What is your view of Sea World?

[Abigal7]

I have watched the documentary The Clove and seen online people saying how they will never go to Sea World or zoos etc again. I have to ask if you agree with them that if Sea World closed down that dolphins and even whales would no longer be killed. I even want to take this a step farther and ask. Do you think not going to a zoo that lets you feed lemurs will keep the lemurs in Madagascar from being endangered? Or how about if parrots being banned as pets would that keep them from going extinct or would they still lose their habitat? I lean toward the view even if animals such as dolphins, whales and lemurs were not in captivity they would still be in trouble. I tried to look at this as best I can. Thinking about this film and observing the Japanese fishermen I have to conclude they view these dolphins as pest (as if they were rats). I kind of wondering in South America countries are taking starting to take pride in their wildlife but only people from South America could answer that. Of course the main issue there would be rainforest conservation.

 

[kiwiS]

I've stopped going to these establishments, including zoos. The only ones I go to are wildlife conservations.

If I want to see a white tiger, or a beluga whale, or a snow leopard, well, there's always youtube.

I don't feel the need to see whales jumping through hoops and splashing people with water, so it's money and lives wasted in my opinion. I'd rather pay to see them rehabilitate injured whales, and reintroduce them to the wild so they can return to their homes.

The Cove was very difficult to watch. I don't care if they think they are a pest, they should not be so inhumane about it. There is no justifying what they have done to those beautiful , majestic creatures. I wouldn't even kill wild rats that way, gathering them up in droves and smacking them randomly with a hammer. How horrifying!

 

[Featheredsamurai]

I feel very strongly about this subject

I do not go to sea world, but I will go to zoo's that don't have cetaceans.

The trainers without a doubt love their whales and dolphins, but they do not do well in captivity. Their life span is much shorter, and they often develop neurotic habits. Family groups are separated and often the whales are placed into new pods that do not share their own dialect. I remember when Shouka was brought to Six flags adventure kingdon near me, she was so unhappy, they shipped her over from France were her family was to live by herself(or with a dolphin) just to make money from her.

Shouka had been housed at Six Flags for the past 10 years after being imported from Antibes, France, in 2002. Born in 1993, the female killer whale's first nine years were spent with her parents and siblings overseas. Once in California however, the solitary whale had but a few bottlenose dolphins for companions. In November 2011, Merlin, a male bottlenose dolphin who had been with Shouka for 7 years was removed from her enclosure and placed in another area of the park, leaving Shouka alone. For Brunot, the thought of this highly social and intelligent cetacean being isolated was too much to bear, and she launched a campaign to either get Shouka a companion, or have the orca shipped back to her family in France.

Read more: Shouka's move to SeaWorld San Diego, bittersweet for activist (Includes interview)
​

Most Orcas in captivity damage their teeth, needing to have them drilled and cleaned out regularly. They are also fed plain jello as a source of water because they're often dehydrated. They get their fresh water from fish, but dead fish does not have adequate water.

The trainers are told to lie to guest who ask about things they don't wish to tell. They work hard to make everything look perfect, but it's all fake.



this orca's teeth are worn down to the gums

There is also Lolita, who despite being in the smallest(illegally small! yet no one is enforcing this!), and oldest tank she is also the oldest orca in captivity and still has stunningly good teeth. Lolita breaks my heart, she should not be forced to live in a tiny tank for the rest of her life, even if she can't be released I think she should be retired to a sea pen were she gets mental stimulation from humans to benefit her, rather than being trained only to bring in income.

Orca attacks are common in captivity, and very hush hush. Many people state, if they wanted to kill the trainers they would, that's true, but

Her tank is tiny and shallow.

[ame="http://youtu.be/wGxMLiL1uZI"]Lolita Slave to Entertainment animal right documentary - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="http://youtu.be/D3fZ2dMdtu8"]Frontline: A Whale of a Business - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="http://youtu.be/fp8MkPyBE5A"]Jean-Michel Cousteau's Statement on Captive Orcas & the Trainer Killed at Sea World - YouTube[/ame]

Orca's do not live long in captivity, and trainers and parks try very hard to hide this fact. Most whales don't reach 30, in the wild they have a human life span.

If our parrots had their life drastically reduced in captivity could we live with that!? I for sure could not! I know that parrots in the wild have drastically shorter life span then our parrots living in captivity, a wild galah is very lucky to reach 25 years old without being killed, eaten, or dyeing of illness, injury, or exposure.

[ame="http://youtu.be/odVKJwP5D5U"]Blackfish - Orca Lifespans - YouTube[/ame]

This is a great read about orca's in captivity.

 

[Kalidasa]

I think anything with a circus-like atmosphere, where the animals are used for entertainment and profit should be shut down forever. There will come a time when people hopefully will be appalled that it ever happened, a shameful part of human history....like freak shows and slavery.

 

[Mayden]

I haven't watched "The Clove" so I may be completely missing what it is you're refering to, so I'll just put my point of view in about zoo's and stuff in general!

Personally, I think a zoo's are great from a conversationalist point of view. If poachers and habitat destruction wasn't an issue at all, I'd happily abolish zoo's and such, but as it stands; some animals would not be around if it wasn't for zoo's breeding programs.

I'm all for evolution and animals/things dying out from 'natural events' but not because of us...

Some zoo's and things are an absolute shame to their name, but some actually do fantastic jobs. If they could all be like those fantastic wildlife reserves in their home country, that'd be great, but it's not an ideal world, so we do what we can. We currently have a panda in Scotland who's pregnant, yey for them! Panda's are incredibly hard to breed and are 'slow' at it, so we're currently losing more than we're able to produce (in the wild) and so human intervention is somewhat needed to stop us entirely losing the species.

Some animals, especially intelligent ones - appreciate the mental stimulation they get from training, it's assimilar to trick training in parrots. Sure, they wouldn't do that in the wild, but they are not in the wild, so lets not pretend and give them as much stimulation, physical and mental that they can get. As long as it's not cruel.

Pros and cons to zoo's, but if done properly, they can be fantastic places for people to come, see, learn more about the animals and their conservation, have breeding programs and keep the animals healthy and safe.

My love for animals partially stemmed from many many visits to zoo's when I was a kid and I wanted to partake in a conservationist program in Africa (or Fiji!) a few years back but couldn't because of health and money. I learnt a lot about different types of animals at the zoo's and some did 'shows' (live feedings usually, tigers scrambling up huge platforms and poles to get to their food) and it gave me the chances to really see and appreciate just how amazing these animals are, something you can not gather from a mere youtube clip!

But again; I'd rather they were all back in their own country, doing their own thing. But it can't happen right now.

 

[faeryphoebe1]

Copper, I read "Death at Seaworld". Very good book, hard to put down. I still want to see the movie "Blackfish".

I'm conflicted, being somewhere in the gray area, as far as how I feel about zoos and marine parks.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

I wanted to add, I like zoos that are focused on conversation. Some animals are endangered in the wild and and their captive population may one day save the species.

I would also like to share the Monterrey Bay Aquarium. This is the aquarium near me that I go to often. They made a choice at the very beginning to not display cetaceans, they are known around the world and doing well. They often capture fish, have them on display, and release them when they show any signs of not doing well or aggression to other animals. They have had several sun fish, and even great white sharks.

 

[forbey]

I'm not that PETA-orientated. I do prefer to pass judgement on a zoo or exhibit personally, rather than take some ideological opposition to something just because Greenpeace said to.

If I was all that emphatic about cruel and inhuman animal exhibits, the first one I would have to shut down is MY HOUSE. Granted, I treat my "pets" better than my kids. However, a life a slavery dedicated to my own personal pleasure or whim is hardly a PETA-APPROVED justification for my posession of two dogs and a parrot.

Well ... CHUCK IT ALL! I think I'll just realease my Yorkie and my Chihuahua/Yorkie cross into the wild to be the next SNACK for the coyotes outside. Then I'll let Skittles, our BFA, free to enjoy 30 minutes of terror before being used as target practice for the local hawks. OR ... maybe not!

How about coughing up enough money to join the local zoo association and volunteer on weekends so that I can personally have a say in making the residents lives there just a little more comfortable.

With a few notable exceptions, the majority of the animals in zoos and animal-type theme parks were born into captivity or rescued. For many of them release into the wild would equal a short, tragic life without the real skills necessary to survive.

Many of the youth today, would have ZERO chance of seeing some of the animals on exhibit, without there being an exhibit. Some of those kids just might grow up to fall in love with a speciic species of critter and make a difference in the lives of the captive and free animals on this planet.

Go, don't go, it's a personal choice. Me, I'm a zoo, carnival, fair, exhibit junkie! And a proud loving member of the world of pet owners!

Forbey

 

[kiwiS]

I'm not that PETA-orientated. I do prefer to pass judgement on a zoo or exhibit personally, rather than take some ideological opposition to something just because Greenpeace said to.

If I was all that emphatic about cruel and inhuman animal exhibits, the first one I would have to shut down is MY HOUSE. Granted, I treat my "pets" better than my kids. However, a life a slavery dedicated to my own personal pleasure or whim is hardly a PETA-APPROVED justification for my posession of two dogs and a parrot.

Well ... CHUCK IT ALL! I think I'll just realease my Yorkie and my Chihuahua/Yorkie cross into the wild to be the next SNACK for the coyotes outside. Then I'll let Skittles, our BFA, free to enjoy 30 minutes of terror before being used as target practice for the local hawks. OR ... maybe not!

How about coughing up enough money to join the local zoo association and volunteer on weekends so that I can personally have a say in making the residents lives there just a little more comfortable.

With a few notable exceptions, the majority of the animals in zoos and animal-type theme parks were born into captivity or rescued. For many of them release into the wild would equal a short, tragic life without the real skills necessary to survive.

Many of the youth today, would have ZERO chance of seeing some of the animals on exhibit, without there being an exhibit. Some of those kids just might grow up to fall in love with a speciic species of critter and make a difference in the lives of the captive and free animals on this planet.

Go, don't go, it's a personal choice. Me, I'm a zoo, carnival, fair, exhibit junkie! And a proud loving member of the world of pet owners!

Forbey

I highly doubt most of the killer whales and dolphins were born at sea world.

Kids have the internet now, and parents can save up and bring their kids to a wild life reserve or safaris where the animals exist in their own habitat.

As for animals born in captivity that's another matter, of course they cannot be released to the wild right away, but they can with time and training. There are establishments out there that do that.

 

[Abigal7]

I haven't watched "The Clove" so I may be completely missing what it is you're refering to, so I'll just put my point of view in about zoo's and stuff in general!

Personally, I think a zoo's are great from a conversationalist point of view. If poachers and habitat destruction wasn't an issue at all, I'd happily abolish zoo's and such, but as it stands; some animals would not be around if it wasn't for zoo's breeding programs.

I'm all for evolution and animals/things dying out from 'natural events' but not because of us...

Some zoo's and things are an absolute shame to their name, but some actually do fantastic jobs. If they could all be like those fantastic wildlife reserves in their home country, that'd be great, but it's not an ideal world, so we do what we can. We currently have a panda in Scotland who's pregnant, yey for them! Panda's are incredibly hard to breed and are 'slow' at it, so we're currently losing more than we're able to produce (in the wild) and so human intervention is somewhat needed to stop us entirely losing the species.

Some animals, especially intelligent ones - appreciate the mental stimulation they get from training, it's assimilar to trick training in parrots. Sure, they wouldn't do that in the wild, but they are not in the wild, so lets not pretend and give them as much stimulation, physical and mental that they can get. As long as it's not cruel.

Pros and cons to zoo's, but if done properly, they can be fantastic places for people to come, see, learn more about the animals and their conservation, have breeding programs and keep the animals healthy and safe.

My love for animals partially stemmed from many many visits to zoo's when I was a kid and I wanted to partake in a conservationist program in Africa (or Fiji!) a few years back but couldn't because of health and money. I learnt a lot about different types of animals at the zoo's and some did 'shows' (live feedings usually, tigers scrambling up huge platforms and poles to get to their food) and it gave me the chances to really see and appreciate just how amazing these animals are, something you can not gather from a mere youtube clip!

But again; I'd rather they were all back in their own country, doing their own thing. But it can't happen right now.

I agree with your points. I suggest for a little research about what happens to Japanese dolphins that you watch The Clove.

 

[kiwiS]

As for keeping pets, you know 100% that you will care for your animals. If there can be a guarantee that all zoos, carnivals and such can 100% care for their animals, then there wouldn't be much of a debate.

There are some folks out there who can't even care for a fish, and yet they might pay money to watch a dolphin clap fins at Sea World. What is the point in that? Why not save your money and time and use it for the animals you have at home under your roof, that you KNOW you have 100% control over their well-being.

It's not the type of animal, who cares if a kid never sees a panda in real life. But if she can love her dog at home and care for it like a sister, then chances are she will have more preservation for life than a child who is taken to the zoo to be exposed to a gorilla behind a glass wall.

 

[Abigal7]

I feel very strongly about this subject

I do not go to sea world, but I will go to zoo's that don't have cetaceans.

The trainers without a doubt love their whales and dolphins, but they do not do well in captivity. Their life span is much shorter, and they often develop neurotic habits. Family groups are separated and often the whales are placed into new pods that do not share their own dialect. I remember when Shouka was brought to Six flags adventure kingdon near me, she was so unhappy, they shipped her over from France were her family was to live by herself(or with a dolphin) just to make money from her.

Shouka had been housed at Six Flags for the past 10 years after being imported from Antibes, France, in 2002. Born in 1993, the female killer whale's first nine years were spent with her parents and siblings overseas. Once in California however, the solitary whale had but a few bottlenose dolphins for companions. In November 2011, Merlin, a male bottlenose dolphin who had been with Shouka for 7 years was removed from her enclosure and placed in another area of the park, leaving Shouka alone. For Brunot, the thought of this highly social and intelligent cetacean being isolated was too much to bear, and she launched a campaign to either get Shouka a companion, or have the orca shipped back to her family in France.

Read more: Shouka's move to SeaWorld San Diego, bittersweet for activist (Includes interview)​

Most Orcas in captivity damage their teeth, needing to have them drilled and cleaned out regularly. They are also fed plain jello as a source of water because they're often dehydrated. They get their fresh water from fish, but dead fish does not have adequate water.

The trainers are told to lie to guest who ask about things they don't wish to tell. They work hard to make everything look perfect, but it's all fake.



this orca's teeth are worn down to the gums

There is also Lolita, who despite being in the smallest(illegally small! yet no one is enforcing this!), and oldest tank she is also the oldest orca in captivity and still has stunningly good teeth. Lolita breaks my heart, she should not be forced to live in a tiny tank for the rest of her life, even if she can't be released I think she should be retired to a sea pen were she gets mental stimulation from humans to benefit her, rather than being trained only to bring in income.

Orca attacks are common in captivity, and very hush hush. Many people state, if they wanted to kill the trainers they would, that's true, but

Her tank is tiny and shallow.

[ame="http://youtu.be/wGxMLiL1uZI"]Lolita Slave to Entertainment animal right documentary - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="http://youtu.be/D3fZ2dMdtu8"]Frontline: A Whale of a Business - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="http://youtu.be/fp8MkPyBE5A"]Jean-Michel Cousteau's Statement on Captive Orcas & the Trainer Killed at Sea World - YouTube[/ame]

Orca's do not live long in captivity, and trainers and parks try very hard to hide this fact. Most whales don't reach 30, in the wild they have a human life span.

If our parrots had their life drastically reduced in captivity could we live with that!? I for sure could not! I know that parrots in the wild have drastically shorter life span then our parrots living in captivity, a wild galah is very lucky to reach 25 years old without being killed, eaten, or dyeing of illness, injury, or exposure.

[ame="http://youtu.be/odVKJwP5D5U"]Blackfish - Orca Lifespans - YouTube[/ame]

This is a great read about orca's in captivity.

We have come along ways with parrots. After all it use to be parrots were in small cages and on seed diets. These things you brought up of course need to be brought out in the open. I heard when dolphins were first in captivity they could not keep them alive. I been to sea world once as a child so I hope things have improved since then. I do need to watch Blackfish.

 

[MonicaMc]

You cannot love that which you do not know.

I've heard that hunters are more likely to be protective of the environment than those who do not hunt. Huh. Interesting.

There is a wildlife rehabilitation and reserve near where I live. They have taken in wild animals that could not be released into the wild due to being too familiar with humans, or having lost their parents, or maybe the animals have an injury that prevents them from living in the wild. Some of their animals *WERE* bred within captivity... including two wolves. If I recall right, they also have captive bred lynx's and tigers from a show that had closed down. The most exotic animals? Three cheetahs. Two of them definitely from Africa!

For most of these animals, they are there because they had "no where else to go". Some ex-pets, some ex-breeders, some ex-performers, some ex-wild. The animals are on display for the publics 'entertainment', and they do have the cheetah races! These "displays" are to help educate the public and bring awareness to the plight of animals. The cheetah races have actually helped other cheetahs live healthier lives within captivity. Essentially, all it is, is a big cat(s) chasing a toy! And doing these races frequently helps to prevent digestive problems in these majestic creatures, thus prolonging their captive life.

Sometimes, the birds of prey are brought out on display and people are educated about them. The bears, they show ways of encouraging the bears to forage for their food within their environment. I'm not sure what training they are doing with the wolves right now.


Animals that are being rehabbed for release are out of the public's eye and receive minimal "interaction" with the caregivers.


It's really nothing like a zoo at all... granted, we do have a zoo in the area! And supposedly the largest in Nevada... but it's a sad looking zoo. As far as I know, they do not have any performing animals.



Education is a big key here. I haven't seen The Cove, but I can say that there are zoos out there that do have breeding programs set up for rare species. And what if a dolphin claps its fins? And goes through hoops? Or a killer whale swims with a trainer? If this brings awareness to people and to little kids, then these people may be more willing to help out in protecting these species!

How many people can honestly say they've heard of an indigo winged parrot? A kakapo? Or a spix macaw? Many new owners do not know about these birds! Rio, the animated movie, brought more awareness to parrots, for better or for worse. Some people didn't even realized that the movie was about spix macaws and how endangered they are. It's a cute movie, but does it educate as well as a zoo might?


I think we should support zoos that support conservationist efforts.



Ya, sure, the life of zoo animals, or any animals in a "display" area isn't an ideal life... but neither is having them as pets. Seaworld supposedly does in fact support conservationist efforts. I guess that leaves you something to think about...

SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund | National Geographic Society Co-Grants

 

[Abigal7]

The Cove was very difficult to watch. I don't care if they think they are a pest, they should not be so inhumane about it. There is no justifying what they have done to those beautiful , majestic creatures. I wouldn't even kill wild rats that way, gathering them up in droves and smacking them randomly with a hammer. How horrifying!

Yes, if was horrifying. The thing is though it concerns me because it means these fishermen will never stop and that they are not waiting and hoping for places like Sea World to pay them money for dolphins. I am concerned for the oceans ecosystem and concerned about dolphin meat with high mercury being deceitfully sold as whale meat. I like dolphins myself. I never swam with dolphins and doubt I would ever try to swim with wild ones since they have been know to enjoy raping and enjoy killing baby porpoises. But that shows high intelligence can be used for sinister things (and it makes them similar to humans).

 

[MonicaMc]

Oh and as far as keeping animals alive within captivity.....

Red bellied macaws. I can't believe there are actually some within the USA! They are not threatened, because well... they were not very good profit for importers, and if they did survive the importation process, they did not do well in in homes.



People talk about how cockatoos should not be kept as pets... well, they don't compare to the red bellied macaws! The RBM's probably shouldn't be in captivity *period*!

 

[kiwiS]

You cannot love that which you do not know.

I've heard that hunters are more likely to be protective of the environment than those who do not hunt. Huh. Interesting.

There is a wildlife rehabilitation and reserve near where I live. They have taken in wild animals that could not be released into the wild due to being too familiar with humans, or having lost their parents, or maybe the animals have an injury that prevents them from living in the wild. Some of their animals *WERE* bred within captivity... including two wolves. If I recall right, they also have captive bred lynx's and tigers from a show that had closed down. The most exotic animals? Three cheetahs. Two of them definitely from Africa!

For most of these animals, they are there because they had "no where else to go". Some ex-pets, some ex-breeders, some ex-performers, some ex-wild. The animals are on display for the publics 'entertainment', and they do have the cheetah races! These "displays" are to help educate the public and bring awareness to the plight of animals. The cheetah races have actually helped other cheetahs live healthier lives within captivity. Essentially, all it is, is a big cat(s) chasing a toy! And doing these races frequently helps to prevent digestive problems in these majestic creatures, thus prolonging their captive life.

Sometimes, the birds of prey are brought out on display and people are educated about them. The bears, they show ways of encouraging the bears to forage for their food within their environment. I'm not sure what training they are doing with the wolves right now.


Animals that are being rehabbed for release are out of the public's eye and receive minimal "interaction" with the caregivers.


It's really nothing like a zoo at all... granted, we do have a zoo in the area! And supposedly the largest in Nevada... but it's a sad looking zoo. As far as I know, they do not have any performing animals.



Education is a big key here. I haven't seen The Cove, but I can say that there are zoos out there that do have breeding programs set up for rare species. And what if a dolphin claps its fins? And goes through hoops? Or a killer whale swims with a trainer? If this brings awareness to people and to little kids, then these people may be more willing to help out in protecting these species!

How many people can honestly say they've heard of an indigo winged parrot? A kakapo? Or a spix macaw? Many new owners do not know about these birds! Rio, the animated movie, brought more awareness to parrots, for better or for worse. Some people didn't even realized that the movie was about spix macaws and how endangered they are. It's a cute movie, but does it educate as well as a zoo might?


I think we should support zoos that support conservationist efforts.



Ya, sure, the life of zoo animals, or any animals in a "display" area isn't an ideal life... but neither is having them as pets. Seaworld supposedly does in fact support conservationist efforts. I guess that leaves you something to think about...

SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund | National Geographic Society Co-Grants

Yes , it's good to support the ones that have well-cared animals with conservation efforts. The zoos i'm talking about , sorry I should have elaborated, are the ones that have no efforts to even give the animal its proper habitat. I saw a polar bear at the LA zoo, sitting there in the heat, miserable, covered in flies, on a dirty cement block. I was so disgusted. That was the last time I went to a 'zoo'.

And how about National Geographic! All those photographers, videographers, etc. risking their lives to film some of the most wildest, rarest species out there. And from the comfort of your living room. And now in IMAX theatres sometimes in 3D!!! I mean..whoa..who wants to go watch a killer whale do something unnatural in a tank, when they can watch it swim around the ocean hunting, swimming, loving their freedom. THAT is education without compromising wild life.

 

[SoCalWendy]

I live in San Diego, we have Sea World. I look at Sea World the same as I look at the circus. I will not go to a circus, and I will not go to Sea World.

 

[Betrisher]

Gee, what a huge issue this is: it's a road fraught with many fine lines and slippery slopes. Should anyone who keeps an animal ensure that it exists in an environment exactly like the one it evolved from? Or is an artificial environment OK, so long as 'adequate stimulation and a healthy diet' are maintained? Who can say?

I think the main problem (as in most things) is with lack of education of the young. As we grow to know more about animal species and their needs, we also need to be teaching kids what we've discovered. After all, it's the kids who'll hold the future of the world and all its animals in their hands. If our kids fully understood the implications of 'a healthy environment', I like to think most of them would never want to see a circus or sit through those awful shows at Sea World. There's something that really creeps me out, seeing cetaceans in that bright blue chlorinated water with hordes of people merrily applauding them. Hard as it was to watch, the news footage of the Killer Whale tossing a sea lion calf was much more satisfying. It was Nature. It depicted the way things really are, not some saccharine jolly performance in a tank.

The truly amazing thing about animals (as *we* all know, but lots of folk out there don't appreciate) is that they each have a niche or function in the greater scheme of things. What a privilege to be able to see an Orca orcing or an Eagle eagling or a Sloth slothing or an Alligator alligating! How does that compare to the thing in the big top or the tank?

God bless David Attenborough for what he has brought to humankind. He, more than anyone I can think of (Jacques Cousteau?), has shown the world that animals certainly do have private lives and they have a *right* to exist in that privacy, away from us and our greed. I'd so much rather watch an animal captured in the wild by a camera than one captured by a zoo hunter!

This topic has led me to recall some of the formative books I've read in my lifetime. Did anyone else read 'Bring 'Em Back Alive' by Frank Buck? I *loved* those stories as a child, but now I realise they were horror stories of the ways in which zoos were stocked! 'My Family and Other Animals' by Gerald Durrell ought to be compulsory reading for kids. If nothing else, it would teach them that animals can be incredibly funny. It also teaches that animals have to be very carefully studied before you can keep them happily and successfully.

Ask yourself these questions: how many kids do I know that truly understand the concepts of wildness, captivity and domestication? How many kids do I know who care about the distinction? How can I spread the knowledge?

 

[MsPony]

I feel lucky to live where I do, it's prime whale territory, and because of our islands we have whales come in really close to shore. We had a baby loose it's pod, so it hung out in our harbor until the next pod came, it got pretty friendly with us. The seals and sea lions are TOO friendly when diving, my friend was hugged from behind one time, but it's like our own, mini, natural sea world. Something about our town makes wild animals unafraid and friendly.

I like going to zoos that focus on conservation, I've been to a lot of them, and some are just never worth going back. Taking away zoos and centers for cetaceans will NEVER stop poaching, ever. When they did this 200 years ago, without advanced technology, without doing it for the masses, it was ok. Now, we are too advanced to be doing this.

Also someone was talking about hunters, in my hunters courses, they focus HEAVILY on conservation, trusting fish&game, and respect for the land. Good hunters are conservationists.

 

[forbey]

I highly doubt most of the killer whales and dolphins were born at sea world.

Kids have the internet now, and parents can save up and bring their kids to a wild life reserve or safaris where the animals exist in their own habitat.

As for animals born in captivity that's another matter, of course they cannot be released to the wild right away, but they can with time and training. There are establishments out there that do that.

Your trying to explain away the need for hands on experiences with animals to a man who spent his life trying to be closer to animals. Horse shoeing school, a 4 year degree in animal science, pets of all shapes and sizes.

First, I never said most of the killer whales and dolphins were born at Sea World. I said most were either born in captivity or rescued. Many of them that were rescued are being "trained to return to the wild; many of them can't be returned.

Kids may have the internet, but the internet will NEVER replace a childs wonder and amazement gained by feeling the skin of a dolphin, or a snake, or having a peacock walk up and share a child's popcorn. The sounds of the lion house, hands touching the glass window of the gorilla's observation area and have him try to touch the child's hand.

My wife and I went to the dolphin exhibit at the Indianapolis Zoo. In the under water tunnels she made a connection with a dolphin, who continued to come to her wherever she went in the tunnel. I have pictures of the goofy look on her face as she found herself glued to the dolphin on the other side of the glass. She wouldn't have made that connection on the internet.

Heck, as a student of farm animals I get a sense of amazement just watching kids from the "Big City" stopping at the State Fair to take time to milk a cow. The recent Illinois State Fair actually had a Budgie Adventure. Pay $2 for a chance to go into a cage, have a bunch of budgies land all over you to eat treats and poop on you. The most amazing thing was not just the number of kids that begged mom for $2, but the looks excitement on their faces during and after the experience.

Hands on, up close and personal ... that is how to tweak a child's interest and love of animals. Zoos and animal exhibits all over the world provide that, the Internet might help, but it will never replace it.

I have ONE Blue Fronted-Amazon parrot. I can cruise this forum; I can search for parrot pictures all over the Internet, I can watch videos of Fargo doing tricks, I can even look at parrots in the pet store; BUT, none of that digs as deep into my heart and soul as having that picky tropical chicken fall head over heals for a juicy chunck of peach in my hand.

Forbey