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  • SeaWorld’s Twitter Q&A Goes About How You’d Expect

    SeaWorld’s Twitter Q&A Goes About How You’d Expect

    SeaWorld is not the most popular company in America.

    Activists have been raising concerns about SeaWorld’s treatment of its animals, especially its Orca whales, for some time. But a 2013 documentary called Blackfish really started a firestorm of controversy around the theme park. That documentary focuses on Tilikum, an orca residing at SeaWorld, Orlando, and condemned the treatment of orcas in captivity. The film centers around the death of Dawn Brancheau, a SeaWorld trainer, who was killed by the 6-ton whale in 2010. Tilikum has been involved in the deaths of two trainers and one SeaWorld guest.

    Acts canceled, attendance dropped.

    The point is – there are a lot of people who hate SeaWorld and SeaWorld knows this. That’s why this is such a head-scratcher:

    Ah yes, the ol’ request for a Twitter Q&A. This should go well.

    And finally,

    Seriously? What the hell did SeaWorld think would happen?

    Image via PETA, Twitter

  • SeaWorld Appeal Denied: Federal Law Deemed Violated

    Nearly four years after the fatal drowning of a SeaWorld employee, an appellate court upheld a finding that SeaWorld had violated federal safety laws.

    The Occupational Safety and Health Act or OSHA requires that employees be allowed to work in an environment that is free from threats to their health and safety. When employers fail to ensure the work environment is safe for their employees, they can be cited for violations of federal law.

    An investigation in the aftermath of the drowning of SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau by a killer whale named Tilikum found that the company fully understood the potentially fatal danger of that killer whales posed to human employees.

    SeaWorld attempted to fight the original decision that it had violated federal laws by claiming that the finding was unsubstantiated. In addition, the organization argued that there was inherent risk to trainers working with killer whales, and that this risk could not be deemed a recognized hazard.

    In a 2-1 decision, the federal appeals court upheld the original decision that SeaWorld had violated a portion of OSHA.

    The court found that there were documented incidents of aggressive behaviors towards trainers at SeaWorld before and after the drowning. The additional measures taken with Tilikim were determined to have proved the killer whale to be a threat rather than the trainers to have been made safer during the performance of their duties.

    At present, SeaWorld has not decided whether or not they will appeal the decision.

    SeaWorld made a statement following the ruling:

    SeaWorld remains committed to providing a safe workplace for employees, healthy environments for the animals in our care, and inspirational and educational experiences with killer whales for our guests.

    The company also claims that since the death of Brancheau, it has “voluntarily deployed several new safety measures, including removing trainers from the water during shows.”

    Tilikum was the subject of the controversial documentary, “Blackfish”.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • SeaWorld May Be In Serious Trouble Following Proposed Legislation

    Some new legislation that is being proposed by a California lawmaker may have serious implications on SeaWorld, the recently dubbed “abusement park,” which has had a great deal of light shed on its practices in the past year, following the release of the documentary Blackfish.

    Supporters of the documentary, and animal rights activists around the world may have just had a huge victory after the recent announcement from Richard Bloom, a member of the democratic state assembly.

    Like many others around the world, Bloom was exposed to the horrors that exist at SeaWorld, and the dangers that the orca whales face while living their lives in captivity because of Blackfish.

    Following his viewing, Bloom felt that he needed to do something about it, and with his position, he is able to draft legislation that can make a difference for the whales.

    In a written statement prior to a press conference at the Santa Monica Pier, Richard Bloom said “These beautiful creatures are much too large, and far too intelligent to be confined in small, concrete pens for their entire lives. It is time to end the practice of keeping orcas captive for human amusement.”

    The end may finally be in sight for the once popular theme park, and since last year, many people have begun to avoid and boycott the park. The bill would effectively end all performances by killer whales at California entertainment parks, which of course applies only to SeaWorld in San Diego.

    If the bill is able to pass in California, perhaps it would have a spiraling effect that would eventually make it to SeaWorld’s locations in Orlando, and in other parts of the world. Another significant part of that bill states that it would also ban captive breeding programs involving orcas, and prohibit importing, and exporting orcas.

    The amusement park that continues to hold orcas in captivity, forcing them to perform for people, has also made big headlines for a recent partnership with Bindi Irwin, Steven Irwin’s daugther, who will serve as a youth ambassador for the organization. She received heavy criticism from PETA and other animal rights groups, and has been urged not to continue with the partnership.

    SeaWorld has been a hot topic of controversy since Blackfish‘s release, and despite the compelling evidence that the film presents, the amusement park continues to assert that it is all propaganda, and that they do not engage in the practices that they are accused of.

    Richard Bloom is set to introduce the Orca Welfare and Safety Act, and will look to make a huge difference for whales that are being held in captivity. Violators of the proposed act, if passed, would face a fine up to $100,000 and/or six months in a county jail.

    The act likely has SeaWorld frightened, and will be presented at a press conference on Friday. Richard Bloom will present the act along with Dr. Naomi Rose, marine mammal scientist at the Animal Welfare Institute, Blackfish director Gabriela Cowperthwaite, and former SeaWorld trainers Carol Ray and John Hargrove.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Bindi Irwin, Steve Irwin’s Daughter, Facing Backlash For SeaWorld Partnership

    After all of the problems that SeaWorld has had since the release of the groundbreaking documentary Blackfish, it is surprising that someone like Bindi Irwin would want to be involved with the organization in any way.

    Bindi Irwin is the 15-year-old daughter of the late Steve Irwin, who spent his life working with wild animals, and eventually died while on the job. She recently appeared on Good Morning America, along with her brother and mother, in order to announce that she would be partnering with SeaWorld as their youth ambassador.

    The Irwin family was interviewed by Robin Roberts on the show, and while people watching it may certainly have been thinking it, the controversial practices revolving around the dangers of keeping orcas captive was not discussed during the interview.

    Bindi’s work with SeaWorld will include an initiative called Generation Nature, which she says is “all about encouraging kids to get involved and be game-changers for wildlife in wild places.” Given that whales at SeaWorld are no longer in a wild place, the amusement park may be an odd location for this type of an initiative.

    After losing their reputation for most people as an attractive place for families to go, and expose their kids to the entertainment that the whales provide, perhaps this is SeaWorld’s effort to get people back on their side.

    However, some people are certainly able to see past this, and her partnership with the park that has been dubbed an “abusement park,” has received great backlash from animal rights groups such as PETA. A petition has been started already in order to urge Bindi Irwin not to collaborate with SeaWorld.

    In a strong statement from PETA, the organization said “What millions have realized—through PETA’s massive campaign and the hit documentary Blackfish—is that SeaWorld is no place for anyone who truly cares about animals. Bindi’s talk-show appearances are just a flimsy last-ditch effort by an abusement park hoping to make a buck.”

    The SeaWorld organization has been boycotted by a large number of celebrities, including several musical acts such as Martina McBride, REO Speedwagon and more, who were booked to play a concert series. They all backed out after being petitioned by animal rights activists and ordinary citizens, who told them not to perform there.

    With what her dad did on his show, people could think that she is actually in support of the animals, but if that were the case, why is she choosing to align her self with SeaWorld after everything that has been going on with them in the past year?

    Bindi Irwin seems to have positive intentions in wanting to educate kids about wild animals, and even describing the kids as the next generation that needs to change the world. Is it possible that she was somehow shielded from the attention that Blackfish drew to SeaWorld in the past year?

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Bindi Irwin: Making a Splash, Ruffling Feathers

    Bindi Irwin is holding her own in the world of wildlife conservation. Her famous dad, the late Steve Irwin, would be proud of his daughter in her efforts but would he agree with her latest venture?

    Bindi has just joined up with SeaWorld and is catching a lot of fire from those who, you know, like to harass 15-year-olds for trying to save animals.

    The sweet native Australian appeared on Good Morning America Thursday with her mother, Terri, and brother, Robert. She was happy to announce her new partnership, according to Australia’s AAP.

    “I’m thrilled to be partnered up with SeaWorld,” Bindi said. “Thrilled to be part of this new project Generation Nature and just encouraging kids to change the world.” She added that she was “excited to be carrying on in Dad’s footsteps” and she also urged viewers to log on to seaworldkids.com, which is full of great info and educational games for kids.

    However, some find her enthusiasm…misplaced. And they don’t mind sharing.

    Aaaand there’s always this guy,

    SeaWorld on the other hand, is excited to have Bindi on board,

    “We are proud to partner with Bindi Irwin in a program that couples the world’s most incredible young conservationist with the passionate wildlife experts at SeaWorld,” SeaWorld spokesperson Becca Bides said. “SeaWorld has been a global leader in education, conservation and animal care for 50 years. We are excited to join forces with Bindi as we continue to educate and encourage kids to take part in helping to save wildlife.”

    Is this new partnership between Bindi and SeaWorld a great way to raise wildlife conservation awareness in a new generation? Or a simple ploy by SeaWorld to clean up it’s image after the Blackfish fiasco?

    Image via Twitter

  • Bindi Irwin: Major Backlash On Partnership With SeaWorld

    Bindi Irwin, the daughter of ‘crocodile hunter’ Steve Irwin, became the subject of criticism and controversy when she announced her partnership with SeaWorld.

    The teen appeared on Good Morning America with her brother Robert and mother Terri. She shared her excitement in following her father’s footsteps by empowering kids through SeaWorld’s project Generation Nature. “I’m thrilled to be partnered up with SeaWorld… and just encouraging kids to change the world,” she added.

    Bindi’s announcement

    http://youtu.be/pNKL5GURuao

    SeaWorld has come under heavy scrutiny ever since the documentary Blackfish was released last year. The award-winning film showed the poor conditions that the killer whales in SeaWorld’s theme parks are subjected to.  After the release of the documentary, protests ensued and many musical acts, such as Willie Nelson, Trisha Yearwood, and Barenaked Ladies cancelled their performances in SeaWorld’s theme parks, most recently in SeaWorld Orlando’s concert series in February.

    Documentary: ‘Blackfish’

    http://youtu.be/8OEjYquyjcg

    The 15-year-old seemed to be ignorant of SeaWorld’s negative image as she went on to promote the company’s site.

    The announcement immediately triggered a barrage of violent reactions and angry tweets from animal rights groups and concerned individuals. In Pat Fitzgerald’s Twitter post mentioning Bindi, he asked her if she had watched Blackfish, adding, “Please do not bring shame to your fathers name by colluding with #SeaWorld.”

    Another tweet, this time from user Amanda Holliday, posed the question “How much do you think #SeaWorld had to pay Bindi Irwin to fix their image?”

    Animal rights organization PETA, or the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, also had something to say, stating that the Irwins had been exploiting animals for years, so they were not surprised that the Bindi agreed to become SeaWorld’s endorser.

    The statement noted that making Bindi the SeaWorld cover girl will never cover up the fact that animals are suffering in the theme parks’ tanks. “SeaWorld is no place for anyone who truly cares about animals,” PETA said in their statement, commenting that Bindi’s appearances on television are just the company’s desperate attempts to make money.

    Image via Twitter

  • Trace Adkins Drops SeaWorld Performance Amid “Blackfish” Controversy

    Add Trace Adkins to the long list of musicians who have already dropped their shows at SeaWorld. While it was originally just the animal activists fighting for the treatment of the whales, everyone is starting to join in, and realizing how poorly the orcas are treated while in captivity.

    Amid the controversy surrounding the theme park since the release of the groundbreaking documentary Blackfish, it seems that no musician wants to have their name attached to SeaWorld anymore.

    Trace Adkins’ performance is different than the original series of scheduled shows that had seen big time names such as Willie Nelson, Martina McBride and several others cancel. Those musicians were all a part of SeaWorld’s “Bands, Blues and BBQ” series that currently has no musicians scheduled to play anymore.

    The mass strike from the musical acts from SeaWorld’s calendar began soon after CNN’s broadcast of the documentary Blackfish in October.

    While in some cases, documentaries are embraced by a small crowd and are not given much mainstream attention, Blackfish has worked at great lengths to change the minds about how people all over the country view SeaWorld, prompting people to want to have it shut down.

    In a statement that was sent in an email from a representative of Trace Adkins’ to CNN, it was reported that “Trace prefers that the focus of his performances be on music, not on controversy. Therefore, he has decided not to proceed with this show in the midst of this debate.”

    Blackfish is a documentary that tells the story of the killing of a SeaWorld trainer in 2010. It also helps to raise questions about the safety and humaneness of keeping the killer whales in captivity, in addition to how they are captured in the wild.

    Celebrities have continued to speak out, with singers refusing to perform and several actors have seen the film, and then taken to social media outlets to tell everyone else to do so, and to avoid SeaWorld.

    Post by The Cove.

    Trace Adkins has made a bold move in joining several other musical acts in refusing to have their name attached with SeaWorld due to the power that Blackfish has had. How many more of these cancellations will need to happen in order for the park to be shut down for good? Will it happen?

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Engulfed in Controversy, SeaWorld Turns to Groupon

    It’s been a rough year for SeaWorld – at least in terms of press. Back in January, a documentary called Blackfish premiered at Sundance and caught fire. That documentary focused on Tilikum, an orca residing at SeaWorld, Orlando, and condemned the treatment of orcas in captivity.

    The film centers around the death of Dawn Brancheau, a SeaWorld trainer, who was killed by the 6-ton whale in 2010. Tilikum has been involved in the deaths of two trainers and one SeaWorld guest.

    Amid the controversy, SeaWorld has faced a slew of recent cancellations, with many musical acts backing out of the park’s “Bands, Brew and BBQ” concert series. Just today, a California school announced that they would be canceling their long-standing SeaWorld trip due to concerns unearthed in the Blackfish documentary.

    Now, the company is turning to Groupon.

    SeaWorld Orlando is currently running a 40% deal with groupon – offering tickets for $59 each (down from nearly $100). The deal is running until the end of 2013, and tickets purchased will be valid until March 31st, 2014.

    They’re also running sponsored posts for the deal on Facebook.

    Apparently, SeaWorld is looking to expand the deals but isn’t banking on Groupon to play a huge role in future revenue. From the Orlando Sentinel:

    A SeaWorld spokesman said Wednesday that the company is “testing” Groupon at SeaWorld Orlando with some “limited-time offers.” The company has also used Groupon at several of its 10 other parks around the country, including SeaWorld San Antonio and Busch Gardens theme parks in Tampa and Williamsburg, Va.

    “We don’t see it playing a meaningful role in our current or future distribution strategy,” SeaWorld spokesman Nick Gollattscheck said.

    SeaWorld has faced immense backlash following the release of Blackfish. In a public response a couple of months ago, the company called the film “inaccurate and misleading.”

    “Blackfish is billed as a documentary, but instead of a fair and balanced treatment of a complex subject, the film is inaccurate and misleading and, regrettably, exploits a tragedy that remains a source of deep pain for Dawn Brancheau’s family, friends and colleagues.

    To promote its bias that killer whales should not be maintained in a zoological setting, the film paints a distorted picture that withholds from viewers key facts about SeaWorld — among them, that SeaWorld is one of the world’s most respected zoological institutions, that SeaWorld rescues, rehabilitates and returns to the wild hundreds of wild animals every year, and that SeaWorld commits millions of dollars annually to conservation and scientific research.

    Perhaps most important, the film fails to mention SeaWorld’s commitment to the safety of its team members and guests and to the care and welfare of its animals, as demonstrated by the company’s continual refinement and improvement to its killer whale facilities, equipment and procedures both before and after the death of Dawn Brancheau,” said a SeaWorld spokesperson.

    The Groupon deal will be valid for tickets during the Bands, Brew & BBQ festival – assuming there are any musical acts left. SeaWorld says that they are continuing to book replacements.

    Images via Groupon, Wikimedia Commons

  • Martina McBride Cancels SeaWorld Performance

    Martina McBride is the latest musician to back out of a scheduled performance at SeaWorld. Since the release of the documentary film Blackfish, performers have been petitioned by animal rights groups, and encouraged to back out because of SeaWorld’s poor record of treatment for their animals. The film depicts the treatment of an orca that killed its SeaWorld trainer back in 2010.

    McBride joins Trisha Yearwood, Cheap Trick, .38 Special and REO Speedwagon in dropping out of the Brews, Bands and BBQ concert series for 2014. Only Scotty McCreery and Justin Moore remain on the roster.

    Martina McBride announced her decision to her Facebook fans on Saturday.

    “I’ve decided that given all the issues that have been aired recently, the time isn’t right for me to play at Seaworld. I have cancelled my scheduled performance at the Bands, Blues & BBQ event in March 2014,” she wrote.

    More than 20,000 signatures were collected by fans on a Change.org petition, urging Martina to cancel her concert at SeaWorld.

    Celebrities–both those scheduled to play at SeaWorld and those simply concerned about the information Blackfish brings to light, have expressed their feelings via Twitter.

    SeaWorld, of course, dismisses all of the allegations in Blackfish. They claim inaccuracy prevails throughout the documentary. It will certainly be interesting to see if Scotty McCreery and Justin Moore follow Martina McBride and the rest of the performers who have backed out of the SeaWorld concerts because of the film and the animal rights groups that support it.

    Image via Facebook

  • Martina McBride, .38 Special Cancel SeaWorld Performances

    Following suit with six others that have also been scheduled to perform and recently cancelled, Martin McBride and 38 Special have refused to perform at SeaWorld.

    Since the release of the buzzed about documentary Blackfish, many people have become more aware of the some of the unsafe and inhumane practices that are done involving the whales at SeaWorld.

    Over the weekend, REO Speedwagon became the latest musical act to cancel their performance at the theme park. Shortly after, Martina McBride joined in, and then 38 Special.

    The Blackfish documentary has created a huge backlash against the Orlando theme park, and several celebrities have made a point to recommend Blackfish, and avoid SeaWorld since then, advising others to do the same.

    In a concert series that originally had 10 acts scheduled to play in a series called “Bands, BBQ and Brew,” with the latest two cancellations, only two artists remain. Justin Moore and Scotty McCreery are the two remaining artists, and while fans continue to put the pressure on, their representatives have not responded to CNN’s repeated requests for comment.

    Martina Mcbride announced the news of her cancellation via her facebook page, while 38 Special did the same days after.

    Post by Martina McBride.

    Post by .38 Special.

    For those that have not had the opportunity to see the chilling film yet, Blackfish tells the story of SeaWorld’s inhumane treatment of the whales, and the news has been brought to the attention of people all over in the past year. After the documentary came out, it has been covered on RealTime With Bill Maher, CNN, and several other news outlets, in addition to being called one of the best documentaries of the year.

    Martina McBride and .38 Special join a list which before this weekend included Trisha Yearwood, Willie Nelson, Cheap Trick, Heart and Barenaked Ladies, with Barenaked Ladies being the first act to drop out.

    In what was once an anticipated series of well-known musical acts, the lineup has almost completely dissapeared. According to CNN, the park’s six-week concert schedule has disappeared from SeaWorld’s website. It now simply promises “incredible concerts with top artists in classic rock and country music.”

    With eight out of 10 acts already gone from the lineup including country star Martina McBride, and as more fans and celebrities continue to urge people to stay away from SeaWorld, is a full boycott in the near future? SeaWorld, once a park of famliy fun, has now turned into a place that nobody wants to go because of the way that the whales are being treated.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • SeaWorld Documentary Making Waves

    SeaWorld Documentary Making Waves

    SeaWorld continues to undergo scrutiny after the film, “Blackfish” was released. The documentary discusses the captivity of killer whale Tilikum and its role in the deaths of three individuals while revealing specific practices used at the park.

    The film made the list for the Best Documentary at the Oscars last week. SeaWorld claims the film is not an accurate representation of their policies and park life.

    Not only has this been bad press for the Orlando park, it’s affected their business. The park’s Brews, Bands and BBQ concert series has lost a number of acts in relation to the bad press. So far, Martina McBride, Cheep Trick, REO Speedwagon, Heart, Barenaked Ladies, Willie Nelson and Trisha Yearwood have canceled their scheduled performances.

    Not familiar with the documentary? Here’s the trailer.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OEjYquyjcg

    The only artists that haven’t dropped yet include Justin Moore, Scotty McCreey and .38 Special.

    Apparently all acts had received pressure from animal rights groups and petitions on Change.org in relation to how the marine life is treated.

    Fans and supporters are in on the petitions, encouraging the bands for canceling. Followers replied graciously to the announcement REO Speedwagon made about their SeaWorld cancelation on Twitter.

    YouTube users seemed to be in support of the film as well.

    Jrandjanet22 said, “I do not mind zoo’s or other habitats that help to save species, the difference here is that they are forced to perform to entertain. HUGE DIFFERENCE.”

    vegan truth6 said, “Boycott sea world!, Good people of the earth, please fight for these sentient animals.”

    Another user said, “SeaWorld and other water parks maybe fun to attend? However, it is completely against the nature of these amazing beautiful creatures to be held captive. Their genetics are to roam and discover. Held in a fish tank they go crazy. So Sad.”

    What do you think about SeaWorld? Have you watched Blackfish? Leave your reactions in the comments below.

    Photo Credit: YouTube

  • REO Speedwagon Becomes Latest Musical Act To Cancel Show At Seaworld

    In an effort to expose the horrors of what goes on at SeaWorld, a documentary called Blackfish has created quite a stir in the media recently. Since being shown on CNN in November, the documentary has become more mainstream, and as a result, REO Speedwagon, in addition to several other musicians, have recently cancelled their shows at SeaWorld.

    The Blackfish documentary has created a huge backlash against the Orlando theme park, and several celebrities have made a point to avoid SeaWorld since then. A big event that was scheduled at SeaWorld, a concert series called “Bands, BBQ and Brew” had a number of well-known bands signed on to the lineup including REO Speedwagon and several others.

    A handful of the groups have already dropped out, but several still remain. People who have seen Blackfish, and fans of the bands continue to put pressure on the musical groups, urging them not to play at SeaWorld.

    The story of SeaWorld’s inhumane treatment of the whales that are kept there have been given notice more in the past year, and after the documentary came out, it has been covered on RealTime With Bill Maher, CNN, and several other news outlets, in addition to being called one of the best documentaries of the year.

    Each of the musicians that are scheduled to play during the series have received pressure from fans who started online petitions, tweeted and posted on Facebook pages in order to urge them not to play during the concert series.

    The film tells the story of the death of a SeaWorld trainer by an orca whale in 2010, and also raises questions about the safety and inhumane practices that are used with the whales while in captivity.

    The band announced the news of their cancellation via their FB page with this post.

    Post by REO Speedwagon.

    After receiving pressure from fans, and in some cases simply seeing the film for themselves, the bands continue to cancel performances one at a time. REO Speedwagon becomes the 6th musical act to cancel their performance after Barenaked Ladies set the precedent. In addition, Heart, Cheap Trick, Williie Nelson, and Trisha Yearwood have all cancelled their performances at the once beloved theme park for families. Barenaked Ladies became the first act to cancel after seeing a petition on Change.org, showing the power that citizens have in making a change if they wish to do so.

    In addition to the several groups that have cancelled their musical performances, Joan Jett has even personally written to SeaWorld, demanding that they quit playing her hit song “I Love Rock And Roll” during their “Shamu Rocks Show.” She was surprised and upset to see her song being used on Youtube, and wrote a letter which included the statement “I’m among the millions who saw ‘Blackfish’ and am sickened that my music was blasted without my permission at sound-sensitive marine mammals.”

    The female rocker went even further when saying that if they did not understand her in writing then “I will be forced to take further action, and you’ll find me among the PETA protesters outside your parks.”

    It is not often that a single documentary can create such a backlash for a business, but Blackfish has certainly done that for SeaWorld, and director Gabriela Cowperthwaite is thankful for the reactions that she has seen from people after seeing the film.

    REO Speedwagon is the latest musical act to cancel their show, but will certainly not be the last, with more bands still on the targeted list for fans to put pressure on. As bands continue to cancel their gigs, will a complete boycott of the them park be in the near future?

    Several celebrities have tweeted to all of their followers addressing the issue, and telling everyone to go see Blackfish, along with a hopeful boycott of the theme park.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • SeaWorld Killer Whale Team Battles OSHA in Court

    SeaWorld is a popular destination the world over for the up-close-and-personal viewing people are able to experience with sea life. In the past, trainers were actively involved in water presentations with some of the marine creatures. However, the tragic death of 40-year-old trainer, Dawn Brancheau, spiraled the entertainment company into legal concerns with (OSHA) the Occupational Safety and Health Administration .

    Brancheua drowned when an orca called Tilikum pulled her down into one of the exhibit’s pools. The organization has worked to promote wildlife, in general, as well as the public’s specific impression of the parks and organization as a whole in lieu of the tragic event.

    SeaWorld attorney Eugene Scalia recently appeared before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on behalf of SeaWorld Entertainment Incorporated to overturn a previous ruling that specified distance be maintained between the marine creatures and the trainers who work with them. Scalia likened the distance impositions to contact sport when stating, “It’s as if the federal government came in and told the NFL that ‘close contact’ on the football field would have to end.”

    However, not all members of the public remain convinced that the organization has the best interest of the animals in mind during all business decisions.

    According to Department of Labor attorney Amy Tryon, “The distinction is that the acts that SeaWorld claims are inherent to their business model are, in fact, not inherent to their business model. We know that Sea World is able to make a reduction in risk to its employees because Sea World has done that.”

    [Image Via Wikimedia Commons and Courtesy of Denis Santana]

  • SeaWorld Fights Contact Ban

    After SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau was killed by a Killer Whale in 2010, OSHA banned trainers from being in the water or having physical contact with the whales used in their shows. SeaWorld argues that the accident was an isolated incident and not a result of physical contact between trainers and whales.

    The company is asking a panel of three judges on a federal appeals court to overturn the ban and allow the trainers to swim with the whales again. SeaWorld was known for its shows where trainers and whales performed in the water together. The whales would do tricks based on signals from the trainers and were rewarded by being hand-fed fish and other treats. The trainers would even ride the whales and allow them to toss them in the air.

    Dawn Brancheau was pulled into the water by a whale named Tilikum who pulled her to the bottom of his tank and killed her in front of a terrified audience. There have been similar incidents involving whales and trainers over the years and OSHA claimed that SeaWorld exposed its workers to a known hazard in the workplace. They applied the no contact ban and fined the park $75,000 shortly after Brancheau’s death.

    SeaWorld claimed in a court document that there has always been a risk involved with swimming in a tank with Killer Whales but OSHA was not concerned until after the death of the trainer and never bothered to investigate the “known hazard” beforehand saying, “During this time, OSHA could have opened an investigation at any time if it believed that close contact presented a recognized hazard.”

    If SeaWorld in unable to get the contact ban lifted, the parks may be forced to shut down. Park owners and whale experts worry that taking away the only contact the whales have known over the years, could be harming them emotionally. Park employees say it is hard to even feed the whales because of the ban. While many people would be sad to see SeaWorld shut down, others believe it would be in the best interest of the whales for them to do so.

    Image from Wikimedia Commons.

  • SeaWorld Stranded Whale Video Angers Patrons

    It has been a year of bad press for SeaWorld and more fuel has just been added to the fire. The family destination has been turning fans of the park to foes after a recent video went viral.

    The video shows a pilot whale (a member of the dolphin family), straining to get back into the water. The animal tried, without help of trainers or staff members, for about 30 minutes while patrons watched in horror. The video was captured by Carlo De Leonibus, while he, his wife, and daughter were at the Orlando park to celebrate her 11th birthday.

    De Leonibus posted the video to his YouTube channel a week ago. He said the pilot whale had been stranded for 10 minutes, maybe more, when he went to get a member of staff for help. He recalls the staff member “said everything was just fine, the dolphin was just playing. We teach them to do that, to roll back in the water themselves.”

    After realizing that the staffer wasn’t going to do anything, De Leonibus went back and recorded the video with his cell phone. “I went back to the bleachers and began recording. What I saw, changed my view of SeaWorld [forever]. The crowd becomes furious, yelling to save the dolphin. After an additional 10-15 minutes after my recording they sent two dolphin trainers in to push the dolphin back in.”

    A representative for SeaWorld, Nick Gollattscheck told the Huffington Post Monday, “The younger and more inexperienced animals – like the one on the video – sometimes take a little longer to find their way back to the water because they haven’t completely mastered the technique yet. When this happens the animal is constantly monitored by our animal trainers. The whale was never in danger. In fact, the pilot whales are trained to swim onto the ledge so we can monitor their growth and give them veterinary care.”

    Twitter has been abuzz about SeaWorld after the release of the film, Blackfish, in January, and these recent events has caused a rise in the hashtag ‘BoycottSeaWorld.’

  • Penguin Cam: SeaWorld Penguins Are Streaming Live

    I’m pretty sure even the toughest, manliest, hairiest beast of a biker can’t help but smile when a bunch of penguins are playing and skidding around on the ice, and the reason for it is twofold: they’re adorable. And they’re hilarious.

    Penguins are very social creatures who spend about half their time on land and the other half in water. Although the birds we’re used to seeing in movies like Happy Feet are native to frozen regions like Antarctica, penguins also live in warmer climates such as the Galapagos Islands.

    (image)

    Generally, the species found in cold climates are the biggest, such as the Emperor Penguin.

    (image)

    All five Antarctic species–emperors, kings, Adélies, gentoos and macaronis are represented at the SeaWorld exhibit “Penguin Encounter”, which is streaming live feed throughout the month of April. That means you can sit in the comfort of your own home and watch these awesomely adorable little guys waddle around and play until your heart’s content.



    Live stream videos at Ustream

    I think my favorite is the macaroni, named for an old-fashioned men’s hairstyle. You have to be boss to pull off that look.

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