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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSeaWorld 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
jonno99
(2,620 posts)realize what was going on though.
I'll have to watch the docu and catch up...
A HERETIC I AM
(24,317 posts)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.
jonno99
(2,620 posts)gvstn
(2,805 posts)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)as well as a couple other sources to stream "Blackfish"
Well worth the watch.
roscoeroscoe
(1,369 posts)...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)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)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)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)and return the Orcas to some semblance of an ocean existence.
The thought of them living in swimming pools makes me feel physically sick.
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)Ridiculous and inhumane.
Generic Other
(28,979 posts)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!
Beringia
(4,313 posts)DesMoinesDem
(1,569 posts)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.