TBT to my second post
As of October 8, 2015, authorities in California have forbidden SeaWorld from breeding animals in captivity. This new ruling stated by the California Coastal Commission was created after a request by the San Diego SeaWorld aquarium to build new tanks for its orcas.
Originally, SeaWorld had planned to build two additional tanks for viewing and research. “Breeding is a natural, fundamental and important part of an animal’s life and depriving a social animal of the right to reproduce is inhumane”, stated SeaWorld San Diego Park President, John Reilly. The 100 million dollar building project was permitted by the commission “under a condition that would prohibit captive breeding, artificial insemination, and the sale, trade or transfer of any animal in captivity.” In other words, yes, SeaWorld in San Diego can create their new buildings and tanks for “research” but they are not allowed to have their animals become impregnated or buy or trade any new animals. So, SeaWorld in San Diego cannot get anymore new animals, which could potentially lead to the end of SeaWorld.
SeaWorld has been under extreme disparagement in the past couple of years, predominantly after the release of the documentary Blackfish in 2013 which unambiguously disapproved the company’s treatment of their orcas.
Link to the Blackfish trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G93beiYiE74
My favorite line out of the trailer: “If you were in a bathtub for twenty-five years, don’t you think you’d get a little psychotic?”
Blackfish is a film made to explain that whales in captivity become restless in their small environment, which leads them to behave aggressively toward their trainers. SeaWorld has stated that the film is “false and misleading”.
In August 2015, the SeaWorld Entertainment industry reported an 84% drop in their money and earnings made in the second quarter of 2015, compared to the same period in 2014, and 2% less in visitor numbers.
Is the end for SeaWorld? Will the aquariums in Texas and Florida be next?
I saw Blackfish and it’s one of my favorite documentaries and made me despise SeaWorld! I would definitely recommend that people watch it. I’m kind of thrilled that SeaWorld is failing because people are realizing how awful the treatment of these whales and other animals are. So happy you chose this to post about!
I watched Blackfish last year and thought it was terrible what was happening at Sea World. But I wish there was some common ground. I visited Sea World as a kid and thought it was an incredible experience getting to be so close to animals I would not have any other chance to be that close too. Sea World definitely has its problems but I’m not sure if shutting down the park is the answer to all the problems.
What I don’t understand is why Sea World gets so much backlash when zoos across America are doing the same thing. Animals are put in small cages for the enjoyment of tourist just like the orcas at Sea World. I feel like there is definitely a double standard happening.
I watched Blackfish and was thoroughly disgusted with the way SeaWorld treated their animals. I am strongly against keeping animals in captivity to begin with, so the documentary succeeded at getting me more fired up about this issue. I love the inclusion of the picture at the end because I remember reading about freeing the elephants from circuses and how happy I was after having watched a different documentary about the mistreating of elephants. Great blog post!
This is a great victory for animal rights activists in California. It always seems that California is willing to be the first to make laws or to strengthen them. The law really doesn’t surprise me, but I doubt it will make much of a difference nationally. I highly doubt the political climate is right in Texas to make laws that are essentially focused on the rights of animals. There is the hope, however, that this could financially destabilize SeaWorld and lead to the closings of the other parks anyway. Whether this will cause a decrease in funds raised for ocean-oriented charities is hard to predict, but at least there will be fewer sad and dangerous animals in captivity.
Ever since watching the Blackfish Documentary for my research project last year, I have been strongly against Sea World so I am so glad that you this was the topic of your blog post this week. I am thrilled that CA passed the this new legislation as I feel that sea animals should not be in captivity. I also love your meme; it’s so accurate and hopefully all animals in captivity will someday be free.