gone in that moment."

How to keep a whale alive in a 40-foot tank
Safety hazards aren't the only reason Hargrove questioned SeaWorld and the practice of orca captivity.

In his book, he also details the disturbing practices SeaWorld has become known for: withholding food for multiple days and even weeks to keep whales from misbehaving, manually drilling whales' teeth to prevent infections, inbreeding whales and separating mothers and their calves, after which one mother was described as vocalizing into an empty pool for days, calling out for her lost daughter.

Hargrove is careful to emphasize that his bond with the captive whales he spent years interacting with was real and powerful, even "some of the deepest and most magnificent relationships I've had in my life."

What is perhaps so startling, then, is that he could finally leave all that — and turn on the company he once worshipped.

Finally free
Hargrove left SeaWorld on August 17, 2012. Seven days after he submitted his resignation, he gave an interview for "Blackfish," a film that would blow the lid off SeaWorld's entire existence. His betrayal of his former employer was sparked by the poor treatment he received — but more important, he said, it was for the whales whom he loved.

"I was disgusted by corporate greed and the exploitation of the whales and trainers alike," he writes in his book. Since his departure, Hargrove has become an advocate against orca captivity, even testifying in court in support of a bill that would ban orca captivity in California and require SeaWorld's existing orca whales to be retired to seaside sanctuaries. Despite his advocacy, Hargrove is hesitant to say that things will get better anytime soon for the whales he still misses — but he's sure that eventually, SeaWorld will sink.

"These people made it clear time and again that they are not going to listen to changing public perception," he said, citing SeaWorld's recently announced plans to branch out to the Middle East and Asia as it loses popularity in the U.S. "They want that money and they want that profit."

But he's clear that the evidence is now out and the jig is finally up for SeaWorld.

"Their game is over," he said. "If they want to fight all the way to the end, they're not going to win it. They're just going to fight right to the grave."

SeaWorld did not respond to The Dodo's request for comment.

https://www.thedodo.com/john-hargro...m_medium=referral&utm_campaign=zergnet_430183

 

[Bubs]

I'm hoping that in less than 50 years time humankind has progressed so much that there are free animals in the planet, and that generation looks back in the history and wonders why the people in 2015 kept animals in gages. After all, there are no bearded (or other freaks) women in the circus any more, keeping slaves in not acceptable anymore, so in time, things changes, and hopefully for the better.

 

[Bubs]

EDIT: If attractions like SeaWorld or zoos can raise more money to preserve wildlife as a whole, then I think it's worth the slightly unnatural habitat of a few animals.

SeaWorld is same as Safari International. They also claim to raise money for conservation, and we know it is just a facade and joke.

Slightly unnatural habitat? It is like putting one human, in 1x1m gage where you have to live rest of your life to entertain spectators, and you are kept hungry until you learn to do tricks and then rewarded with some food.

It is not just a few animals are taken, but numbers are in millions around the world. There are many animals in the sea, but taking "few of them" as you say, is abusive. There are millions of women and children out there, too, but that doesn’t mean it’s okay to abuse a few of them.

Because of SeaWorld and millions of other aquariums around the world etc brutal things like annual Taji happens.

From Sea Shephard:
For six months of each year, entire family units, or pods, of dolphins and small whales are driven into the cove. Banger poles are struck against the side of the hunting boats to create a “wall of sound,” disorienting the sound-sensitive marine mammals and making it nearly impossible for them to escape the drive. The members of these frightened pods will face either imprisonment in captivity or brutal slaughter before the eyes of their families. Killers and trainers work side-by-side to select the “prettiest” dolphins and whales for captivity, those without visible scars. The others are mercilessly stabbed with a metal spike inserted into their backs, just behind the blowhole, to sever their spine. The dolphins slowly and painfully bleed to death or drown in the blood of their family members – others may die slowly as they are tethered and dragged to the butcherhouse, where the once living and free cetaceans are butchered and processed into meat. These inhumane killings are a blemish upon Japan, whose government refuses to sign on to many protection efforts and regulations for marine mammals, despite most of the world recognizing the need to protect these self-aware, beloved and imperiled animals.

 

[MIST]

Proposed ORCA Act Would End Display of Captive Killer Whales in U.S.
by Laura Goldman November 10, 2015

SeaWorld’s announcement this week that it will end its killer whale show in San Diego seems like wonderful news. Unfortunately, SeaWorld will continue to display live orcas in a new, larger tank expected to be completed in 2017 – that is, unless a new bill becomes law before then.

California Rep. Adam Schiff is introducing the Orca Responsibility and Care Advancement (ORCA) Act, which would phase out the public display of captive killer whales in the United States.

“The evidence is very strong that the psychological and physical harm done to these magnificent animals far outweighs any benefits reaped from their display,” Schiff said at a news conference Nov. 6. “We cannot be responsible stewards of our natural environment and propagate messages about the importance of animal welfare when our behaviors do not reflect our principles.”

The ORCA Act would impose bans on permits to capture or import orcas for the purpose of public display; permits to export orcas for public display; and inseminating or breeding orcas for exhibition purposes.

It amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to prohibit the taking, importation and exportation of orcas for public display and other purposes.

Samantha Berg, a former marine mammal trainer at SeaWorld, witnessed how much the orcas suffered in captivity.

“No amount of toys, larger tanks, better veterinary care or love and attention from their trainers will ever come close to simulating the richness of their lives in the ocean,” Berg said at the news conference. “We cannot meet their needs in captivity.”

The larger tank SeaWorld plans to build was approved in October by the California Coastal Commission — with the stipulation that the park must stop breeding its captive orcas. SeaWorld, which continues to insist that orcas are safer in captivity than in the wild, is fighting the commission.

Joel Manby, SeaWorld’s new CEO, announced the company’s plans for its San Diego park at an investors conference Monday, CBS News reports.

“We are listening to our guests, we’re evolving as a company, so in 2017 we will launch an all-new orca experience,” he said. “2016 will be the last year of our theatrical killer whale experience.”

While orcas will no longer be performing tricks for park visitors, they will still be confined to a tank in SeaWorld’s new Blue World Project.

“Guests can walk alongside our killer whales as if at the shore, interact with them at depths found in the ocean, or see them from a bird’s eye view,” says the website.

SeaWorld has not indicated whether the killer whale shows will also end in its Florida and Texas parks. The company has been losing money ever since the documentary “Blackfish,” which put a spotlight on the cruelty of confining whales, was released in 2013.

Last year a similar bill, the Orca Welfare and Safety Act (AB 2140), was introduced by California Assembly member Richard Bloom. That bill, which would have banned orca captivity in California, died in committee.

Hopefully the nationwide ORCA Act will have better luck. It will not only affect SeaWorld but other marine parks around the country, including Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Northern California, which has been accused by former employees of neglecting marine mammals.

The ORCA Act is supported by the Humane Society of the United States, the Animal Welfare Institute and other organizations. SeaWorld, naturally, is opposed to it.

“While efforts to phase out whales in human care may strike an emotional chord, SeaWorld and other science-based organizations are part of the solution, not the problem,” said Senior Corporate Affairs Officer Jill Kermes in a statement, CBS 8 reports.

But unlike SeaWorld’s PR flacks, actual marine animal experts say the company, as well as other marine parks, are indeed a part of the problem.

“The growing body of scientific evidence is compelling for orcas,” said Dr. Naomi Rose, marine mammal scientist for the Animal Welfare Institute, at the news conference announcing the ORCA Act. “They are simply too large, too wide-ranging, too socially complex and too intelligent to thrive in any-sized concrete enclosure.

“Orcas do not belong in captivity.”


Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/propose...ptive-killer-whales-in-u-s.html#ixzz3rCgkvcaP

Should animals ever work for us?

It is only acceptable when the animal is able to participate in natural behaviours and is in a position that allows them to fulfil their physical and behavioural needs. If this is not the case then it is unacceptable, as it has a negative impact on that individual animal’s welfare.

https://www.animalsasia.org/intl/media/news/news-archive/should-animals-ever-work-for-us.html

 

[krikzil]

SeaWorld and other parks need to be forced to stopped breeding them in captivity. Period.

I resist forcing the end of displaying the ones already in captivity simply due to economics and what might happen to the whales as a result. The cost of keeping them healthy is enormous and too many die now. SeaWorld should also be forced to provide larger pools.

 

[Bubs]

SeaWorld is not really ending they killer whale show, but they are planning to build bigger tanks for them?
I don't see how that is going to help them, because current times people are more aware of animal abuse, and what is acceptable and what not.
There are aquariums closing down everywhere in the world because people don't want to see jailed animals and understand that animals do not exist for our entertainment.

 

[PoP]

SeaWorld and other parks need to be forced to stopped breeding them in captivity. Period.

I resist forcing the end of displaying the ones already in captivity simply due to economics and what might happen to the whales as a result. The cost of keeping them healthy is enormous and too many die now. SeaWorld should also be forced to provide larger pools.

I believe they should like I've mentioned previously told that the Legislative Assembly of Ontario passed the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment Act, which prohibits the acquisition or breeding of Orcas in Ontario. So that means they ordered Marineland (which was in Niagara Falls, Ontario) to end acquiring and/or breeding orcas. But when I saw a a couple of recent Marineland commericals no orcas were shown at all, which I believe they don't have orcas around anymore or that I could be wrong.

 

[Bubs]

^^ Baby steps, but I believe we get there some day.

 

[MIST]

Danang dolphinarium battle hits headlines in Vietnam
11 November 2015

Animals Asia’s suggestion to Danang city leaders that plans to build a dolphinarium would be suicidal for the city have hit Vietnamese newspaper front pages.
When news broke recently of a Russian company’s wish to create a dolphinarium to house wild-caught dolphins, Animals Asia voiced its view that the planned attraction would not only be harmful to the animals – it could cause irreparable damage to Danang’s reputation.
The city prides itself on being modern and progressive, leading by example with rapid expansion, environmental responsibility, and responsiveness to its people on a wide range of issues.

But it was felt that if local authorities were to approve the theme park, despite an international backlash against keeping marine mammals and using them for entertainment, it could harm the very things Danang wants to encourage more of - tourism and investment.
One media outlet, Thanh Nien News, ran the story with the headline: “Animal activists fight Russian firm's plan for 'cruel' dolphin park in Danang”.
Their story said:
“Danang has suddenly found itself in hot water after announcing a controversial plan to build a park with captive dolphins and other sea creatures.”
Meanwhile news website VN Express said:
“As soon as the information about plans for a marine park and marine mammals was released, social networking forums filled up with mixed opinions about the project. Some argue that the park would give Danang more diversity as a destination and attract more tourists, while many suggested the city should not consider the proposals when moving towards building a modern city environment.”

Readers were quick to respond to the news, expressing varying opinions both for and against the plans.
One reader said:
“As a Danang citizen, I think there is no place for entertainment by ‘torturing’ animals in this progressive society. This is always the top city in terms of environment protection and humanity. We did refuse other projects that are bigger than this one so please consider carefully about this if we intend to promote tourism because I don’t think tourists from civilised countries are interested in this kind of entertainment. It’s also wrong in terms of education - If I take my kid there and he asks ‘Why are the dolphins living here instead of the ocean?’ - I won’t know how to answer those questions!”
Another put their view even more succinctly, posting this simple message:
“I love watching sea animals but would rather see them in nature through TV than see them living a captive life in person.”

However, additional comments showed there is still a fight to be had to convince people of the likely negative effects of building a dolphin theme park. One reader expressed their belief that dolphins would be treated well and cared for if kept captive in a dolphinarium:
“Aquariums are a good place for dolphins. I don’t think that they will be hit or hurt to force them to perform. You need to know that for a successful dolphin performance, trainers have to take very good care of them, and feed them well. This project would not only educate children on loving animals but also attract tourists. I totally support this!”

Dave Neale Animals Asia Animal Welfare Director said:
“This is certainly not the first time in Vietnam that we have been gratified by being able to play a part in such a public debate. There are concerns here that this is a misstep by an otherwise high performing city. Around the world we are seeing increased opposition to performing animals. Even if you disregard the cruelty, no one can argue this is the future, when elsewhere people are turning away from this kind of facility.
If people do not understand why such a place is wrong then we hope this debate is adding to their knowledge. For the issues to be tackled so publicly is vital to assist in advancing animal welfare understanding.”

https://www.animalsasia.org/intl/me...inarium-battle-hits-headlines-in-vietnam.html

 

[KOPV]

...... To know what is done to the animals we eat!!! In all honesty (not defending captivity of animals in anyway) it sometimes makes captivity look like child play..

There's a lot of ugly

 

[Bubs]

Sweetest Ad Shows Why SeaWorld Is Bad For Orcas

One company is standing up for orcas in the sweetest way.

Munchkin, a maker of children's products, has manufactured a top-selling orca bath toy for the past 10 years. However, they recently decided to stop selling the toy in symbolic support of SeaWorld's captive orcas because "a bathtub just isn't big enough for an orca."

And to announce the decision, they created an ad that perfectly captures the relationship that children should be having with these animals instead.

They're also putting their money where their mouth is. Through November 16, Munchkin will donate 100 percent of their proceeds to Whale and Dolphin Conservation. And CEO Steven Dunn says he reached out to SeaWorld CEO Joel Manby to personally pledge $1 million toward a coastal sanctuary if the company agrees to release Tilikum to the new habitat.

Unfortunately, although SeaWorld recently announced that it would end its San Diego killer whale shows, they'll just be replaced with another show designed to appeal to a wary public. So with SeaWorld continuing to focus on PR instead of animal welfare, its orcas need all the help they can get.

https://www.thedodo.com/munchkin-seaworld-orcas-ad-1449262393.html

 

[MIST]

Petition launched as 199 NGOs join Animals Asia to oppose Vietnam dolphin plan
18 November 2015

Animals Asia has been joined by 199 animal charities as a petition is launched against plans to build a dolphinarium in Danang, Vietnam.
Animal lovers across the world have been asked to add their name to the petition to show Danang city leaders that – despite what they may be told by investors – the world does not want more animal cruelty packaged as entertainment.
This coalition of campaigners believe that not only are dolphinariums cruel, they represent a misstep by Danang city leaders who, to date, have received praise for developing with environmental concerns in mind.

In the statement opposing the marine park, Animals Asia’s Animal Welfare Director Dave Neale said:
“There’s an ever-increasing body of research that shows capturing dolphins from the wild is cruel and causes a significant amount of suffering. Keeping dolphins and other cetaceans in captivity is harmful to them and increasingly it’s something that people don’t want to be a part of.
“It would be foolish to overlook the potential long-term economic effects of accepting the plans for a dolphin park. It could easily jeopardise future investment in Danang by investors who might see this as tarnishing Danang’s reputation as a progressive city. In addition – in one stroke – any hopes for developing eco-tourism would be gone.”
With the movie Blackfish having raised awareness in the west of the cruelty involved, exploiters of marine animals are already targeting new markets. Animals Asia believes Vietnam would be well-served not to invest in an industry that is both declining and discredited.
Since plans by a Russian company to build a dolphinarium in the central Vietnamese city of Danang were announced, Animals Asia – working with the Asia for Animals Coalition – has been putting pressure on city officials. You can read the letter sent to city leaders here.
The campaign is already prompting debate with Vietnamese newspapers having picked up on the campaign.

The 16 members of Asia for Animals Coalition are as follows:
Animal Guardians
Animal People
Animals Asia Foundation
ACRES
Blue Cross of India
Change for Animals Foundation
Earth Island Institute
Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations
Humane Society International
International Animal Rescue
International Fund for Animal Welfare
Philippine Animal Welfare Society
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (UK)
Sarawak Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Hong Kong
World Animal Protection

Also supporting the campaign are the following:
AAP Rescue Centre for Exotic Animals, NETHERLANDS
Action for Animals, KOREA
All Life In A Viable Environment, JAPAN
Andhra Pradesh Goshala Federation, INDIA
Anima, MACAU
Animal Conservation & Welfare Foundation, POLAND
Animal Friends, CROATIA
Animal Friends Niigata, JAPAN
Animal Nepal
Animal Projects & Environmental Education, MALAYSIA
Animal Protection Network, SWEDEN
Animal Rights Action Network, IRELAND
Animal Rights Alliance, SWEDEN
Animal Rights Centre, JAPAN
Animal Rights Hawaii, USA
Animal Sanctuary Trust, INDONESIA
Animal Welfare Institute, USA
Animal Welfare Network Nepal
Animals Australia
ARK Animal Refuge Kansai, JAPAN
Australia for Dolphins
Australians for Animals
Bali Animal Welfare Association, INDONESIA
Bali Sea Turtle Society (BSTS), INDONESIA
Behavioral & Environmental Solutions, USA
Beijing Pet Adoption Day, CHINA
Beijing Sunflower Friends of Animal Team, CHINA
Beauty without Cruelty, INDIA
Bharatiya Prani Mitra Sangh, Hyderabad, INDIA
Big Heart Foundation, RUSSIA
Blue Cross Youth Seva Sangham - Andhra Pradesh, INDIA
Born Free Foundation, UK
British Hen Welfare Trust, UK
Captive Animal Protection Society, UK
Cat Welfare Society, SINGAPORE
CATCHA Environmental & Wildlife Society, CANADA
Causes for Animals Ltd, SINGAPORE
Cee4life, AUSTRALIA
Centre for Orangutan Protection, INDONESIA
Cetacean Society International
Changchun 3.10 Shanxiao Fund, CHINA
Changsha Small Animal Protection Association, CHINA
Chengde Cat Forest, CHINA
Chengdu Home of Love Small Animal Rescue, CHINA
China Farm Animal Protection Coalition, CHINA
China Journalists Salon for Animal Protection, CHINA
China Youth Animal Protection Alliance, CHINA
China Zoo Watch, CHINA
Compassion Unlimited Plus Action, Bangalore, INDIA
CPR Environmental Education Centre, INDIA
Dalian VSHINE Protection of Animals SPCA, CHINA
Darjeeling Animal Shelter, INDIA
David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, UK
Djurskyddet Sverige (Animal Welfare Sweden), SWEDEN
Dobro Surtse, BULGARIA
DOGSTOP, HONG KONG
Dolphin Project, USA
Dzivnieku Draugs, LATVIA
Egyptian Society of Animal Friends, EGYPT
Elephant Aid International, USA
Elephant Asia Rescue & Survival Foundation, HONG KONG
ElephantVoices, KENYA
Ente Nazionale Protezione Animali – Onlus, ITALY
Environment Films, UK
European Animal Protection Foundation / Europaeische Tierschutzstiftung, SWITZERLAND
FAADA, SPAIN
Fanciers Nanning Stray Cats, CHINA
Finnish Federation for Animal Welfare Organisations (SEY), FINLAND
For Elephants International
Four Paws, UK
Four Paws International
Friends of the Earth, MALAYSIA
Fuzhou Aixinyuan Stray Animal Rescue, CHINA
Fuzhou Small Animal Protection Center, CHINA
GAIA, Voice for the Voiceless, BELGIUM
Gansu Green Volunteer Home, CHINA
GREY2K USA Worldwide, USA
Greyhound Compassion UK
Grupo de los Cien, MEXICO
Guangdong the Best Volunteer Center, CHINA
Guangyuan Bo’ai Animal Protection Center, CHINA
Guangzhou Cat -Xi Xi Forest, CHINA
Hefei Kennel Association Care Center, CHINA
Help Animals India, INDIA
Himalayan Animal Rescue Trust, INDIA
HK Dolphin Conservation Society, HONG KONG
Huhhot Angel Guardian, CHINA
Iceland Animal Welfare Foundation, ICELAND
In Defense of Animals, INDIA
In Defense of Animals, USA
International Otter Survival Fund, UK
International Primate Protection League
Jakarta Animal Aid Network, INDONESIA
JBF India Trust, INDIA
Jinan Cattery, CHINA
Karuna Society for Animals & Nature, INDIA
Kathmandu Animal Treatment Centre, NEPAL
Korea Animal Rights Advocate, REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Korean Animal Welfare Association, REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Lanta Animal Welfare, HONG KONG
Lanzhou Street Animal Rescue Station, CHINA
Life Conservationist Association, TAIWAN
Lifelong Animal Protection, HONG KONG
Light of Life Veterinary Clinic, SINGAPORE
Love Wildlife Foundation, THAILAND
Lucky Cats, CHINA
Marine Connection, UK
MelbournDolphin, AUSTRALIA
moonbears.org
Nanchang Small Animal Protection Association, CHINA
Nanjing Ping An A Fu Stray Animal Rescue Association, CHINA
National Council of SPCAs. SOUTH AFRICA
Navale Consulting Group, INDIA
NY Class, USA
Ocean Care
Otara Foundation, SRI LANKA
Orangutan Aid, HONG KONG
Palawan Animal Welfare Association, PHILIPINNES
People For Animals – Chennai, INDIA
People For Animals – Hooghly, INDIA
Performing Animal Welfare Society, USA
Pet Orphans Home, CHINA
PETA, UK
PETA Asia, HONG KONG
PhaNgan Animal Care for Strays, THAILAND
Plant & Animal Welfare Society, INDIA
ProWildlife, GERMANY
Qingdao Society for the Protection of Animals, CHINA
RAKSHA - Voice of the Voiceless, INDIA
Rattle the Cage Productions, THAILAND
reEarth, BAHAMAS
Royal Veterinary College, University of London, HONG KONG
RSPCA Victoria, AUSTRALIA
Sahayog Organisation, Andhra Pradesh Goshala Federation, Hyderabad, INDIA
Save Animals Initiative Sanctuary Trust, INDIA
Save Vietnam’s Wildlife, VIETNAM
Shandong Yantai Caring Street Animals Rescue Shelter, CHINA
Sichuan Qiming Companion Animal Protection Cente, CHINA
SJZ One Meter More Love stray cats rescue group, CHINA
Society for Animal Welfare and Management, NEPAL
Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals – Penang, MALAYSIA
Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals – Selangor, MALAYSIA
Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals – SINGAPORE
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Xiangzhou, Zhuhai), CHINA
Soi Dog Foundation, THAILAND
Stiftung fuer Baeren / Foundation for Bears, SWITZERLAND
Stray Relief and Animal Welfare, INDIA
Sun Bear Centre – Kalimantan, INDONESIA
Swiss Animal Protection SAP / Schweizer Tierschutz STS / Protection Suisse des Animaux PSA, SWITZERLAND
Taiwan SPCA, TAIWAN
Thai Fund for Elephant Foundation, THAILAND
Thane SPCA, INDIA
The Cattitude Trust – Chennai, INDIA
The Corbett Foundation, INDIA
The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, KENYA
The Home of Love, CHINA
The Humane Education Trust, SOUTH AFRICA
The Welfare of Stray Dogs – Mumbai, INDIA
The Winsome Constance Kindness Trust, AUSTRALIA
Tianjin Common Home, CHINA
Together for Animals in China, CHINA
United Against Elephant Polo, INDIA
Vegan Virtues, AUSTRALIA
Vietnam Animal Welfare Organisation, VIETNAM
Voice for Zoo Animals, JAPAN
“We Are One Family” Charity Association of Chongqing Normal University, CHINA
Whale and Dolphin Conservation, UK
Wild Futures, UK
Wildlife Alliance, CAMBODIA
Wildlife in Need (and Active Environments), PHILIPPINES
Wildlife Protection Society of India, INDIA
Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation Centre, Bangalore, INDIA
Wildlife Salvation, SINGAPORE
Wolf Watch UK
Wuhan Small Animal Protection Association, CHINA
Xi’an Grenadine Companion Animal Rescue, CHINA
Xiamen Animal Protection Education Association, CHINA
Xiamen Pet Web, CHINA
Xinjiang Karamay City Street Animal Protection Centre, CHINA
YeuDongVat, VIETNAM
Zhangzhou Small Animal Scientifically Rescue Center, CHINA
Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force, ZIMBABWE
Zoocheck Canada, CANADA
Da Nang Animals Rescue Centre, VIETNAM

https://www.animalsasia.org/intl/me...mals-asia-to-oppose-vietnam-dolphin-plan.html

 

[PoP]

Whoa! That's a lot of list organizations in favour of the petition they signed to oppose the idea of a dolphinarium in Vietnam.

 

[MIST]

Another Death at SeaWorld
An 18-year-old orca succumbs to a fungal infection in San Antonio.

There has been yet another death at SeaWorld.

On Monday, the company announced that Unna, an 18-year-old killer whale at SeaWorld San Antonio, died from a rare fungal infection.


“This is a difficult time for the SeaWorld team and all of Unna’s many fans, and we thank you for your thoughts and well wishes,” the company said.

According to the statement, Unna was infected with a resistant strain of a fungus called Candida.

“The team had developed a novel treatment plan in consultation with leading medical experts around the country,” SeaWorld said. “While there were some indications that the treatment was having a positive effect, Unna had remained in serious condition and under 24/7 care.”

Unna was the daughter of Tilikum, the 12,000-pound orca at SeaWorld Orlando that has been implicated in the deaths of three people, including Orlando trainer Dawn Brancheau in February 2010.

This was the third death of a whale at SeaWorld San Antonio in the past six months. Last month a beluga whale, Stella, died from gastrointestinal complications and in July, a premature beluga calf also died.

The last SeaWorld-owned killer whale to die was Victoria, who succumbed to intestinal problems in June 2013 at Loro Parque in the Canary Islands. At least 45 orcas have died at SeaWorld, according to Whale and Dolphin Conservation.

SeaWorld said that Unna, who was born in December 1996 at SeaWorld Orlando, had suffered from Candida “for months.” But John Hargrove, a former SeaWorld killer whale trainer who appeared in the anti-captivity documentary Blackfish and penned the 2015 book Beneath the Surface, disputed that account.

“It’s patently false,” Hargrove said. “When I came back to the San Antonio park in March of 2008, she had already been sick for some time.”

Hargrove said that Unna’s urine samples routinely tested positive for fungal spores.

“She was already on high doses of multiple medications, including an antifungal and antibiotics, every single day,” Hargrove said. He said that trainers at the park have told him that the medical regime continued for the three years since he quit SeaWorld in 2012.

“She was chronically ill,” Hargrove said. “I’m surprised she lived this long.”

SeaWorld said that Candida affects captive as well as wild whales and dolphins. But that claim was discounted by Naomi Rose, a leading orca researcher and marine mammal scientist at the Animal Welfare Institute.

“SeaWorld implies that Candida is common in the wild, as if that absolves the company of Unna's death,” Rose said in an email. “This is both self-serving and scientifically inaccurate.”

While Candida does affect some whale and dolphin species, it is “not common in orcas,” Rose said, adding that the fungus does not cause serious disease unless stress and immune compromise are also involved. “Unna died because she lived her short life in a concrete tank and SeaWorld's veterinary care couldn't help her,” she said.

Animal-welfare activists said Unna’s premature death is further evidence that captive killer whales do not live as long as wild orcas, which live up to 50 to 100 years.

SeaWorld, citing a July 2015 study in the Journal of Mammalogy, authored by company-affiliated researchers, says the survival rate of captive and wild orcas is the same.


Those findings have been challenged by scientists such as Rose and groups such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, who note that the vast majority of killer whales to die at SeaWorld have not lived to the age of 20.

Unna died “far short of how long she was expected to live,” PETA said in a statement.

“Although it is, in fact, hard to call it ‘living’ when her ‘life’ consisted of being taken away from her mother just before her sixth birthday, being impregnated when she was only 8 years old before giving birth to a stillborn calf, and being so deprived of enrichment and the opportunity to engage in natural behavior that she obsessively picked at the paint on the bottom of SeaWorld’s show pool floor until her face became badly injured,” PETA said.

Editor's Note Dec. 23, 2015—1:52 p.m. PT
This article has been updated to include material from a TakePart interview with John Hargrove.
http://www.takepart.com/article/2015/12/23/seaworld-orca-deaths?cmpid=tpdaily-eml-2015-12-23

 

[MJInnocent]

I am totally against this,I would never support what they do by going to the likes of Seaworld,I don't agree with any of it,circuses and zoo's aren't much better.