To be sad about Seaworld?

[CatThiefKeith]

Dh has been to Florida twice, both times as a child, and is determined we will take dd (3) when she is old enough.

Ever since I was little I have been fascinated by whales and dolphins, and I grew up (70's/80's) wanting to go to Seaworld.

But now I can't bloody well go, because I am an adult, and know it is wrong to keep those beautiful animals the way Seaworld do.

Fuckers.

[ThatBloodyWoman]

No unfortunately.

[ihatethecold]

Is blackfish available on Netflix?

[Charlieboo30]

I absolutely love Orcas and blackfish made me feel so sad. The whole thing is corrupt and wrong. No wonder Tillikum eventually snapped.

That video with Lolita is horrific. How can they get away with that? The people who make the rules aren't even enforcing them so what's the point...

[Mrsjayy]

Yes pissedglitter 3 rescue bears

[ThatBloodyWoman]

And I know I've contradicted myself there.-I only didn't know any better because I was a child.

[Damnautocorrect]

I think there's somewhere in Ireland you can swim with dolphins I had an English supply teacher who spent half the year in the uk the other half with the dolphins.

These beautiful creatures deserve so much more respect then we give them. They are intelligent wonderful beings.

[ThatBloodyWoman]

I don't think it's the case that no one knew any better back then.

People were actively fighting for whales, dolphins and seals, both in the wild and in captivity even then.

It's just taken this long for the message to sink in, because too many people didn't want to know and didn't want to think about it.

And, unfortunately, many many people and some governments it seems, do not give a shit about it still.

[ThatBloodyWoman]

I went in the very early 80's as a child, and it wasn't that amazing tbh.

I didn't know any better then, but even so I had some comprehension that the way I really wanted to see these beautiful creatures was in the oceans swimming free.

[InkleWinkle]

I think mrsjayy & pissedglitter stay near me - with the meerkats?

I really like that small zoo.

Have been to Seaworld twice, 1996 & 2007 & fell for all their 'conservation' hype but wouldn't go back now.

[RayofSun]

I completely agree with everything said on here but I distinctly remember going to Seaworld about 30 years ago when I was 7 and it made such an impact on me. I wanted to be a marine biologist, it stimulated my love for the sea and I have become and avid (though apprehensive) diver. It was one of the most profound moments of my life, seeing those beautiful creatures up close. Agreed, it's different now that we all know what we do.

I think it's all very well to say go to Canada/ Iceland text but these things very costly and not everyone can financially or logistically manage this.

We just all need to sit and home and watch the Discovery channel

[SpottieDottie]

Yes, we've seen basking sharks too - when paddling one swam right past us! even though we knew they were harmless we were all

[GerundTheBehemoth]

Britain is really good for cetacean-watching. I had a fantastic encounter earlier this year with common dolphins on a boat trip out of Falmouth - boat was surrounded, they were leaping about and bow-riding, too close for my big lens to focus on them. Have also seen minke whales and common dolphins at close range on a boat trip from Gairloch in Scotland. Also tons of seabirds - skuas, puffins, gannets etc. In summer there is a good chance of seeing basking sharks.

[pissedglitter]

MrsJayy I think you live near me
If it's the same small zoo with 3 rescue bears

[TheIronGnome]

The dolphin research centre (also in Florida) is another option for more ethical dolphin encounters!

[SpottieDottie]

Iceland is fantastic, I've been there twice and it's one of my favourite places to go. Seeing humpback whales in the wild is great, I didn't see minke whales there (it was winter) but I've seen them in Scotland - we get them quite often in the waters around this country.

[TheIronGnome]

I've just done research and unfortunately I was wrong (many years since I visited) the dolphins can't just leave when they fancy it... But the centre is a lot more ethical than sea life centres

[MagnaCharge]

I Went to seaworld florida in 1999, a few days after the man was found dead in the Orca pool, I remember watching Tillikum from the underwater viewing area I was just 16 but when he swam up to the glass he looked so sad, I can still picture the expression in his eyes. I can't believe they keep him there, I have signed every petition to release the whales to a seapen and point blank refused to go back to seaworld with my parents the next year well before blackfish.
It shocks me that anyone can see those enormous animals in those tiny tanks and think it is a good idea. Until Seeing it in real life I honestly didn't appreciate quite how utterly cruel it is.

[CatThiefKeith]

I would live to go to Iceland, and Canada. They both sound amazing.

If dh can drag me round Disney World etc then I shall insist we go to one or both of the above.

They sound much more up my street than the sickening display of abuse that is Seaworld!

[TheIronGnome]

Check out Florida's theatre of the sea. A similar idea to sea world but very much it's ethical cousin. If I remember rightly, the dolphins are free to come and go as they please but many like to spend quite a bit of time at the centre.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

Come to the West Coast of Canada. Eagles, whales, including multiple pods of Orcas, otters, an attack octopus (really), seals and others. DD was just on the news here for being at the marina with a 'dangerous' otter, which had to be relocated. The wildlife is jumping out of the forest and sea at you here.

[plecofjustice]

Go to Iceland, see minke's and humpbacks and a wide variety of birdlife - gannets, eiders, puffins, etc. It was incredible. And to be in a rough sea, knowing that we were most definitely in their realm, watching the whales just doing their thing...

[Canidae]

I would rather lose money then take one step into a place that takes so much from these animals but gives nothing back.

I first saw adverts for seaworld 20 years ago when we first got sky tv. I can remember feeling uneasy when watching a trainer 'dance' with an orca and I was 9 years old. Just the fact that they are huge animals kept in very small pens would be my first warning sign.

I can't civil to someone who is ignorant enough to give money to any of these parks. You are adding to more underage, artificial breeding. The calf (if it lives) will be taken from it's mother to live a life of stress and repetition and die at a young age.

We have information within seconds these days. There is no excuse.

[ColdTeaAgain]

wee sorry but if you really do feel "sick to your stomach" then just get back what money you can and cut your loses. You live and learn.

[WeeClype]

I could but I don't get the full price back and I also bought them at a time where you got free legoland tickets which would need to be returned too. With 3 weeks to go I don't want to chance returning everything, taking a loss and buying more tickets for elsewhere