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marmar

(76,976 posts)
Fri Aug 7, 2015, 10:45 AM Aug 2015

SeaWorld sees profits plunge 84% as customers desert controversial park

(Guardian UK) SeaWorld has suffered a 84% collapse in profits as customers have deserted the controversial aquatic theme park company following claims it mistreated orca whales.

The company, which trains dolphins and killer whales to perform tricks in front of stadiums full of spectators, on Thursday reported declines in attendance, sales and profits because of “continued brand challenges”.

SeaWorld has been in the headlines since the 2013 documentary Blackfish detailed claims that its treatment of orca whales provoked violent behaviour contributing to the deaths of three people. Following the release of the documentary, attendance collapsed and the company lost more than half of its market value on Wall Street and its former CEO was forced out.

The company has since launched a nationwide marketing campaign to combat animal rights activist claims that, among other things, captive orcas die at younger age than their wild counterparts. .............(more)

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/06/seaworld-profits-plunge-customers




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SeaWorld sees profits plunge 84% as customers desert controversial park (Original Post) marmar Aug 2015 OP
Wow - thanks for posting this. I noticed "Blackfish" was listed on Netflix. I didn't jonno99 Aug 2015 #1
You won't regret it. A HERETIC I AM Aug 2015 #3
Sigh...yep, no doubt. Thanks again. nt jonno99 Aug 2015 #4
Thanks. gvstn Aug 2015 #11
Netflix has it, Amazon has it... A HERETIC I AM Aug 2015 #12
Scientists tracking wild Orcas... roscoeroscoe Aug 2015 #2
A good life HassleCat Aug 2015 #5
If SeaWorld closes (and 84% collapse indicates it will) what would happen to the animals?. . . Journeyman Aug 2015 #6
I think we give these highly intelligent, very social animals too little credit. A HERETIC I AM Aug 2015 #13
Oh gawd, I hope they close Arugula Latte Aug 2015 #7
It's like putting a lion in a 20 x 20 fenced yard. hifiguy Aug 2015 #15
They stopped allowing contact between performers and whales Generic Other Aug 2015 #8
great news Beringia Aug 2015 #9
This title is very misleading. Attendance only dropped by 100,000. DesMoinesDem Aug 2015 #10
Wonder how well other amusement parks are doing in this economy. hobbit709 Aug 2015 #14

jonno99

(2,620 posts)
1. Wow - thanks for posting this. I noticed "Blackfish" was listed on Netflix. I didn't
Fri Aug 7, 2015, 10:50 AM
Aug 2015

realize what was going on though.

I'll have to watch the docu and catch up...

A HERETIC I AM

(24,317 posts)
3. You won't regret it.
Fri Aug 7, 2015, 11:02 AM
Aug 2015

I was going to type "You'll love it" but if anything, it will make you sad or mad.

One of the most poignant parts of the whole movie for me was when one of the guys involved in capturing these animals talks about how he regretted doing so.

gvstn

(2,805 posts)
11. Thanks.
Fri Aug 7, 2015, 03:20 PM
Aug 2015

I never watched this show because I hated that CNN was going to the prison type "Locked Up" show rather than reporting news 24/7 which is the right way to run a cable NEWS channel. I have just simply avoided giving them ratings for this show.

If you really think it is worth seeing than I will find an online source to view it. I knew it must have been pretty good but like to see someone (here on DU or some such forum) actually say it is good.

Thanks again.

A HERETIC I AM

(24,317 posts)
12. Netflix has it, Amazon has it...
Fri Aug 7, 2015, 04:58 PM
Aug 2015

as well as a couple other sources to stream "Blackfish"

Well worth the watch.

roscoeroscoe

(1,369 posts)
2. Scientists tracking wild Orcas...
Fri Aug 7, 2015, 10:56 AM
Aug 2015

...report that they live much much longer than Orcas live in captivity... putting the lie to all of Sea World's claims. Seeing their corporate ads on TV is sickening, proof that if you have to pay to say it on TV, its probably a lie.

Their commercials are so sincere, all about how they love their Orcas... but the fact is captivity is cruel. They are wild.

 

HassleCat

(6,409 posts)
5. A good life
Fri Aug 7, 2015, 11:35 AM
Aug 2015

Wild orcas pretty much have it made. They're the top dogs in their realm. I can see why they're miserable when confined. They serve life in prison without being convicted of a crime. Sure, we do it to "illegal combatants," but where's the memo justifying maltreatment of orcas? Close Guantanamo. Close Sea World.

Journeyman

(15,001 posts)
6. If SeaWorld closes (and 84% collapse indicates it will) what would happen to the animals?. . .
Fri Aug 7, 2015, 02:11 PM
Aug 2015
Free Willie aside, I can't imagine releasing long-captive orcas, dolphins and the like would be an easy task.

The article quotes Jared Goodman, director of animal law with PETA, as advocating the building of "coastal sanctuaries." Anyone have a link to what this might be?

A HERETIC I AM

(24,317 posts)
13. I think we give these highly intelligent, very social animals too little credit.
Fri Aug 7, 2015, 05:02 PM
Aug 2015

Sea world knows, for the most part, which pods/family groups they are from.
I'm betting they can locate them as well.


To think that merely because they have been in a tank for years means they can't keep themselves alive in the wild is, I think underestimating them by a mile.

Release them near their old pods and the elders will sort them out.

 

Arugula Latte

(50,566 posts)
7. Oh gawd, I hope they close
Fri Aug 7, 2015, 02:16 PM
Aug 2015

and return the Orcas to some semblance of an ocean existence.

The thought of them living in swimming pools makes me feel physically sick.

Generic Other

(28,979 posts)
8. They stopped allowing contact between performers and whales
Fri Aug 7, 2015, 02:58 PM
Aug 2015

All those fancy acrobatics were banned after a whale killed a trainer. Not as interesting to just watch whales eat fish thrown at them from the sidelines? Yay, for the damn company going outta business. So glad they were banned from hunting whales in my state decades ago!

 

DesMoinesDem

(1,569 posts)
10. This title is very misleading. Attendance only dropped by 100,000.
Fri Aug 7, 2015, 03:08 PM
Aug 2015
The company’s financial report released on Thursday showed net income in the second quarter dropped from $37.4m in 2014 to $5.8m in 2015, a 84% decrease. Revenue fell from $405m to $392m. Attendance dropped by more than 100,000 from 6.58 million to 6.48 million.


I don't know what caused their profits to drop, but revenue was only down $13 million and attendance was only down 100k to 6,480,000. Maybe the profit decline is from their pr campaign or possibly related to the roller coasters they are building. It's disappointing that attendance is still over 6 million.
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