Behind the Scenes: SeaWorld (Part 2)

Katherine Interiano, Staff Writer

SeaWorld has proven incapable of being trusted with any type of marine wildlife. The animals are captured violently from their natural habitat and put into unsanitary and unfitting pools. In addition, SeaWorld’s trainers use dangerous and unmerciful methods, like underfeeding, to teach them tricks to showcase for their performances.

Not long ago, a new CEO (Chief Executive Officer) had been appointed to the staff of SeaWorld.

According to seaworldofhurt.com, “With Joel Manby taking over as SeaWorld’s new CEO today, PETA sent him a long letter urging him to take the park in a new direction- one with coastal sanctuaries, virtual-reality displays, and other animal friendly innovations instead of captive orcas.” PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is the largest animal rights organization in the world.

This letter was sent to Mr. Manby on April 7, 2015; because the letter was sent recently, there has been no response from Manby as of yet.

Ever since Blackfish was released, SeaWorld has received nothing but a bad reputation. They’ve reported disappointing financial results, and their longtime corporate partnership with Southwest Airlines ended.

As stated in america.aljazeera.com, “SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. says it will build at its San Diego Park a tank with 10 million gallons of water, almost twice the size of the current tank, with a depth of up to 50 feet. The new environment will be called the Blue World Project, and SeaWorld said it will include features that will be more stimulating for the whales.”

This is just the beginning to the radical changes SeaWorld is now just starting to make.

Even if the tanks get spacious, it will take much more to budge the opinion of Gabriela Cowperthwaite, director of Blackfish. On the same website, Cowperthwaite was quoted saying, “SeaWorld should instead create oceanic sanctuaries that will let the whales live out their lives in more natural environments.”

Also, she reminded the people that making the tanks bigger doesn’t change anything. Cowperthwaite said, “None of this would change in a bigger pool; what people are upset about is that whales are not suitable to captivity.”

So, the fight for marine wildlife continues, and no matter what changes SeaWorld makes, no animal would truly be free until they’re released from any sized tank.