topic Re: SeaWorld ending Orca Breeding program in Community Chat

SeaWorld ending Orca Breeding program

KingstonsMom — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 12:18:36 GMT

YAY!

SeaWorld announced Thursday it will end its killer whale breeding programs and take a "new direction" amid changing social attitudes.

The company said the 24 orcas it currently has in three parks would be SeaWorld's last generation.

Killer whale "Tilikum" appears during its performance in its show at Sea World on March 30, 2011 in Orlando, Fla. Gerardo Mora / Getty Images

"SeaWorld has been listening and we're changing," the company said in a statement. "Society is changing and we're changing with it. SeaWorld is finding new ways to continue to deliver on our purpose to inspire all our guests to take action to protect wild animals and wild places."

Joel Manby, president and CEO of SeaWorld, wrote in an op-ed article in the Los Angeles Times that its existing whales would remain in captivity because setting them free in the wild was "not a wise option."

"Most of our orcas were born at SeaWorld, and those that were born in the wild have been in our parks for the majority of their lives," he wrote. "If we release them into the ocean, they will likely die."

Manby said the SeaWorld hasn't collected an orca from the wild in almost four decades and that this would be "the last generation of orcas in SeaWorld's care."

The 24 orcas SeaWorld currently has are at parks in California, Texas and Florida.

Last year, SeaWorld announced it was ending its orca shows — a move which drew muted praise from lawmakers and activists.

The company has been under pressure about its orcas since the 2013 release of the documentary "Blackfish," which argued that placing the whales in captivity made them violent, neurotic and decreased their life span.

Naomi Rose, marine mammal scientist at the Animal Welfare Institute said SeaWorld's decision was "a monumental and important first step forward in achieving a more humane business model."

The theme park was also feeling pressure from authorities. California's Coastal Commission last year approved a $100 million expansion at SeaWorld San Diego but only on the condition that it ended captive breeding at that facility — a ruling that CEO Manby at the time described as "inhumane."

Animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) described Thursday's announcement as a "payoff" from its campaigns to change SeaWorld's policies.

However, it said: "Today is the day to stop breeding, not sometime later this year. SeaWorld must open its tanks to the oceans to allow the orcas it now holds captive to have some semblance of a life outside these prison tanks."

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/seaworld-end-breeding-program-orca-whales-n540646

Re: SeaWorld ending Orca Breeding program

bri20 — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 12:19:54 GMT

That's good news!

Re: SeaWorld ending Orca Breeding program

ILTH — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 12:50:13 GMT

"SeaWorld has been listening and we're changing," the company said in a statement. "Society is changing and we're changing with it. SeaWorld is finding new ways to continue to deliver on our purpose to inspire all our guests to take action to protect wild animals and wild places."

SeaWorld had been exposed and excoriated- very publicly. It's just a business decision on their part, nothing about ethics.

I'm glad it's, finally, happening, but, I won't give them a dime of my money. I wouldn't go to SeaWorld for at least a generation.

"I contend that we are both atheists . I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours." Stephen Henry Roberts

Re: SeaWorld ending Orca Breeding program

Karnerblue — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 12:53:55 GMT

Happy Dance! It was long, long overdue.

Re: SeaWorld ending Orca Breeding program

millieshops — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 13:11:05 GMT

I applaud their decision, but I need to read and find out whether the people making this decision are the same people who decided to have the orcas in the first place.

I don't think there's any sensible way to release whales living or born into captivity out into their once natural environment and just as I don't hold my friends and family responsible for all the decisions their family members make, I would not hold today's executives responsible for decisions made by their predecessors.

No matter what we do, we cannot change the past. We can decide to change our current behavior.

Re: SeaWorld ending Orca Breeding program

songbird — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 13:50:44 GMT

Yay the freak show is over! Strange animals they were producing. Something so alien in nature, SeaWorld was only too happy to make. This should end Seaworld. They can become a real amusement park, not a pretend nature perserve.

These animals were so messed up genetically, they could never survive in the wild. They'll have to die in captivity. All of the Orcas were crossbreeds of different types of Orcas. In nature none of the would have happened.

Re: SeaWorld ending Orca Breeding program

Another new name Sue — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 13:49:08 GMT

This is good news. I never thought of this, but the CEO reminded readers that when Sea World first introduced the orcas, they were hated and feared as "killer whales." Because of the orca program, now we understand them better and their role in the marine environment. Now people value and respect them. That's so important. I appreciate what Sea World is doing, even tho' the captive animals cannot be returned to the wild, unfortunately.

Re: SeaWorld ending Orca Breeding program

ILTH — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 13:57:30 GMT

@Another new name Sue wrote:
This is good news. I never thought of this, but the CEO reminded readers that when Sea World first introduced the orcas, they were hated and feared as "killer whales." Because of the orca program, now we understand them better and their role in the marine environment. Now people value and respect them. That's so important. I appreciate what Sea World is doing, even tho' the captive animals cannot be returned to the wild, unfortunately.

And, how many decades ago was that? Just excuses, justifications and saving his rear.

And, how does that justify or fit in with using them for entertainment?

Re: SeaWorld ending Orca Breeding program

SeaMaiden — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 14:02:26 GMT

What took so long?? Now we need to get zoos to close and to stop exploiting other wild animals,. And then stop the horse racing and dog racing that are considered legal games of chance...... but do nothing but injure and treat animals poorly.

The worst animal offenders are the counties that have so much illegal game hunting and poaching which is killing off and causing animals to go extinct. Little is being done. It is just horrendous!

Re: SeaWorld ending Orca Breeding program

KingstonsMom — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 14:09:47 GMT

@Karnerblue wrote:
Happy Dance! It was long, long overdue.

@Karnerblue

Re: SeaWorld ending Orca Breeding program

Lacey1 — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 14:12:34 GMT

Much like Barnum & Bailey's decision to retire their elephants from performing-I would keep a close eye on those elephants and orcas. It is going to cost a lot of money to feed/house these long-lived animals. They've just become a big costly liability instead of income producers.

Re: SeaWorld ending Orca Breeding program

KingstonsMom — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 14:13:02 GMT

@MRSTH wrote:
@Another new name Sue wrote:
This is good news. I never thought of this, but the CEO reminded readers that when Sea World first introduced the orcas, they were hated and feared as "killer whales." Because of the orca program, now we understand them better and their role in the marine environment. Now people value and respect them. That's so important. I appreciate what Sea World is doing, even tho' the captive animals cannot be returned to the wild, unfortunately.
And, how many decades ago was that? Just excuses, justifications and saving his rear.
And, how does that justify or fit in with using them for entertainment?

"I contend that we are both atheists . I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours." Stephen Henry Roberts

@ILTH

Also known as 'CYA'. LOL!

Re: SeaWorld ending Orca Breeding program

AngusandBuddhasMom — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 14:17:15 GMT

They are my clients client and it has been very hard to hold my tongue. I support fully the efforts put forth at closing this down and have for years. I don't trust them and hopefully the cause will continue to monitor them and keep them on a short leash.

Re: SeaWorld ending Orca Breeding program

Karnerblue — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 14:24:13 GMT

@KingstonsMom I love that little guy!

Re: SeaWorld ending Orca Breeding program

KingstonsMom — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 14:27:42 GMT

@Karnerblue wrote:
@KingstonsMom I love that little guy!

@Karnerblue

Me too! Just watching him get his little groove on, makes me smile!

Re: SeaWorld ending Orca Breeding program

Drythe — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 14:39:19 GMT

@millieshops wrote:
I applaud their decision, but I need to read and find out whether the people making this decision are the same people who decided to have the orcas in the first place.

I don't think there's any sensible way to release whales living or born into captivity out into their once natural environment and just as I don't hold my friends and family responsible for all the decisions their family members make, I would not hold today's executives responsible for decisions made by their predecessors.

No matter what we do, we cannot change the past. We can decide to change our current behavior.

@millieshops

I heard the news release on NPR, pretty sure it said no more breeding or capturing. The current generation of Orcas will live out their lives at SeaWorld. Apparently no realistic way to release them now.

It is past time - but GOOD NEWS for the Orcas!

Re: SeaWorld ending Orca Breeding program

Perkup — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 14:43:29 GMT

BUT . .. and there's always a BUT, I heard someone this moring say that ending their breeding program may well mean the end of the species in a few years. Makes sense. For me, the breeding program would be a wonderful thing if they could somehow release the creatures into the wild. I know a great deal of training could be involved, but it could be a fine thing.

Re: SeaWorld ending Orca Breeding program

Plaid Pants2 — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 14:45:54 GMT

@Perkup wrote:
BUT . .. and there's always a BUT, I heard someone this moring say that ending their breeding program may well mean the end of the species in a few years. Makes sense. For me, the breeding program would be a wonderful thing if they could somehow release the creatures into the wild. I know a great deal of training could be involved, but it could be a fine thing.

I'd hate to see orcas, or any animal become extinct. (sad face)

Re: SeaWorld ending Orca Breeding program

SaRina — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 14:47:36 GMT

I have never believed in breeding and/or using animals for human entertainment, so this is good news. That goes for circuses, zoos, and the like.

Re: SeaWorld ending Orca Breeding program

Lucky Charm — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 01:32:39 GMT

I'm just so glad that more and more people are more aware of how animals are treated/used-- be it for 'entertainment', sports, dinner, handbags and our car interiors.