To be sad that people still go to seaworld/ride elephants etc

[lastqueenofscotland]

The beginning of the summer holiday photos is starting to filter through and already we've had people posing with adult tigers, riding elephants, swimming with dolphins and a group at seaworld.
Aibu to be really saddened that despite the wealth of information about how these animals are sourced and trained that this still happens

I know!! I think my friends find me a bit of a bore but people seem to stop thinking when they go on hol.

I can remember begging my mum to take me to seaworld when i was little and im so glad she refused.

Camel riding as well can be pretty dubious, i saw some last year in dubai with horribly scraped knees etc

Yanbu

YANBU at all. Dolphinariums are one of my pet hates, as are the other things. I've swum with dolphins, sharks and whales in the wild when they pitched up whilst I was scuba diving and/or snorkeling, I've also done a lot of diving with sharks without cages, in areas where they tend to hang out. I am very very careful which ones I go on though as a lot of chumming the water still goes on.

Yanbu, it's sickening. Wild animals shouldn't be touched by humans unless their lives depended on it. It's amazing how many people are ignorant of how they are engaging in animal abuse by doing the things you mention, op.

Yanbu. I can only think people are unaware of the cruelty involved. The whole concept is bizarre to be done as part of a holiday.

And I'm sure you eat bacon and drink milk.

Every animal deserves to live their life. Just because they are exoctic animals doesn't make their life more worthy.

YANBU

I have a bee in my bonnet about greyhound racing for similar reasons. Inlaws keep wanting us to go. I just think ugh. no.

Beyond I'm a vegan but thanks for your helpful comment

We used to do it here.

Donkey rides in blistering heat.

Saw a 'funny' clip once of this massively large lady falling from a donkey. She never should have been allowed on it.

I'm also a vegan, but thanks for your concern about my moral well being Beyond makes me feel all warm and fuzzy

Thinking about it I should get extra points as I don't buy silk either. I'm fabulous

YANBU in the least. Orcas and dolphins are far too intelligent to spend their lives splashing around a bath tub and honking for treats :(

Vegan here too, and yes it breaks my heart SO much. I used to post links to various information on the photos (much to everyone's dismay at me). Now I just comment with a sad face 😔 amongst everyone else's "oh wow amazing" comments. I find the simplicity of it is more powerful.
I might be completely naïve though and it'll most likely be ignored like everything else I post about animal welfare :(

Would agree but am reading Life of Pi at the moment...making me wonder

There can be a fine line sometimes. I've gone gorilla trekking in Rwanda. Now they should be left alone, really. But without the tourist money they would all be long dead. Decades ago.

Swimming with seals in New Zealand BTW is awesome. They want to play and are incredible. You just swim where they are and they choose to check you out. No feeding at all.

I'm neither a vegetarian or vegan but no way would I entertain the idea of seaworld etc. I judge people who go.

I'm a vegetarian and drink almond milk rather than dairy.

I went, years ago, and loved it. Feel really bad about it now

MrsTerryPratchett swimming with seals sounds amazing. I dived with sea lions not long ago and that was pretty neat.

Hercules - there's LOADS of delicious faux cheese, Yogurt, mayo etc now too. Come and join us !!

We saw camels with chains around their legs in Morocco .

I did have a 'chat' with a baby camel who was standing nearby, while his mum took a tourist for a ride. I just felt so desperately sad that he was destined for the same fate. He was lovely.

Seals are "the dogs of the sea" - they seem to like humans, for some reason.

I feel the same about horse and carts in seaside towns aswell - I've actually been in tears before now cos I horse I saw had a massive slash over his nose where the metal was digging in 😢 and yet people still ride them all the time. Just NO!

If you want to swim with seals and porpoise, go to Wales (wear a wetsuit though). The sea is lovely and the seals are curious!

Another think, I really don't think it has any relevance what kind of diet you follow when it comes to supporting animal welfare causes. If you eat meat but want to do something about SeaWorld and its ilk, isn't that great?! Surely the more people getting behind these causes the better.