SeaWorld: My Recommendations
SeaWorld is making changes, that is a fact. In my book, these changes are good. Clearly, they could not provide an environment that closely mimicked a spacious ocean with depth that whales thrive in. While they couldn't just get rid of the whales, they could have made better environments.
While I do admit that SeaWorld gained a lot of knowledge about these animals and their behaviors through this program, the whales have indeed suffered. I also understand through my research why they must keep their current killer whales. Since they were born in captivity, they will not thrive or survive in the wild. I do believe that if they continue to foster these animals as they are, they will die prematurely. I believe that they should build bigger tanks to help mimic their known habitat. They should also install more habit breaking activities to keep the whales from boredom and hurting themselves. Once the shows stop, hopefully the whales are more receptive to the calmness of their lives. With this new found down time once shows and training have stopped, the whales will be bored if not given proper activities.
SeaWorld took the first step in initiating what I hope is a chain reaction of events to improve the lives of future whales and now the current whales who need help. SeaWorld initially participated in ethical egoism by using animals as a form of making money and providing entertainment, but they should've taken a more deontological approach. Firstly, SeaWorld has a duty to treat these animals well not only for the animals well being, but also for science. To be able to study these magnificent creatures up close is a responsibility that cannot be taken lightly. If SeaWorld would have looked at this from a deontological viewpoint, they would see that they should've originally built tanks that represented a whale's habitat. Although hard to mimic, SeaWorld could've done better with the tanks and treatment of the killer whales.
Now, SeaWorld has a larger focus on rehabilitation and research for animals. Hopefully, in the coming years this change will be reflected throughout SeaWorld's operations. Their values may change from an entertainment industry to a conservation group with a focus on the oceans. SeaWorld knows they have been doing wrong to their animals and even workers. We can only hope that these first few steps are a catalyst to make SeaWorld into a world renowned research and rehabilitation park, not an amusement park who uses animals.
While I do admit that SeaWorld gained a lot of knowledge about these animals and their behaviors through this program, the whales have indeed suffered. I also understand through my research why they must keep their current killer whales. Since they were born in captivity, they will not thrive or survive in the wild. I do believe that if they continue to foster these animals as they are, they will die prematurely. I believe that they should build bigger tanks to help mimic their known habitat. They should also install more habit breaking activities to keep the whales from boredom and hurting themselves. Once the shows stop, hopefully the whales are more receptive to the calmness of their lives. With this new found down time once shows and training have stopped, the whales will be bored if not given proper activities.
SeaWorld took the first step in initiating what I hope is a chain reaction of events to improve the lives of future whales and now the current whales who need help. SeaWorld initially participated in ethical egoism by using animals as a form of making money and providing entertainment, but they should've taken a more deontological approach. Firstly, SeaWorld has a duty to treat these animals well not only for the animals well being, but also for science. To be able to study these magnificent creatures up close is a responsibility that cannot be taken lightly. If SeaWorld would have looked at this from a deontological viewpoint, they would see that they should've originally built tanks that represented a whale's habitat. Although hard to mimic, SeaWorld could've done better with the tanks and treatment of the killer whales.
Now, SeaWorld has a larger focus on rehabilitation and research for animals. Hopefully, in the coming years this change will be reflected throughout SeaWorld's operations. Their values may change from an entertainment industry to a conservation group with a focus on the oceans. SeaWorld knows they have been doing wrong to their animals and even workers. We can only hope that these first few steps are a catalyst to make SeaWorld into a world renowned research and rehabilitation park, not an amusement park who uses animals.
I like your suggestion that their values may change from an entertainment industry to a conservation group. I feel like SeaWorld could also make their company a hybrid of these two values. For me personally, biology is boring but if it could be presented to me in a fun way, I would be interested in learning more. For example, if their shows can also be made into a learning experience instead of just making the whales jump and do tricks, that would be a lot of fun and more engaging to the visitors.
ReplyDeleteYes, they definitely need to put a more caring approach into their presentation of these animals. They need to let kids know how they can save them by recycling or saving electricity or even just getting them interested to study a biology field. SeaWorld could and should be a bigger voice in the environmental community. This will also hopefully help their image.
DeleteI agree, I think an element of conservation would add greatly to the SeaWorld experience. It could be an opportunity to educate the populace about issues facing marine life, as well as protect the company's values from scrutiny by the mainstream media.
DeleteI'm honestly surprised that they haven't emphasized on this before. It would be a great expansion piece for their business.
DeleteI don't see a problem with showing off the animals for entertainment purposes as long as they do it right. But with the history that you described I just don't see Seaworld as being capable of providing the proper conservation efforts that these animals deserve. I hope that they can prove themselves by making ethical decisions in the future.
ReplyDeleteI hope they can prove otherwise too. I think they will need to implement a lot of changes from the corporate structure to the employee manuals. Everything about SeaWorld needs to shift to an environmental conservation mind set or they will end in failure.
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