Sea World no friend to dolphins, whales

This is where whales belong. They don't belong in Sea World in a tank not big enough for an ordinary dolphin let alone a killer whale. They are social animals that are being forced into captivity for profit. The spirit is being ripped out of them every hour they are there. I don't want to hear anything more about education or research. People who really care to educate themselves or study these sea creatures should do it in the oceans, not as part of some carnival-like act in Orlando. There are plenty of whale-watching expeditions open to the general public. And it is far more educational, not to mention enlightening, to see whales in the wild versus in an over-sized fish tank with silly names and splash zones for the kiddies.

I have come to loathe zoos and places like Sea World. I believe it's particularly cruel to imprison large, social animals. I can't even go to the National Zoo in Washington, a freebie zoo that is generally ranked fairly high, without getting anxious seeing elephants and gorillas in small areas. I can't imagine the anxiety and depression the animals feel as morons throw popcorn at them, but I can relate to why they occasionally snap, as the killer whale did at Sea World yesterday. I feel sorry for the trainer who died in the incident, but it's just another sign that we need to move beyond this sort of treatment and containment of wild animals. We need to preserve their natural habitats and respect their roles on this planet that we all share. And their role isn't to amuse the village idiots who attend these amusement parks and don't think twice about what they are really witnessing. Sorry to sound harsh, but I have no patience for people who stuff cotton candy down their throats while teaching little Johnny that it's perfectly fine for these wonderful creatures to be ordered into doing tricks several times a day for a lifetime. These are probably the same children who grow up and think it's funny to get high and taunt a big cat in a zoo. Occasionally, the cat grabs one of these jerks. Remember that?

To be fair, Sea World in Orlando does some good work in rescuing various injured creatures such as sea turtles and manatees. There are caregivers there and elsewhere with good intentions. I personally knew the zoo director in Miami and he was truly concerned about the animals at his facility. These aren't all bad people. In fact, I am glad they are there so that the abuses aren't far worse. The trainer in Orlando probably cared a lot about the whale that eventually killed her. The empty suits behind these places are the bigger problem. Sea World and most places like it are for-profit facilities with more interest in the bottom line than in doing good work. The bean counters and corporate leaders are more interested is selling Shamu dolls than protecting whales. The smaller operators who don't have Sea World's resources are run even more shoddily.

I don't necessarily advocate closing down Sea World, but I do support the idea that it becomes more about conservation and stewardship and less about entertainment and profits. I don't think Sea World should use dolphins and whales for shows, period. The intellect of these mammals has been proven to be far superior to most other creatures. Rescue efforts are fine, as is allowing a certain degree of public exposure to those on-premises care and research procedures. In my opinion, that would send a better message to people wanting to learn about these large and often dangerous mammals. But, of course, we live in a culture where everyone has to be entertained 24/7. I fully expect a camera phone video of yesterday's fatality to show up on YouTube, making the event even more of a spectacle for the public.

I think the big orca shows send a mixed message to people. On one hand, folks can see the majesty of these creatures up close, which in some way might help raise awareness about protecting the ones in the wild. On the other hand, we're saying it's OK to remove whatever we want from the oceans, treat them anyway we see fit, if they increase ticket sales and amuse the masses.

An even worse offender than Sea World are the gaudy resorts that are now holding dolphins and other intelligent marine mammals captive in order to draw more business to their hotels. They don't even pretend the animals are there for educational purposes. Dolphins are among the most incredible animals on earth. To see them in some tank in the lobby of a hotel or used as a road-side attraction for tourists who want to pay to swim with them is an abomination.

I've gone to Sea World and similar places in Miami and New England. I like to think that I've grown since patronizing these aquariums/theme parks. I would also like to think that collectively human beings are growing more aware of the wrongs we commit against the natural world. Yet, as long as there are profits to be made and a lack of real education exists, I fear we may never move beyond these and other moral crimes.