A humaner Sea World

March 17, 2016 7:23 AM

SeaWorld has announced a partnership with the Humane Society to end its orca breeding program, and the elimination of their theatrical shows that involve orca whales.

Blackfish, a controversial documentary about SeaWorld's treatment of orca whales, was released in 2013. (previously, previously)

posted by roomthreeseventeen (42 comments total)

Too little too late.
posted by Splunge at 7:24 AM on March 17, 2016 [9 favorites]

I wonder if they'll keep (a fictionalized, perhaps cartoon) Shamu as their mascot.
posted by Faint of Butt at 7:28 AM on March 17, 2016

Never too late.
posted by cjorgensen at 7:32 AM on March 17, 2016 [74 favorites]

I am now imagining a weird blend of grind-house and dated animation (something with the feeling of Captain Planet), where a rogue orca strikes back against whale and dolphin trainers and keepers. Its name: Humaneer, a real killer whale.

(Today I learned humaner is actually a word - I would have gone with "more humane")
posted by filthy light thief at 7:37 AM on March 17, 2016 [2 favorites]

I am now imagining a weird blend of grind-house and dated animation (something with the feeling of Captain Planet), where a rogue orca strikes back against whale and dolphin trainers and keepers. Its name: Humaneer, a real killer whale.

Tilikum
posted by PenDevil at 7:38 AM on March 17, 2016 [5 favorites]

It's a step, but I'd prefer it if they stopped keeping any of those animals in captivity. Or at least not actively purchasing new ones when the current animals get old or die.
posted by Kitteh at 7:39 AM on March 17, 2016

Or at least not actively purchasing new ones when the current animals get old or die.

They have, effective today, stopped doing that.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:45 AM on March 17, 2016 [18 favorites]

It's a step, but I'd prefer it if they stopped keeping any of those animals in captivity.

A press release from SeaWorld states that the company “reaffirms its commitment not to collect marine mammals from the wild. It has not collected an orca from the wild in nearly 40 years, and the orcas at SeaWorld were either born there or have spent almost their entire lives in human care. These orcas could not survive in oceans that include environmental concerns such as pollution and other man-made threats.”

posted by Etrigan at 7:57 AM on March 17, 2016 [5 favorites]

I am now imagining a weird blend of grind-house and dated animation (something with the feeling of Captain Planet), where a rogue orca strikes back against whale and dolphin trainers and keepers. Its name: Humaneer, a real killer whale.

There's a sort of Jaws knock-off from 1977 starring Richard Harris called Orca, which is sort of like the later Jaws films in which the sharks seem hell-bent on revenge. Worth watching if you have ever wanted to see Bo Derek's leg bitten off.
posted by maxsparber at 8:24 AM on March 17, 2016 [7 favorites]

Some critics want us to go even further; they want us to “set free” the orcas currently in our care. But that's not a wise option.

well huh, I find myself in agreement with Sea World.

For as long as they live, the orcas at SeaWorld will stay in our parks. They'll continue to receive the highest-quality care, based on the latest advances in marine veterinary medicine, science and zoological best practices.

are they gonna improve (increase) their living space tho? because that's like. one of the biggest fucking problems. are they gonna be able to be more social (I know this depends on behavior)? are they gonna still have some kind of enrichment exercises? I would like more answers that I did not see

but I'm still really happy about this news
posted by suddenly, and without warning, at 8:35 AM on March 17, 2016 [11 favorites]

I liked this Twitter thread from Sara Schaefer.

There's a sort of Jaws knock-off from 1977 starring Richard Harris called Orca, which is sort of like the later Jaws films in which the sharks seem hell-bent on revenge.

And because it's orcas instead of sharks, the revenge plot actually almost makes sense.

Finally.
posted by tobascodagama at 8:36 AM on March 17, 2016 [1 favorite]

Worth watching if you have ever wanted to see Bo Derek's leg bitten off.

Or if you enjoy closeups of ANGRY ORCA EYE
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 8:43 AM on March 17, 2016 [8 favorites]

I'm so glad to not be the only person in this thread sort of obsessed with Orca.
posted by maxsparber at 8:51 AM on March 17, 2016

Too little too late.

Not if you care more about improving the lives of these animals than you do about nurturing your own sense of righteous indignation.
posted by Atom Eyes at 8:58 AM on March 17, 2016 [19 favorites]

Worth watching if you have ever wanted to see Bo Derek's leg bitten off.

Or if you've ever been forced to listen to "MacArthur Park" and fantasized about seeing this happen to Richard Harris.
posted by Atom Eyes at 9:05 AM on March 17, 2016 [3 favorites]

Not if you care more about improving the lives of these animals than you do about nurturing your own sense of righteous indignation.

Hey Atom Eyes! How are you? Great to see you. I wanted to introduce you to MetaFilter. Have you guys met?
posted by The Bellman at 9:06 AM on March 17, 2016 [7 favorites]

MetaFilter: see Bo Derek's leg bitten off
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 9:09 AM on March 17, 2016 [1 favorite]

Once the discussion around Blackfish alerted me to the reality of what these animals' lives are like---which I am sad to say I had simply never considered--I knew I'd never take my kid to one of these parks.

We have a great local zoo that works really hard to give its animals quality lives and even going there makes me pretty sad. The only reason I don't boycott it is because it's helping preserve members of several endangered species and I think that's worth doing, if not what I'd prefer for those individual animals.
posted by emjaybee at 9:12 AM on March 17, 2016 [1 favorite]

okay but like, come on, let's try to play nice... "too little too late" doesn't necessarily mean for the animals

some other possibilities:
Too little too late [for me to consider SeaWorld, the organization, as a force for good, or to trust them to do right].
Too little too late [for SeaWorld's reputation].
Too little too late [for the animals who suffered horribly over the last x many years due to SeaWorld's dishonest care and those that were taken from the wild that are no longer around].
Too little too late [for me to forgive and forget].

I dunno I think all of those are pretty valid. personally I'm actually really happy and hopeful with the statement they put out and the fact that they'll be collaborating with the Humane society, but I don't blame people for not fawning at SeaWorld's feet over this especially after so many years of mistreatment, denial, and outright lying.

it didn't have to mean 'too little too late for these particular animals' like... I mean maybe that was the message, but also :/
posted by suddenly, and without warning, at 9:16 AM on March 17, 2016 [5 favorites]

We visit San Diego most years with our kids. We did take them to Sea World years ago, but stopped going after becoming aware of the orca issues. I was also creeped out by Seaworld's infiltration of animal rights groups. I'm not sure whether we'll go back now, but I'm thinking about it. The kids have really come to love Legoland in the intervening years.
posted by Alluring Mouthbreather at 9:18 AM on March 17, 2016 [1 favorite]

suddenly, and without warning: I agree. Plus, it's not like I've ever done shit to save the whales, and for all I know Splunge might be an actual activist. Despising Sea World and all it stands for is still a valid point of view.
posted by Atom Eyes at 9:22 AM on March 17, 2016

Some background: In August 2014, in response to the outcry following the release of Blackfish, Sea World announced a major expansion to its orca habitat. This required permission from the California Coastal Commission (CCC), which held hearings and received a lot of concerned testimony about the living conditions for the orcas at Sea World. In October, the CCC decided to allow the expansion on the condition that no breeding take place. Sea World actually filed suit against the CCC in December, contending that the CCC didn't have the authority to impose this restriction on them. With this announcement, they seem to have reversed course and effectively given up on this lawsuit.

In other word, government regulation and citizen participation in democracy can make a positive difference in the world. Whoda thunk it?
posted by Johnny Assay at 9:48 AM on March 17, 2016 [30 favorites]

Sometimes muckraking works.
posted by gottabefunky at 9:49 AM on March 17, 2016 [4 favorites]

These orcas could not survive in oceans that include environmental concerns such as pollution and other man-made threats.

"We're keeping them in solitary safe!"
posted by gottabefunky at 9:50 AM on March 17, 2016 [2 favorites]

tragically hip - new orleans is sinking/the infamous killer whale tank rant
posted by pyramid termite at 10:08 AM on March 17, 2016 [1 favorite]

cjorgensen: "Never too late."

Three people would disagree, if they could.
posted by Splunge at 10:12 AM on March 17, 2016

"We're keeping them in solitary safe!"

I hate to defend Sea World but what evidence have you got that these animals, raised in captivity, would do better in the wild? I'm not trying to be snarky, I legitimately don't know if they would even know how to hunt without being taught by their pod as a youth.
posted by LastOfHisKind at 10:23 AM on March 17, 2016 [1 favorite]

Good for Sea World, but clearly, nothing they do will be enough for some people.

I am not all that upset by SeaWorld infiltrating these groups, because these groups have people that are working at SeaWorld, they just aren't necessarily admitting to it.

Citing Blackfish as a resource is a poor choice for the argument since it is highly biased documentary, that several people involved have disavowed, since their interviews were edited to say things that were never intended. There are better sources to back up your argument. I would cite my sources, but they are just as biased in the opposite direction as Blackfish.

That being said, Blackfish has clearly accomplished a lot of its goals. My biggest gripe is that it targets the one park with the best facilities, with a marine animal rescue program that saves hundreds, if not thousands of animals every year. SeaWorld is a big bad boogeyman except when they show up to rehab the starving seal and sea lion pups that are being abandoned or malnourished on the west coast, or helping trapped/injured manatees and sea turtles in the southeast. The lion's share of these programs funding comes from people paying to visit SeaWorld.

There is little mention or focus by activists on other, smaller parks that have whales in far worse conditions. Lolita down in the Miami Seaquarium for example. Not to mention the international parks that are still capturing killer whales for shows.

OK, I will stop sounding like a SeaWorld shill now.
posted by Badgermann at 10:27 AM on March 17, 2016 [2 favorites]

There is little mention or focus by activists on other, smaller parks that have whales in far worse conditions. Lolita down in the Miami Seaquarium for example. Not to mention the international parks that are still capturing killer whales for shows.

The thing is, people know about SeaWorld. And they know that SeaWorld has been holding itself up as the exemplar of conservation-minded aquatic entertainment for decades. So when you get SeaWorld to buckle and say, "Okay, you're right, there's no way to do this well", then you can shift some of your pressure to the Miami Seaquarium and say "Look, even SeaWorld knows there's no way to do this well." And the average Area Person in Miami remembers, Oh yeah, SeaWorld did say that, didn't they..., and it's that much easier to change Area Person's opinion.

Whereas if you try it the other way and spend years and years getting the Miami Seaquarium to change, your San Diego Area Person doesn't hear about that, and even if you tell that person about it, they think, Well, that's some local place in Miami. I'm sure SeaWorld does it better..., and you're pretty much starting at square one.
posted by Etrigan at 10:34 AM on March 17, 2016 [35 favorites]

What Etrigan said.

Activists aren't idiots, and I wish people would stop assuming that they are.
posted by tobascodagama at 10:49 AM on March 17, 2016 [18 favorites]

I am now imagining a weird blend of grind-house and dated animation (something with the feeling of Captain Planet), where a rogue orca strikes back against whale and dolphin trainers and keepers. Its name: Humaneer, a real killer whale.

MECHAWHALES
posted by adept256 at 11:14 AM on March 17, 2016

So... They're also going to phase out all their other cetaceans in captivity, right?

Right?

Blackfish, a controversial documentary about SeaWorld's treatment of orca whales

...and the barely-trained workers killed and injured by them. It's not just the animals SeaWorld doesn't care enough about.
posted by Sys Rq at 12:34 PM on March 17, 2016 [5 favorites]

SeaWorld hasn't collected an orca from the wild in almost four decades

"collected" is such a weird word choice here. I mean, obviously it was suggested by some PR person to not sound offensive, but come on. These aren't baseball cards.
posted by Rhomboid at 1:02 PM on March 17, 2016 [1 favorite]

"collected" is such a weird word choice here.

Is there a better word? Collected is what scientists do with specimens. Captured doesn't necessarily mean you kept it.
posted by snofoam at 1:51 PM on March 17, 2016 [1 favorite]

I am now imagining a weird blend of grind-house and dated animation (something with the feeling of Captain Planet), where a rogue orca strikes back against whale and dolphin trainers and keepers. Its name: Humaneer, a real killer whale.

Tilikum TiKILLum.

ftfy.
posted by PandaMomentum at 1:53 PM on March 17, 2016 [1 favorite]

SeaWorld hasn't collected an orca from the wild in almost four decades

About four and a half decades ago I had occasion to visit, of all things, Sea World of Ohio. Yes, a Sea World in North East Ohio, 1,000 feet above sea level, and about 350 miles from the actual sea. In fact, the site is thirty miles from Lake Erie, so even our famous Great Lakes Whales would have a rough time getting there. Winter is winter in NEO -- in the 1970s, Lake Erie reliably froze solid each year. So the park'd close for the season and they'd air-lift the animals to warmer climes.

As to entertainment, it wasn't enough to have dolphins jump through hoops of fire, orcas give pony rides to 'trainers', and a sea lion play a bulb-horn organ. No. I saw an orca and a dolphin strap on fake guitars while a sea lion squatted behind a fake drumkit and they all mimed to a recording of "Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress" by the Hollies.

___!

I don't know what happened to this 'Shame-u' and the other Sea World of Ohio cetaceans, but eventually the park became Six Flags Over Ohio -- which is odd, because not counting the state flag, only three flags have ever flown over Ohio. Still later Six Flags pulled out and the park limps along without any orcas, branding, or national recognition. The site is now under consideration for placement of a second unit film sound stage to support the outdoor shooting Hollywood already does in Ohio (the Russo brothers like it here).

So indoor scenes for some future production of Captain American IX may be haunted by the ghost of 'Shamu' -- of Ohio.
 
posted by Herodios at 2:21 PM on March 17, 2016 [1 favorite]

"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."

Just a reminder, everyone.


Also: Yay!
posted by Mike Mongo at 2:34 PM on March 17, 2016 [6 favorites]

About four and a half decades ago I had occasion to visit, of all things, Sea World of Ohio. Yes, a Sea World in North East Ohio, 1,000 feet above sea level, and about 350 miles from the actual sea.

Ditto for Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario, which opened in 1961 and is still in operation.

(Marineland already doesn't breed or acquire new orcas; that was banned by provincial law a whole ten months ago. They only have one of them, swimming lonely circles in a tank.)
posted by Sys Rq at 2:57 PM on March 17, 2016

Came in to say what Bagermann said. SeaWorld rehabilitated some 600+ sea lions from the beaching event in 2014-2015. I saw some of the starving seal pups first hand when I visited La Jolla Cove last year. It was pretty terrible.

I know some people professionally that work at Seaworld Orlando. They don't work with the dolphins and whales. But they do work hard to try and both treat their animals responsibly and make strides to contribute to research that other less well funded groups cannot. They started the Rising Tide initiative for raising marine fish in captivity, something that is difficult and expensive.

The situation for the orcas needs to change. That much is clear. But I have a hard time casting them as categorically evil.
posted by [insert clever name here] at 2:59 PM on March 17, 2016 [1 favorite]

Just gotta chime in so people don't forget about Lolita the killer whale, who has been at the Miami Seaquarium since 1970. I don't know what keeps her going all these years as her pool is too small.
posted by Calzephyr at 6:12 PM on March 17, 2016 [3 favorites]

I wanted to take my kid to two beaches this week, and the second beach was near a gorgeous tourist aquarium I have fond memories of visiting with her older siblings when they were little. But since then, dolphins. Pink dolphins that you can swim with, the survivors of wild catches with half dying in transit or in 'care'. There's no way to go to this gorgeous educational aquarium without financially supporting the murder of dolphins, because the whole thing is linked even if you don't swim with them or visit their sad small lagoon.

We went to the other beach and had an amazing day out, but watching her thrill over a clump of seaweed and knowing I couldn't morally take her to that place sucked because it feels like if you really love sea animals, you have to NOT go to the places with access.
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 11:23 PM on March 17, 2016 [6 favorites]

Where is the Orcanado series of craptastic movies from Syfy?
posted by Monkey0nCrack at 5:46 PM on March 19, 2016