Orcas at SeaWorld San Diego are free! Well, almost.
- Samantha Stewart
- Nov 23, 2015
- 2 min read
SeaWorld has caught a lot of flack over the last few years following the premiere of Blackfish, a 2013 documentary that ridicules the company about their methods of how they care for their animals.
Despite their efforts to refute the accusations made against them by Blackfish, SeaWorld has been steadily sinking. It was reported by SeaWorld in August that they had seen an 84% plunge in profits as well as a 60% tumble in stock price since the film’s release.
Last week, in an even stronger effort to rebuild SeaWorld’s reputation, CEO Joel Manby announced at a press conference that their San Diego location is going to end their theatrical killer whale performance “One Ocean” and implement a new presentation. According to Manby, this new production will showcase the animals in their “natural” setting and environment…while they are still in captivity.
“We are listening to our guests. We’re evolving as a company and we’re always changing,” said Manby.
Well, at least they’re moving in the right direction.
The largest amount of criticism that SeaWorld receives is in regards to the mistreatment that occurs when training the whales to perform tricks. By phasing out this portion of the park and focusing on the whales living as naturally as possible while still in captivity, it’s easy to see that SeaWorld is attempting to compromise with the public.
But why can’t they just end the captivity in general?
I understand that the current orcas at all SeaWorld locations have lived in captivity and depended on human care for years. If these whales were to be released into the ocean, they wouldn’t know how to survive on their own. I realize that it would kill them.
Manby’s efforts in assisting to evolve SeaWorld into more of a conservation than a theme park are not going unnoticed by the public. However I still question the ethics and motives of the CEO and company as a whole.
It’s obvious that this new and improved “natural” attraction is not designed for the good of the whales, but rather in an effort to counter growing public sentiment against whales in captivity.
In other words – a PR stunt.
I can comprehend SeaWorld’s movements from a public relations standpoint, however when do morals and integrity come into play?
If SeaWorld truly wants to get back in good graces with the public like they say they do, they’re going to have to do a little more than just eliminate some tricks.
They’re going to have to meet these demands that are only growing louder and louder:
Stop breeding orca whales.
Release the whales currently held in captivity to protected sea sanctuaries, which will allow them greater freedom of movement and the ability to see, sense, and communicate with their pod members.
The ugly truth for SeaWorld is that no matter how strong of a PR team they have and no matter how hard they try to spin themselves into being synonymous with conservation – the public opinion of their company is going to remain primarily negative until they no longer hold orca whales in captivity.
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