San Diego’s Sea World Stops Killer Whale Theatrics
Sea World’s Shamu Show made its last appearance on Sunday, January 8th. Falling audience rates, protests, and the health of the blackfish, were few of the many reasons SeaWorld came to the conclusion of ending the “Shamu Show”, according to msn.com.
“The show that featured killer whales cavorting with trainers and leaping high out of the Shamu Stadium pool will have its final performances on Sunday,” according to foxnews.com.
By September 2016, the California legislature banned orca breeding in all marine parks. This is another reason SeaWorld had decided to stop the Shamu Show. The whales were dying because of being in small enclosures, and they could not breed new whales.
The business of killer whale entertainment is half a century old and has changed dramatically from the start. “Each of the killer whales knows probably a couple hundred behaviors,” Alan Garver, now SeaWorld’s vice president of zoological operations, told the Los Angeles Times, “In developing new stuff for a show, a lot of it is combining those behaviors together in new ways.”
According to msn.com, “Customers visit our marine parks, in part, to watch orcas, but a growing number of people don’t think orcas belong in human care.” SeaWorld was ending its breeding program, he announced.
SeaWorld will be turning the orca pool into a new attraction. According to msn.com, this new attraction is called Orca Encounter and it’s set to open in the summer of 2017. Sea World is branding “Orca Encounter” as a more educational experience about the history, ability, and the movement to save the whales. Although this attraction won’t be entertainment based, the trainers will still cue the animals and give them commands to follow.
Msn.com reported that not all of the animal rights activists are happy about the changes.“The trainers aren’t safe, and the whales aren’t happy,” stated Gabriela Cowperthwaite, an activist for the movement of animal rights and the filmmaker behind the movie Blackfish. “They’re still just doing manic circles around concrete swimming pools,” she added.
Evan Sun • Feb 2, 2017 at 9:51 pm
The way you formed your paragraph was very neat. Listing the great facts and reasons why this was a great attraction until now. I am very sad to see it leave the park because it has been a large staple to the park for millions to see.
Larissa Forsyth • Feb 1, 2017 at 10:11 am
I learned a lot from that article. So many interesting facts.
Hafsa Nasir • Jan 31, 2017 at 2:56 pm
I loved reading this article because people could go either way. The argument that the shows shouldn’t end and should end were both very strong and convincing.
Carley Austin • Jan 31, 2017 at 1:30 pm
I really enjoyed hearing about how SeaWorld will be cancelling and bringing back a show.
Justin Ehrman • Jan 31, 2017 at 1:24 pm
I am not surprised that millennials would want to shut down a show that has been around for most children’s entire life.
Joshua • Jan 30, 2017 at 11:08 pm
I am so happy that you have created an article about this subject. I have been against the ”Shamu Show” and other animal based entertainments for as long as I can remember.
Angela Booth • Jan 30, 2017 at 2:46 pm
I really enjoy learning about the ocra problem, but I would like to know a few more reasons as to what they are banned and what some of the problems with keeping them.
Bryce Dunnuck • Jan 30, 2017 at 1:39 pm
I enjoyed reading your article because you fully explained the reasons for the attraction being shut down and what these animals have to go through.
Eric Stratford • Jan 30, 2017 at 1:39 pm
It’s sad to see that this show is stopping. I remember seeing this at Sea World a few years ago. Good job on writing the article and including information regarding the subject.
Jocelyn Castaneda • Jan 25, 2017 at 10:01 pm
I enjoyed reading your article because I learned why the Shamu Shows are ending. I also learned about what new attraction will take over the orca pool.
Sunny Cheng • Jan 25, 2017 at 9:39 pm
I enjoyed reading this article because I was glad to hear that they finally shut down whale theatrics.
William Castillo • Jan 25, 2017 at 8:07 pm
Great article! I personally really enjoyed the show when I saw it. But it’s better for the whales to have a normal life in the ocean with open space.
Cindy Wang • Jan 25, 2017 at 5:12 pm
After reading your article, I would like to know more about why the whales are doing when kept in a swimming pool.