Lex, I may not have "learned anything" that I couldn't have learned from reading many books, or seeing countless documentaries, it has to be a lot because of all the bs out there like Blackfish, but unlike you, I know a portion of my money goes to the vet care, the feeding of, the studies of these captive animals, so researchers can learn more to help the animals in the wild. I also know that another portion of my money goes to helping injured dolphins, manatees, and orcas in the wild. I also know that a portion of my money goes to grants and scholarships to help those who because of SeaWorld, have dreams of helping and working with these animals. What have you done with your money ??
You were correct on one thing, your money likely does go towards the (very) basic care that Seaworld gives it's Orca's, as well as the other fish and animals in their care. Might even go on those scholarships too! But Seaworld does very little animal cresearch in the wild. If anything they try to profit off wild animals by buying off Russian and Asian Fishermen, seeing as laws prohibit them catching any more whales. They just tried to buy up a number of beluga whales caught in Russia.
Also way to make assumptions, just because someone might not support a place like Seaworld, does not mean they do not support or fund other causes. IMO I think those who do come down hard on Seaworld visitors do not help their cause. It can't be helped, people buy into the assumption that the whales are happy and well provided for. When the history of the captivity of this species really rather suggests otherwise.
Just one observation. You cannot kidnap a whale or any animal for that matter because, well, they are just animals.
That's a kind of ignorant comment, animals are really not *just* animals. I will agree many animals are quite capable of adjusting to solo/captive life or don't really have a family structure that concerns the individual too much, but Cetaceans are pretty intelligent animals with strong family bonds within their pods. Male Orcas stay their their mothers their entire lives, they will never leave her side bar for playing with other Orca males or mating, and if their mother dies, they will attach to a next of kin.
Most of the older Captive Orca's were taken from their family as young calves. Not rescued or saved from any untimely accident. Their Pods were forcibly rounded up, trapped in a cove - and then the fishermen deliberately picked the healthiest, and easiest to transport whales to take. The pod didn't just abandon the captive Whales, they made distress calls when their child/brother/sister were taken and stayed with them for long as they could (often following ships or trucks with their relative on-board) till their lost relative was too far away now to call back.
They don't just forget the ones lost too, one of the longest living whales in captivity - "Corky" was once played the unique sound-tones of her family pod in 1993, 20+ years after her capture, by a news channel. Corky visibly shakes, in the way a human shakes when dealing with something that invokes strong emotional feelings in them. Corky remembered her pod and likely still does. How would you feel if someone forcibly took you from your family, and the only contact you had was one tape recorded message from them in 45 years (that isn't even a message, just voices you recognise being taped unaware)
IMO I wouldn't not ever go to Seaworld again, but my view of them as a park is somewhat tainted by the fact they have repeatedly blocked release of ANY of their whales, and pretend that what they do offer those Whales is enough for them, when it's not. Tillikum spends most of his time stuck in a pool that's JUST big enough to fit him, only occasionally let out to do the big "splash" people expect at the end of the Shamu shows. He's even denied any interaction, because Trainers are pretty much not allowed anywhere near him now. But Seaworld won't release him, or put him down, because he's their babymaker and the biggest, most impressive looking whale they've got. He also can't really interact with the other Orcas, despite his size - "Tilly" is male and his fellow Orca's are female. In Orca society, females are the heads of the family, Tilly is pretty much socially on the bottom rung, and because he's from a different pod - many of the females will just bite and attack him. What kind of a life is that for any creature?
I'm sure he's fed well enough and his trainers do what they can for him, within the limits Seaworld have placed on him. But an Orca isn't in any way like a cat that can have the occasional freedom of it's local "home" area or provide it's own entertainment. Tilly's just stuck in a plain-boring tank with hardly any wriggle space and everyone kept at distance. I'm not sure any human or company could give an Orca the actual basics they really need to keep them happy.
They also went a fair length to prevent the real Willy, Keiko, from being freed. The only reason they didn't go whole hog and buy the poor whale was because he had a skin disease, thanks to the terrible conditions Keiko was living in over in Mexico. A condition that healed up soon as he was in proper water again. He even managed a fair few years in captivity fine after all the debate about if he would cope or not. Of course it wasn't a resounding success, but for a first attempt, At least Keiko could enjoy the last years of his life free in the ocean, before his untimely death in 2003.
The beginning of the nuclear plant has been starred out.
They are too busy protesting about the scientific labs because of using various species as a research models.
