SeaWorld San Diego Bindi Irwin now works at Sea World?

[DavidBrown]

A news item about Bindi Irwin working with Sea World on a new project popped up in the "trending news" section of my Facebook.

Does anybody know anything about this? Is there going to be a new Australia themed exhibit or show at one or more of the Sea World parks, or is this some kind of television or web show?

Bindi Irwin, Robert Irwin Look All Grown Up, Reveal SeaWorld Project - Us Weekly

 

[azcheetah2]

I haven't heard anything about it nor am I aware of any Australian themed area in the works. Granted, I'm not as involved in SWC as I once was, but I still have contacts and such. It's interesting, though, that nothing is said about what her partnership with them is...

 

[Moebelle]

I haven't heard anything about it nor am I aware of any Australian themed area in the works. Granted, I'm not as involved in SWC as I once was, but I still have contacts and such. It's interesting, though, that nothing is said about what her partnership with them is...

I read elsewhere that she became a Youth Ambassador.

 

[azcheetah2]

I read elsewhere that she became a Youth Ambassador.

That's good. Young people are definitely a group to target and with Bindi's own past shows and her dad's history, she can only be a positive roll model, especially for Sea world.

Maybe a better title for this thread would be that Bindi Irwin now works WITH Sea World rather than "at"

 

[zooboy28]

Seems like a PR type arrangement to counter the bad press from Blackfish, it doesn't appear to have gone down well everywhere though:

Bindi Irwin 'shaming her father' - group | Stuff.co.nz

Bindi Irwin has outraged animal rights groups by partnering with US theme park SeaWorld.

The 15-year-old Queenslander announced on the top-rated US morning TV talk show Good Morning America that she would be working with SeaWorld to encourage ‘‘kids to change the world’’.

The promotional opportunity comes as SeaWorld fights an image problem brought about by the award-winning film documentary Blackfish, which probed the treatment of killer whales at the company’s parks.

SeaWorld, with facilities in San Diego, Orlando and San Antonio, suffered high-profile protests, campaigns and cancelled concerts by Willie Nelson, The Beach Boys, Trisha Yearwood and other artists over the past year, but the company has returned fire with an aggressive campaign against critics.

''We are proud to partner with Bindi Irwin in a programme that couples the world’s most incredible young conservationist with the passionate wildlife experts at SeaWorld,’’ SeaWorld spokesperson Becca Bides said.

‘‘SeaWorld has been a global leader in education, conservation and animal care for 50 years.

‘‘We are excited to join forces with Bindi as we continue to educate and encourage kids to take part in helping to save wildlife.’’

Fans of Irwin and animal activists took to Twitter after Bindi, sitting alongside her mother Terri and brother Robert, appeared on Good Morning America.

Blackfish supporter Amanda Holliday tweeted: ‘‘How much do you think SeaWorld had to pay Bindi Irwin to try to fix their image?’’

A tweet from Pat Fitzgerald read: ‘‘BindiIrwin Have you seen Blackfish? Please do not bring shame to your fathers (sic) name by colluding with SeaWorld’’.

US-based People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has mounted a campaign against SeaWorld and blasted the Irwins.

''The Irwin family has been exploiting animals for years, so it comes as no surprise that Bindi has agreed to become SeaWorld’s latest shill,’’ PETA senior vice president of communications Lisa Lange said.

‘‘But plastering her face on SeaWorld’s website won’t cover up the fact that orcas, dolphins, and other animals are suffering in SeaWorld’s tiny tanks after being ripped from their families.’’

Bindi, daughter of the late Steve The Crocodile Hunter Irwin, said she was ‘‘excited to be carrying on in Dad’s footsteps’’ and urged viewers to log into seaworldkids.com.

‘‘I’m thrilled to be partnered up with SeaWorld,’’ Bindi said.

‘‘Thrilled to be part of this new project Generation Nature and just encouraging kids to change the world.’’

 

[zooboy28]

Maybe a better title for this thread would be that Bindi Irwin now works WITH Sea World rather than "at"

I think maybe "FOR" would be better, I doubt she is doing it for free.

 

[Moebelle]

It's unbelievable that people (nutjob activists) are making a giant deal over the career decision of a 15 year-old.

 

[TheMightyOrca]

It's unbelievable that people (nutjob activists) are making a giant deal over the career decision of a 15 year-old.

I agree, and I'm AGAINST orca captivity. There are bigger fish to fry, and also, she's a kid.

 

[marmolady]

I find the behaviour of many activists towards Bindi's connections with Sea World to be pretty appalling. However you feel about orcas in captivity, attacking a 15-year-old, and one who has done much for wildlife conservation already in her short life, just seems low. I am not personally comfortable with the keeping of orcas in captivity, and I'd prefer it was phased out (not that I am particularly knowledgeable on the species), but I find the attacks on both Bindi and Sea World itself (while the activists ignore all the great work done by Sea World) to be hysterical and unhelpful, and in some cases downright nasty.

 

[azcheetah2]

I think maybe "FOR" would be better, I doubt she is doing it for free.

Good point. Hahaha

I find it sad, though, that people are attack it her and her family. Good grief.

 

[Zooplantman]

"Attacking" is the new "discussing." There are no moderates anymore on-line.

 

[OrangePerson]

I'm interested to know what Bindi has done for conservation?

I lost patience with Steve Irwin, his compulsion to pick up and poke things instead of just being able to talk about them drove me mad. I couldn't abide the whole "Little Bindi in khaki" thing and see her mother as publicity hungry media hound.

I don't get the impression Australia Zoo has much to do with conservation.

All this could be very wrong because I've avoided the whole Irwin bandwagon for many years.

 

[Pertinax]

Where Conservation meets Pop.

All this could be very wrong because I've avoided the whole Irwin bandwagon for many years.

So have I. It used to make me cringe with embarassement. It is very much the 'showbiz' or 'pop' end of the animal keeping/conservation spectrum. All this 'razamataz' with a fifteen year old girl on T.V. isn't my idea of serious conservation either. Growing up too fast. She should be doing her homework...

 

[Zooplantman]

Distancing by Bob Irwin
http://www.bobirwinwildlife.com/par...orlando-and-bindi-irwin/#.UxxJbGKEwtg.twitter

 

[DavidBrown]

Here's an interview with Bindi Irwin about her work for Sea World: An Interview with Bindi Irwin SeaWorld's New Youth Ambassador

Her main project for them seems to be hosting a wildlife conservation website for kids.

 

[zoomaniac]

Distancing by Bob Irwin
http://www.bobirwinwildlife.com/par...orlando-and-bindi-irwin/#.UxxJbGKEwtg.twitter

Bob Irwins message seems a little...hmh,... say weird to me. I remember tv-movies with Steve Irwin while he was handling/catching animals (mostly) for show effects. And as far as I know, there are/were also performances in Australia Zoo with not more educational value then the dolphin and killer whale shows at the US SeaWorld parks have.

For me, the cooperation between Bindi and SW looks absolutely okay. On the other hand, I also wish that SW goes back to the track with MORE educational orientated shows.