SeaWorld Have Announced That They Are Ending Live Orca Shows

http://www.iflscience.com/sites/www....?itok=DvxolnBi



Finally, it’s a move we have all been waiting impatiently for: SeaWorld San Diego is to pull the plug on its orca show.

Announced online Monday in a document posted by the company, SeaWorld has said that as of next year, its killer whale performances will be phased out.

But unfortunately, that does not mean an end to orcas in captivity: These acts will be replaced with some kind of educational experience involving the animals, albeit supposedly in a more true-to-life setting. As before, SeaWorld claims that the intention is to inform and inspire, not treat the intelligent mammals as circus animals.

The decision follows a series of blows to the organization. SeaWorld quickly fell out of favor after the release of a harrowing documentary film called Blackfish, which exposed the dark truth of the supposedly conservation-centered industry. Although there were many who argued that the documentary was inaccurate and misleading, the message spoke to people and there was a large amount of public backlash. Just six months after a publication demonstrated that orcas in captivity do not live as long as their wild counterparts, the state of California banned the captive breeding of these animals in October of this year.

As part of this long-overdue ruling, SeaWorld San Diego was given the green light for a $100 million (£65 million) expansion to its killer whale tanks, although the company said they would still battle the California Coastal Commission’s decision. Now it seems they have finally backed down, and instead will invest a chunk of this money on developing a resort in the park in collaboration with Evans Hotels.

While this is fantastic news, the fight is certainly not over yet. Other states still permit the captive breeding of orcas, so until this practice is stamped out completely, we can expect to see the exploitation of these animals for entertainment purposes.

Originally Posted by Jamie89 (Post 8277700) It was only a matter of time. I still haven't seen Blackfish but I keep meaning to watch it.

Originally Posted by Who Is She? (Post 8277710) Great news :clap1: There was a picture that was really upsetting that showed the size of the car park compared to the size of the orca tanks. I'd love them to expand the tanks but really they belong in the wild.

Originally Posted by Kizzy (Post 8277726) Great news, not sure what succeeded where Blackfish failed but it's fantastic to hear.

Originally Posted by Niamh. (Post 8277728) Seems like it was alot to do with Blackfish

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier (Post 8277752) Yeah they've seen profits drop by bigger and bigger margins each year since it was released, and I think it just sparked a lot of activism around the subject. I'd like to think that they've had a change of heart and realised how cruel it was... however, I think it's more the case that they've had to finally conceed that people are not going to pay to see it any more and so it's just not a viable part of the business. I doubt the whales that have been in captivity since they were young / born in captivity could survive in the wild... which is a bit concerning... I can't see them investing huge amounts on bigger habitats for them if it's only a "phasing out" process. Whales captured as adults would probably be best just released. They might not make it but I'd say a chance at freedom - if they've known freedom before - would be better than life in captivity :shrug:.

Originally Posted by Quasar (Post 8277763) They would never survive in the wild now which is sad. There is nothing stopping them from moving the orcas into a suitable envrionment though. I think something was said at the end of Blackfish that they should be moved to an ocean enclosure. Great news though. I actually visit Seaworld when I go to Florida but refuse to watch the whale and dolphin shows.

Originally Posted by Marsh. (Post 8277787) I can't wait to see the human shows with them leaping out of the water and balancing balls on their nose. :flutter:

Originally Posted by Niamh. (Post 8277728) Seems like it was alot to do with Blackfish

Originally Posted by Kizzy (Post 8277833) Yes, looking again maybe it has it wasn't instantaneous but as said if it's made the public rail against and affect profits then I guess they'll be professing it's the an orca 'real life' experience. Which of course it isn't.

Originally Posted by Ammi (Post 8279004) ..I don't think that they showed this in Blackfish or that it was mentioned../if it was, then I missed it but I saw this pic on Imgur earlier...when the tanks are being cleaned out, the orcas are put into plastic bags....and it can't be a quick job to clean out the tanks either.... ..I'll spoiler it anyway... Spoiler: http://i.imgur.com/P4nObYw.jpg