November 10, 2015
By Rupert Neate
SeaWorld (click here) will end orca shows at its theme park in San Diego as part of a comprehensive overhaul of the company in the wake of mounting protests over its treatment of animals..
The company, which has lost half of its market value since the 2013 release of Blackfish, a film cataloguing alleged mistreatment of killer whales at its parks, said on Monday that it would phase out killer whale shows at its California park by 2017.
“We are listening to our guests, evolving as a company, we are always changing,” said chief executive Joel Manby. “In 2017 we will launch an all new orca experience focused on natural environment [of whales]. 2016 will be the last year of our theatrical killer whale experience in San Diego.”
I am really pleased Sea World is making a change in their respect for the ocean's marine mammals. It is going to be a very popular exhibit. It will provide the respect people need to realize how important the oceans are and how important these marine mammals are to the ocean ECOLOGY.
Orcas are top line predators. Predators are paramount to the health of any ecosystem. Tilikum should be retired to the California facility. He is far to dangerous a male Orca to continue any direct contact.
He is big and strong and he knows it. Three quarters of the accidents with Tilikum is due to his dominance as a male Orca. He takes on competition. When I review his actions with Dawn it was all mating behavior because something happened and she was no longer dominant in his hierarchy. It is not unusual for a male to take a female to depth for copulation. That is my assessment. Tilikum just flips a switch in that brain of his and the trainer is no longer a superior, but, conquered at his whim.
By Rupert Neate
SeaWorld (click here) will end orca shows at its theme park in San Diego as part of a comprehensive overhaul of the company in the wake of mounting protests over its treatment of animals..
The company, which has lost half of its market value since the 2013 release of Blackfish, a film cataloguing alleged mistreatment of killer whales at its parks, said on Monday that it would phase out killer whale shows at its California park by 2017.
“We are listening to our guests, evolving as a company, we are always changing,” said chief executive Joel Manby. “In 2017 we will launch an all new orca experience focused on natural environment [of whales]. 2016 will be the last year of our theatrical killer whale experience in San Diego.”
I am really pleased Sea World is making a change in their respect for the ocean's marine mammals. It is going to be a very popular exhibit. It will provide the respect people need to realize how important the oceans are and how important these marine mammals are to the ocean ECOLOGY.
Orcas are top line predators. Predators are paramount to the health of any ecosystem. Tilikum should be retired to the California facility. He is far to dangerous a male Orca to continue any direct contact.
He is big and strong and he knows it. Three quarters of the accidents with Tilikum is due to his dominance as a male Orca. He takes on competition. When I review his actions with Dawn it was all mating behavior because something happened and she was no longer dominant in his hierarchy. It is not unusual for a male to take a female to depth for copulation. That is my assessment. Tilikum just flips a switch in that brain of his and the trainer is no longer a superior, but, conquered at his whim.
Tilikum is a really tough case. I can't decide whether or not he is a good subject to return to the ocean's natural and free habitat. He is a dominant Orca, but, his dorsal fin is curved. It is difficult to say whether he would be accepted into a pod or not. He is sizeable and could provide real competition to any Orca that tries to fight him. He would have to face fights within a pod to gain acceptance.
Given Tilikum's personality and the way he seeks domination, if he was born and left in the wilds of the ocean, he would be the dominant male in his pod. Right now, Tilikum is a tempting release, but, he hasn't been tried in any hunting and killing of prey. That venture demands plenty of funding and Sea World has lost considerable value in two years. The funding would have to be available and dedicated so there was a guarantee to finish what any project to release would start.
There may be funding/grants to attempt to release him to the ocean, but, the funding has to be complete from start to finish before any such project could begin. Tilikum cannot be confused to his final destination. He has to be set on a path that will provide him with a clear understanding of where he is going. To begin such a project only to have him returned to a tank is pure cruelty to him.
I wish everyone the best of luck, but, I wish the Sea World Ocras of San Diego peace.
There may be funding/grants to attempt to release him to the ocean, but, the funding has to be complete from start to finish before any such project could begin. Tilikum cannot be confused to his final destination. He has to be set on a path that will provide him with a clear understanding of where he is going. To begin such a project only to have him returned to a tank is pure cruelty to him.
I wish everyone the best of luck, but, I wish the Sea World Ocras of San Diego peace.
