How can you like zoos but not Sea World….
- Live in pools that are heavily chlorinated in an attempt to keep the water bacteria free. The pools are also cleaned with a chemical called ozone. These chemicals have stripped the skin off the orcas. When water work was still allowed, trainers reported of being at risk of serious eye injury. link - link -
- Do not experience the natural rhythms and currents of the ocean.
- Live in tanks that are desperately bare. I don’t think there is any attempt at foliage or anything like that. They used to have rock walls or something? But then they couldn’t lift the bottom of the tanks like that, so they got rid of it. You know. In case someone fell in the water and got killed by a killer whale again.
Update: they are now taking the rising floors away. Doesn’t stop it being a swimming pool.
- Either way, they are barren and bleak. There is no enrichment in that habitat. Considering orcas in Norway would routinely swim fjords, that orcas in the Arctic swim past ice bergs. Orcas in New Zealand swim past reefs. Not to mention all the different types of animals and fish that share the same sea.
- Replicate the environment and habitat of the animals. This is easier with animals on land, because you can create caves and dens, maybe build miniature lakes, have a variety of trees and bushes that would be found in the natural environment of that animal.
- As we have seen, Sea World don’t even attempt to do that, because they couldn’t. You can’t recreate the ocean. (On a side note, it’s interesting they haven’t even tried. I think the Blue Project was going to have a stab at it, but obviously that’s not happening now.)
I don’t condone orcas in captivity, but Sea World could improve their tanks at least. Wave machines of some type, artificial reefs and even releasing live fish for the orcas to chase. However Sea World doesn’t - because they’re not a zoo, they’re a theme park. The orcas are there to perform. If they improved the tanks then there’s less room for Shamu to do a pec wave.
- Good zoos that have endangered animals are often involved in conservation and breeding programmes in the wild. Sea World have never released any orcas into the wild (nor will they). I have also never heard of them tackling issues wild orcas face - such as Southern Resident orcas and their lack of salmon. Imagine how much weight Sea World could put behind getting that dam taken down!
Also if you look at this post then you will see the Sea World’s orcas are not part of any conservation programmes. It is true that Sea World does do a lot of conservation and that’s great! But none of it is directed towards helping orcas in the wild.
- Have health breeding programmes. As previously mentioned, Sea World has inbred orcas such as Nalani and Vicky. There are suspicions Unna’s stillborn in 2006 was also inbred, but the father was never announced. Sea World have also cross bred different eco-types of orcas. A respectable zoological institution would never do this. Can you imagine a licensed zoo cross breeding a Siberian tiger and a Bengal tiger?
There’s a really good post about Sea World’s awful breeding programme here.
- Give the animals space and privacy. Zoos don’t let people inside to pet the zebras or stroke the tigers. I know some zoos have exhibits for lemurs you can walk through, but there are strict no feeding or touching rules, and the exhibit is big enough the animals have space to stay away from you if they choose.
Similarly, every zoo I have been too have a closed areas for the animals to sleep, but also for the animals to hide from the public. These tend to be away from the fences so people can’t crowd round.
The orcas in captivity do not have this luxury. They are surrounded by glass and people looking through said glass every day. I know Sea World has a medical pool, but considering that is much shallower and they would still be surrounding by trainers, it’s not exactly a respite.
There’s also the fact dolphins and belugas at most parks are still swam with. Tourists still get into their spaces and ride them or play with them. Similarly, the orcas have to perform each day. It’s the main draw for visitors. The orcas don’t have a choice.
I am fully aware there are many zoos who don’t meet all these standards. However, properly regulated and respected zoos are a world away from the sea circus Sea World puts on.
So I guess the reason I support zoos and not Sea World is that: Sea World isn’t a zoo - it’s a theme park. The tanks their orcas swim are too small, too barren and lack any stimulus or enrichment. They are forced to perform tricks and other animals, such as dolphins and belugas, still have humans riding and petting them.
Sea World’s breeding program is inherently flawed and they do nothing to support wild orcas. The orcas are there to perform. To make a big splash and maybe do some back flips.
Zoos do their best to create natural and authentic enclosures. Animals are no longer there as a spectacle, but to be respected and admired. At the end of the day, Sea World will always care more about their bottom line than their animals.
