Tilikum has Died

[Kumba's Roar]

I don't know. I'm not sure how accurate Wikipedia is but according to them there are less then 50 orcas in captivity around the world. I don't know big of a breeding pool they can get from that. That is why I said they would have to work with Russia and China because I heard they are still building SeaWorld like parks and are still capturing orcas from the wild.

Russia is capturing them and Chinese parks are mostly buying them. SeaWorld had already said they wouldn't use genetics from the Russian captured whales or their descendants back when they were seeking approval for the Blue World in California. There are several males outside of SeaWorld parks who they were likely to breed with in the future, a couple of them are too young still, but they have gotten so far in research that they could have preserved DNA for a long time in order to breed more as long as the whales weren't related.

 

[matt78]

Russia is capturing them and Chinese parks are mostly buying them. SeaWorld had already said they wouldn't use genetics from the Russian captured whales or their descendants back when they were seeking approval for the Blue World in California. There are several males outside of SeaWorld parks who they were likely to breed with in the future, a couple of them are too young still, but they have gotten so far in research that they could have preserved DNA for a long time in order to breed more as long as the whales weren't related.

That's good to know. I wonder if in 10 years they will start up the breeding program again after all of this has died down.

 

[Kumba's Roar]

That's good to know. I wonder if in 10 years they will start up the breeding program again after all of this has died down.

That's the million dollar question.

 

[shiekra38]

That's good to know. I wonder if in 10 years they will start up the breeding program again after all of this has died down.

Probably not in the US....I could see them doing it in their overseas parks, Sea World Dubai, Sea World Japan, and Sea World Antarcticaaaaa

 

[WAJAS]

Probably not in the US....I could see them doing it in their overseas parks, Sea World Dubai, Sea World Japan, and Sea World Antarcticaaaaa

Prediction: underwhelming and advertised with hyperbole

 

[JoeCamel]

Prediction: underwhelming and advertised with hyperbole

They got me to buy an AP for Antarcticaaaaa. I still think they owe me money back.

 

[epcyclopedia]

Read an article today about San Diego was adding natural elements to the outside of the tank for their more natural show.

Like pine trees.

Because whales give a farfanoogin about pine trees.

 

[SkiBum]

Read an article today about San Diego was adding natural elements to the outside of the tank for their more natural show.

Like pine trees.

Because whales give a farfanoogin about pine trees.

No, no, killer whales notice this stuff all the time. They're all like, "Though I'd rather be swimming the deep blue and doing my orca thing, I really think that the pine trees add a natural ambience to the whole thing. Really makes this pool feel bigger and more relaxing overall."

 

[epcyclopedia]

No, no, killer whales notice this stuff all the time. They're all like, "Though I'd rather be swimming the deep blue and doing my orca thing, I really think that the pine trees add a natural ambience to the whole thing. Really makes this pool feel bigger and more relaxing overall."

The moment they canceled Blue World as an expansion (which I called and was mocked for mind you - some of you still owe me an apology for that one) I wrote the company off.

Seriously, how can you claim to care about the animals and cancel any and all plans to improve their habitat when it's determined you can't have your silly circus shows anymore?

To this day there's still people (most working for the company) who think they did nothing wrong and everyone else needs to get over it.

 

[WAJAS]

Read an article today about San Diego was adding natural elements to the outside of the tank for their more natural show.

Like pine trees.

Because whales give a farfanoogin about pine trees.

No, no, killer whales notice this stuff all the time. They're all like, "Though I'd rather be swimming the deep blue and doing my orca thing, I really think that the pine trees add a natural ambience to the whole thing. Really makes this pool feel bigger and more relaxing overall."

Let's all be honest, SeaWorld supporters and opponents alike, the new set is not for the whales, it's for the audience.

 

[epcyclopedia]

Let's all be honest, SeaWorld supporters and opponents alike, the new set is not for the whales, it's for the audience.

It's also the set from the 80's and 90's that they had when they played up the whole Inuit mythology thing and had totem poles and such too.

 

[SkiBum]

The moment they canceled Blue World as an expansion (which I called and was mocked for mind you - some of you still owe me an apology for that one) I wrote the company off.

Seriously, how can you claim to care about the animals and cancel any and all plans to improve their habitat when it's determined you can't have your silly circus shows anymore?

To this day there's still people (most working for the company) who think they did nothing wrong and everyone else needs to get over it.

It is just hard all the way around. I remember once at Sea World here in Ohio that, at the end of the day, Shamu had had enough. After he pretty much jumped and landed on the trainer in the water, they had to entice Shamu to go back to his holding pen. That was when the pools were smaller and the holding pens tiny. We want the research and to see these magnificent animals but how do you make an enclosure large enough for an ocean-going creature? Plus, the whales are used to human interaction. Denying that in shows hurts the animals. It's just a mess.

Let's all be honest, SeaWorld supporters and opponents alike, the new set is not for the whales, it's for the audience.

I know. I was being facetious to insert a little levity. In my mind, the whales were all California-cool.

 

[WAJAS]

The moment they canceled Blue World as an expansion (which I called and was mocked for mind you - some of you still owe me an apology for that one) I wrote the company off.

Seriously, how can you claim to care about the animals and cancel any and all plans to improve their habitat when it's determined you can't have your silly circus shows anymore?

To this day there's still people (most working for the company) who think they did nothing wrong and everyone else needs to get over it.

Because they are still a company. It doesn't make sense to invest millions into a habitat that will sit unused in about thirty years. The fact is in order to continue the rehabilitation and rescue service they provide, they must continue to make smart business decisions.

 

[epcyclopedia]

You say that like a Seaworld businessman. Unaware that by continuing to mistreat orcas the public will not forgive and forget.

 

[WAJAS]

You say that like a Seaworld businessman. Unaware that by continuing to mistreat orcas the public will not forgive and forget.

I say that like any businessman would. The data doesn't agree with you. Year over year revenue and attendance is for SEAS.

 

[epcyclopedia]

You know the company has cut to the bone and is just barely hanging on, right? It's not getting better.

 

[matt78]

Read an article today about San Diego was adding natural elements to the outside of the tank for their more natural show.

Like pine trees.

Because whales give a farfanoogin about pine trees.

What do you want them to add to the outside of the tank that would be an improvement for the orcas. As you said in another post they are really struggling right now. It makes more sense for them to invest in things that are going to help drive attendance and sadly building a bigger tank isn't going to do it. Right now they need to focus on new rides to get people through the gates. The best anyone can hope for is that attendance increases to the point where sometime in the future they decide it makes financial sense for them to go ahead with the Blue World Project. As far as public opinion goes the public will forget as soon as something else comes alone to grab their attention.

 

[shiekra38]

Cut the whales...build a new land...

Not sure why they keep holding on to it

 

[WAJAS]

Cut the whales...build a new land...

Not sure why they keep holding on to it

Because they are stuck with them. It'll look even worse when they release them (into a sea pen or open ocean), and the same thing that happened to Willy happens to them.

 

[shiekra38]

Because they are stuck with them. It'll look even worse when they release them (into a sea pen or open ocean), and the same thing that happened to Willy happens to them.

For sure...I meant they should end the shows quicker than they are and shift marketing focus to new experiences

It seems they are trying, but I see an Orca pop up every once in a while..