If you want to know how vehement and even hostile people are in
opposition to SeaWorld, just read the comments at the end of the recent
editorial in the LATimes, What to do about
SeaWorld's captive killers.
The
State of California was considering a bill that would phase out killer whale
shows, an idea that has gained greater popularity thanks to the 2013 documentary Blackfish, but the bill did not pass because it went “too far too
fast” according the editorial.
The article seemed pretty even-handed to me. “Legislators,”
it warned, “should keep in mind that requiring SeaWorld to suddenly shutter its
signature attraction could destroy the rest of the marine park's business.
Though animal rights activists might think that's fine, SeaWorld has invested
heavily in its killer whale program and done so legally. In the absence of
documented animal abuse, the company shouldn't be stripped of its most valuable
assets overnight.”
One
of the problems I see in the arguments over killer whales (as well as apes and
elephants) in captivity is that there doesn’t appear to be any room for
compromise. While there are legitimate concerns over welfare of killer whales
and I might even be convinced they should not be kept in captivity, that does
not mean we should eliminate places like SeaWorld. The amount of good done for
wildlife by zoos and aquariums is immeasurable. The ultimate irony in all of
this is that people wouldn’t even care about killer whales if it wasn’t for the
work done by SeaWorld.
People
need to lighten up on their attacks on SeaWorld and on zoos and aquariums in
general. And zoos and aquariums may need to listen to the people. “The next
step, according to the editorial, “might well be the prohibition of captive
breeding as well as a ban on bringing new killer whales into the state.
SeaWorld would have years to devise a new headline draw while continuing to
show its existing whales, but the public would know that, at least in
California, an outmoded way of viewing the magnificent marine mammals is coming
to a close.”
Seems
like sound advice. I wonder if anybody is listening.
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