As we all know, your many theme parks are different from most with the various sea exhibits. Along with the rides and roller coasters, there are entertaining shows. The shows and animal exhibits give people a chance to see animals they have probably never seen before. Advertisements give off the impression that it would be an exciting experience.
Respectfully, you've done a fairly well job over the years. Your park seems like it would be a fun thing to do with the entire family since there are things for kids to do as well as adults. However, after doing my fair share of research I think the conditions that your parks' orcas are living in are not the right fit.
My trips to Sea World started when I was a child. I would visit my Grandma's house during the summer, and she would purchase season passes every year. My sister, my grandma, and I would go quite a few times each summer, so the season passes were the cheaper option. Going to Sea World provided us with something to do and it was an easy way to get us out of the house.
Before I was tall enough for all of the roller coasters, my favorite thing to do was watch the different shows. I liked some of the funny shows and the dolphin shows, but the Shamu show was always my absolute favorite. I loved watching him perform and I loved the "big splash" he did at the end of each show. I always looked forward to going to Sea World.
As I got older and more knowledgeable, I decided to look into different things: orcas living in your parks, the care they received, and so-on. More recently, I watched the movie Blackfish, and heard some of the things that they were saying about the way you treat and take care of your animals. I did more and more research after watching the movie. I am truly concerned for these animals and their well-being.
Sea World's daily customers and even people who have never been to Sea World probably don't think much about orca captivity. Most people don't think anything about it or realize the wrong that Sea World is doing. I am here to tell you that what Sea World is doing to orcas in captivity is very messed up and unbelievable.
I remember my first trip to Sea World - Shamu was mad and he didn't want to perform. I was bummed out because I wouldn't get to see him do all of the cool tricks I had been told about. When I look back at that day, I have a different perspective because of what I know now. Shamu most likely acted this way because he hadn't performed in a show earlier in the day and Sea World neglected to feed him. How would you feel if you were having a bad day, did poorly on a test, brought the failing grade home to your disappointed mother, and then she didn't feed you dinner? When Shamu doesn't perform or do his best tricks, he doesn't get fed. That's not very fair is it? Like every human, animals can have bad days too. I hope that you realize this, Sea World, and realize that what you are doing is wrong.
In the wild, orcas get their food from hunting and preying on other animals. In captivity, orcas obviously can't get their food this way. In captivity, an orca's diet often consists of gelatin. Sea World feeds orcas gelatin "in an attempt to keep them hydrated" (SeaWorld of Hurt). This is no diet for orcas as they are used to and also supposed to eat live animals. This is another example of how orcas are not properly cared for when they are in captivity.
Orcas are meant to live in the ocean, not small concrete tanks. Sea World has multiple orcas living in one tank together. These tanks aren't big enough for one orca, let alone multiple orcas. In the ocean, orcas will swim multiple miles per day. In tanks, "they would need to swim 1,208 laps (around the perimeter of the tank) or 3,105 lengths (back and forth at the longest part of the tank) in the park's largest tank," to be equivalent with the distance they would swim in the wild (SeaWorld of Hurt). No tank that you build could ever compare to the ocean.
When orcas are enclosed in these tiny tanks, it makes them angry and aggressive. This sometimes causes fights. In addition to fights, the aggression has made orcas attack their trainers. If you care Sea World, you should want better for these animals. You should also want better for your employees. You shouldn't want your orcas getting injuries from fighting just because they are in small tanks.
Orcas that live in the wild are known for living longer lives than orcas in captivity do. Statistics show that "92 percent of Sea World's orcas did not survive past the age of 25" (WDC). The average life span for orcas in the wild is 30-50 years. It is also said that wild orcas can live up to 90 years old (WDC). Orcas in captivity stand no chance to live up to 90 years old, and these various statistics prove it. Anyone who has a strong love for these animals, like i do, should want these animals to live the longest and healthiest life possible. If an orca dies at the age of 25, they are not living the full and potential life that they could.
I, as well as many others, have an issue with the living conditions and treatment you provide to your orcas. We who protest orca captivity want you to release your orcas, Sea World. We want you to give the animals a better life.
You say you care so much about these animals and their well-being, as you should; well set them free. Let these animals live their lives in the ocean where they are meant to be. Don't neglect to feed them, don't keep them locked in tanks, don't breed them, let them out of captivity. Make the choice to free them. It is the right thing to do and would be the best thing to do for your company.
I'm no marine biologist and I'm not an expert. I've done some research though, and I know enough to know that these animals are living miserable lives locked up in captivity. "Sea World Cares" is your popular slogan. So why does your company actually seem to be so careless? I ask myself that question constantly.
Sea World, if you care like you say you do, you should make the choice to let these animals live a better life. I'm sure all of your employees have plenty of money. I'm sure the "big-wigs" of the company have more than enough money. Enough where they would never have to go back to work. I say these things assuming money is the issue. Assuming you don't want to close the parks because you're making money. Assuming that you believe the harsh conditions your orcas live in are worth providing "entertainment" to people. If this is not the case, if you truly do care, you should want the best life possible for your parks' orcas. You should stop breeding them, and let them out into the ocean. The ocean is home to them, and it is where they belong.
I hope that you make the right choice to release all of the orcas in your parks. It is the right thing to do. Doing this would prove your slogan "Sea World Cares."
Sincerely,
Raychel Martin
Raychel Martin