Professor Kathleen Snow
English 1101
4 December 2015
To SeaWorld and Away Orcas– cute, intriguing sea dwellers that captivate SeaWorld viewers and the like around the world, live happy and healthy lives in captivity. Contrary to popular beliefs, SeaWorld has and always will remain committed to the wellbeing of orcas. The propaganda documentary Blackfish portrays SeaWorld as an evil and cruel entity that mistreats orcas and other animals. Nothing could be further from the truth; SeaWorld is an AZA and AMMPA accredited aquarium that invests millions of dollars every year in promoting the health and wellbeing of their orcas. SeaWorld is one of the most respected zoological institutions in the world and makes certain to provide their orcas with world-class veterinarian care and habitats. Blackfish threatens to dismantle the very nurturing foundation of SeaWorld. If Blackfish’s advocates had their way, millions of people would miss out on the truly amazing and inspiring creature that is the orca.
In addition to SeaWorld’s impressive accreditations, the park provides scientists with gracious opportunities to study and collect critical data on orcas living in …show more content…
In January of 1997, a “very young California gray whale was rescued near Marine del Rey, Los Angeles” (Stewart). This poor wounded whale had been “severely infested with whale lice, and had numerous cuts and ulcers over her body”. SeaWorld’s dedicated animal care specialists immediately began providing lifesaving support. Within a few months, the whale now called “JJ” was thriving from SeaWorld’s intervention. After another short period of time, JJ was released back into the Pacific Ocean to be with her own species. This example of SeaWorld’s dedication to protecting and preserving marine life clearly shows why SeaWorld should be able to keep orcas in a zoological