SeaWorld San Diego The CEO of SeaWorld resigns

I will personally say that I'm not a fan of cetaceans in captivity but I am not anti-SeaWorld in particular as there are much worse places. What I would want to see happening is no more breeding of cetaceans (and of course no wild caught ones either). Completely shutting down aquariums is ridiculous and transferring animals to sea pens is also pretty stupid.
 
Shellheart said:
If SeaWorld were to close down I'd say it's not likely the animals would go to a U.S. institution, since the backlash of keeping orcas would not be worth it. I'd say it's far more likely that China and Russia,who have current interests in keeping orcas, would try to purchase the orcas and keep them in a much smaller tank that would make even SeaWorld's current tank seem like an absolute paradise.
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I would say Loro Parque and Marineland Antibes would be likely choices considering Loro Parque owns SeaWorld orcas and Marineland owns the largest orca tanks in the world with more room to give. With 24 orcas in total, 7 at Orlando, 11 at SD, and 6 at San Antonio, it wouldn't surprise me if many of them were split up and divided.
 
Moebelle said:
Every social media site is used to spread propaganda against SeaWorld and unfortunately I'm in the mix of it all as a SeaWorld defender (it isn't going well). Every anti SeaWorld advocate has it stubbornly stuck in their mind that if SW were to shut down that every one or their thousands of animals will be blatantly dumped into the ocean within 5 seconds of their closing. With about 40 marine institutions in the US and many more around the world that contain cetaceans, something simply tells me that they won't touch an ocean, they'll just be transferred to those places - worse places including.
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I agree Moebelle. I'm having the same problem.
 
@Moebelle and @wensleydale: Keep on fighting as I do (and thanks for that). We need more people who will face against those (militant) animal rights activist and their reality-ignoring allies.

@Laughing Dove: I suppose you are not completely against animals in captivity. So why are cetaceans an exception for you? Why is it okay to keep migratory birds in zoos (and cut some of them their feathers, so they are not able to fly)? Or tropical fishes, amphibians or reptiles under artifical light only? Why is it okay that cats and dogs are kept in an appartement, although most of them would be able to survive outside and with no human help?

In my opinion, every kind of animal CAN be kept in captivity. The point is the quality of the exhibit and the quality how they ar kept (means: giving them as many of their needs as possible). In this case, good surrogates should be allowed, also when you think that in the wild many animals show adaption skills of changing environmental conditions.
 
Replacing real animals with IMAX cinema? One can then add mermaids, pirate ships, sea serpents, plesiosaurs and pteranodons. And make whales speak and dance, and giant squid play poker holding cards in their tentacles.

Some home-made ethicists may praise that no real creature comes to any harm. However, public will then ignore real animals and real conservation issues. And PETA and Sea Shepherd, too, will become extinct.
 
zoomaniac said:
@Laughing Dove: I suppose you are not completely against animals in captivity. So why are cetaceans an exception for you? Why is it okay to keep migratory birds in zoos (and cut some of them their feathers, so they are not able to fly)? Or tropical fishes, amphibians or reptiles under artifical light only? Why is it okay that cats and dogs are kept in an appartement, although most of them would be able to survive outside and with no human help?

In my opinion, every kind of animal CAN be kept in captivity. The point is the quality of the exhibit and the quality how they ar kept (means: giving them as many of their needs as possible). In this case, good surrogates should be allowed, also when you think that in the wild many animals show adaption skills of changing environmental conditions.
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I do agree that the exhibit quality an giving them as many of their needs as possible is crucial in captivity and I am against birds being kept in very small cages (a finch or canary in a small barred cage with only a perch for example) but cetaceans are a different story for me. I do not believe that any cetaceans should be kept in captivity (large sea pens are different but I am talking about tanks/pools) because of how impossible sufficient stimulation is. I am sure you will all agree that compared to fish, herps or birds cetaceans are extremely intelligent. I view keeping a cetacean in a tank as comparable to keeping a great ape in a concrete and metal barred cage because there is no stimulation in a plain tank apart from other animals sharing it and the occasional interaction with trainers (I see interaction with trainers as good) and I don't find this enough for such intelligent creatures.
Overall I am not very anti cetacean in captivity but I just find that cetaceans can't be kept adequately and would prefer them to be phased out :)
 
LaughingDove said:
I do agree that the exhibit quality an giving them as many of their needs as possible is crucial in captivity and I am against birds being kept in very small cages (a finch or canary in a small barred cage with only a perch for example) but cetaceans are a different story for me. I do not believe that any cetaceans should be kept in captivity (large sea pens are different but I am talking about tanks/pools) because of how impossible sufficient stimulation is. I am sure you will all agree that compared to fish, herps or birds cetaceans are extremely intelligent. I view keeping a cetacean in a tank as comparable to keeping a great ape in a concrete and metal barred cage because there is no stimulation in a plain tank apart from other animals sharing it and the occasional interaction with trainers (I see interaction with trainers as good) and I don't find this enough for such intelligent creatures.
Overall I am not very anti cetacean in captivity but I just find that cetaceans can't be kept adequately and would prefer them to be phased out :)
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Sorry, but I can't hear the word "intelligent" anymore in that cause. First: What makes an animal intelligent or more intelligent then another? This is only a human view! Second: Where shall we draw the line? Who has the right - or rather: is right - to say: Keeping this kind of animal is okay and the other one isn't? Also, where is the stimulation for whales in the open sea apart from other animals sharing it? And what's hunting in the wild, is interaction with trainers in captivity. Both results in food.
Ref. apes I agree about concrete and iron bars. But this is not what I meant with adequate surrogates.
 
zoomaniac said:
Sorry, but I can't hear the word "intelligent" anymore in that cause. First: What makes an animal intelligent or more intelligent then another? This is only a human view! Second: Where shall we draw the line? Who has the right - or rather: is right - to say: Keeping this kind of animal is okay and the other one isn't? Also, where is the stimulation for whales in the open sea apart from other animals sharing it? And what's hunting in the wild, is interaction with trainers in captivity. Both results in food.
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I agree wholeheartedly, I'm so glad there's someone else who has the same idea that has been dinging around in my head for the better part of the year now.

There is one major difference between interaction and hunting. If a wild animal has a bad hunt its trainer isn't going to show up after the hunt and give it the rest of its caloric needs for the day. It goes without food, period. Maybe it loses too many hunts and dies. If an animal at SeaWorld is stubborn or having an off day, or whatever, it will still get all of its caloric needs for the day, just not right at that minute. From a purely being fed perspective I would want to be a dolphin at SeaWorld, rather than a wild one.
 
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