I have to agree with some of the other posts here (although don't shoot the messenger, guys - you are responding to 'Nick at Theme Park Tourist' not directly to Seaworld!!)

I used to love going to Seaworld. No trip to Orlando was complete without a trip there and Shamu was definitely my favourite attraction.

That said, there was always a niggling thought at the back of my head that the pools seemed very small. Looking at the containment pools behind the main Shamu stadium I wondered how so many whales managed in such a small area when in the wild they are used to swimming hundreds of miles. I, like many others, feel I have been suckered in by the PR hype peddled by Seaworld.

In fairness, Seaworld does such good work with their Manatee programme (i.e. taking injured manatees, nursing them back to health and wherever possible releasing them back into the wild - or if that was not possible for medical reasons keeping the manatees in captivity)I therefore in my utter naivety, thought a similar thing happened with their other creatures and that perhaps the dolphins and orcas they have in their parks, were originally injured or perhaps orphaned and were taken in for their own protection. (As I say very naive of me!)

For the record, I have to say I am not an animal rights activist. I'm not even a vegetarian (!) but I do care when intelligent animals are abused, particularly in the name of 'entertainment' I would find it abhorrent to watch a dancing bear in captivity and have always shunned street vendors offering monkeys or similar creatures to put on my shoulder for a quick photo opportunity.

So why for so many years have I found it okay to go to Seaworld and watch dolphins and Orcas perform? Its a question I cannot fully answer. As previously stated I felt reassured because it was Seaworld and their 'education and rescue programe' appeared to be at the forefront of everything they did.

.... and then I watched Blackfish. Never has a documentary moved me so much. I was so angry and upset that I vowed I would never return to Seaworld or its associated parks. Even if just a 10th of the documentary's allegations are true, the park's bosses whould be hanging their heads in shame not trying to justify their existence by issuing the nonsense pasted above.

There are so many counter arguments that there is not enough space here to list them all.
But one telling allegation in the film - that male orcas' dorsal fins which often collapse when they are held in captivity(i.e. 'flop over' - as Tilikum's did) is due to the lack of exercise they get due to the tiny pools they are kept in. According to Blackfish, in the wild you NEVER see collapsed dorsal fins on killer whales.
While its difficult to measure the stress levels of a whale and probably nigh on impossible to measure how "happy" they are in human terms, doesn't this one physical symptom show that there is something very wrong with the animal's physical wellbeing?

http://cetaceaninspiration.wordpress.com/2013/01/07/why-does-an-orcas-dorsal-fin-collapse/http://cetaceaninspiration.wordpress.com/2013/01/07/why-does-an-orcas-dorsal-fin-collapse/

Sorry Seaworld, but after watching Blackfish, your arguments don't hold water !

I Hate Environmental Extremist Activists!

Having said that. Your whales are a commodity. Much the same as the tigers at the circus. I don't need at masters degree in animal behavior to realize that any animal who's natural Territorial range is hundreds of miles of deep water ocean, that is put in a pool will suffer psychological stress and become a ticking time bomb. More importantly you realize that a lot better than I do and continue to lie to the public.

You people are pathetic. I hope that public awareness becomes such that it forces you out of business.

As another poster said; I applaud your help with injured wild animals and returning them to the wild.

It is really interesting to read your responses to the Blackfish movie, SeaWorld. I'm certainly not an animal rights activist. Neither am I against zoos per se (I believe they have a vital role to play in education and conservation).

I think you are doing a fantastic job when it comes to education. Your rehab of injured and sick animals (like the manatee) is terrific.

Having watched the movie I don't really understand why you are now trying to clarify things that were clear in the film.

For example, it is clear in the film that it isn't Sam Berg riding on the back of the orca. You'll see that I've also watched your video rebuttal featuring Holly Byrd (and note that she has a degree in biology and psychology with behavioral analysis)

But I'm concerned that you seem to be missing the point: you have trainers standing on the backs of orcas.

It's not only showing "unnatural" behavior. But given your unique (andI might say, very important) educational and conservation role, this is hardly giving the right message to your guests. Is it?

How would you like to be locked up in a pool for the rest of your life? I think Blackfish makes excellent points. I will never attend SeaWorld again in my life. I would much rather show my children dolphins and whales in their natural environment where they belong. The film is emotional because realizing that three humans died while in or around a tank with killer whales is a very scary thing. Can you imagine? I believe that the killer whales would be agitated and frustrated to be caught and locked up in a cage. Wouldn't you? Just watch the movie, educate yourself, and think with your heart.

I think it definitely appeals to the emotional side. If all were true we'd have to end up banning zoo's safari parks aquariums etc....where would it end. ...no household pets no police dogs no horses hampsters etc. This is just animal rights activists gone mad. I've seen the killer whale show twice and it's good. Every one including the whales are having fun