SeaWorld sees profits plunge 84% as customers desert controversial park - Polidicks

[url]http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/06/seaworld-profits-plunge-customers[/url] [quote]SeaWorld has suffered a 84% collapse in profits as customers have deserted the controversial aquatic theme park company following claims it mistreated orca whales. The company, which trains dolphins and killer whales to perform tricks in front of stadiums full of spectators, on Thursday reported declines in attendance, sales and profits because of “continued brand challenges”. SeaWorld has been in the headlines since the 2013 documentary Blackfish detailed claims that its treatment of orca whales provoked violent behaviour contributing to the deaths of three people. Following the release of the documentary, attendance collapsed and the company lost more than half of its market value on Wall Street and its former CEO was forced out.[/quote]

Good riddance.

[QUOTE=Primigenes;48394101]I don't know if its funny or not to turn on the TV and see commercials with SeaWorld defending themselves. [video=youtube;-YEOaZFXRrM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YEOaZFXRrM[/video] It's sad that it even has to be made[/QUOTE] Seeing that commercial a thousand times on hulu only made me not want to go there even more.

How are their walruses kept?

Whether or not the claims are true, they should probably close up shop while they still have some money. I don't see them recovering from an 84% drop in revenue.

I don't know what they can do in this situation. Not like they can release the animals into the wild, I think they'd all be domesticated by now.

[QUOTE=Primigenes;48394101]I don't know if its funny or not to turn on the TV and see commercials with SeaWorld defending themselves. [video=youtube;-YEOaZFXRrM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YEOaZFXRrM[/video] It's sad that it even has to be made[/QUOTE]I remember watching I think it was Jon Stewart and he had an ex-Seaworld employee come on the show to talk about his book he wrote about the park and how awful it was for the animals to be living in it. They cut to a commercial break afterwards and this was the first commercial, the irony amazed me.

Good. It's an abomination. Keeping Orcas in captivity is horrendous.

Aquarium are cool as hell and very educational, plus iirc a lot of aquariums put most of their profit into marine conservation and the like which is wicked awesome. Seaworld though, that's just cruel keeping animals captive for entertainment. Some of my favourite memories are from visiting the Aquarium in Cali. when I was younger and seeing all the cool ass fucking sea things.

Sea Worlds so fucked that PETAs been buying their stock so they can destroy it from inside. Employees: jump ship while you can.

[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;48394185]Whether or not the claims are true, they should probably close up shop while they still have some money. I don't see them recovering from an 84% drop in revenue.[/QUOTE] Yup. Either that, or start SeaBrothel. :v:

I hope their walruses are treated decent at least.

[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;48394185]Whether or not the claims are true, they should probably close up shop while they still have some money. I don't see them recovering from an 84% drop in revenue.[/QUOTE] A 84% decline in revenue is much worse than a 84% drop in profits, even though that definitely is bad as well.

[QUOTE=OvB;48394505]Sea Worlds so fucked that PETAs been buying their stock so they can destroy it from inside. Employees: jump ship while you can.[/QUOTE] That's not really saying much.

the orcas and other whales need to be treated the same way captive gorillas are treated [t]http://s3.zoochat.com.s3.amazonaws.com/large/04gorilla_4_-203239.jpg[/t]

[QUOTE=meppers;48395312]the orcas and other whales need to be treated the same way captive gorillas are treated [t]http://s3.zoochat.com.s3.amazonaws.com/large/04gorilla_4_-203239.jpg[/t][/QUOTE] to give them the equivalent amount of space you'd need an absolutely enormous enclosure

[QUOTE=OvB;48394505]Sea Worlds so fucked that PETAs been buying their stock so they can destroy it from inside. Employees: jump ship while you can.[/QUOTE] Thats insanely smart. PETAs a fucked up org but I applaud them for that.

[QUOTE=HoodedSniper;48395964]Thats insanely smart. PETAs a fucked up org but I applaud them for that.[/QUOTE] By giving Seaworld money? That's literally all they do and have managed to do

its also the fact that seaworld is boring been there once? you saw everything

[QUOTE=draugur;48394463][B]]Aquarium are cool as hell [/B]and very educational, plus iirc a lot of aquariums put most of their profit into marine conservation and the like which is wicked awesome. Seaworld though, [B]that's just cruel keeping animals captive for entertainment[/B].[/QUOTE] What's the difference?

[QUOTE=Wii60;48396066]its also the fact that seaworld is boring been there once? you saw everything[/QUOTE] I loved it there when I was a wee lad of 7, I have very fond memories of that place. I'm glad I saw it all before adulthood and reality hit me, though I've got to say the dolphins were very happy creatures. Malicious, hateful creatures that will bite you for fish but happy nonetheless.

[QUOTE=maxumym;48396068]What's the difference?[/QUOTE] Because keeping these orcas under these conditions is harmful to them. Most aquariums keep their stock in good conditions. Whales are far too intelligent to be kept in the way that seaworld keeps them

[QUOTE=maxumym;48396068]What's the difference?[/QUOTE] There are people that think you shouldn't keep anything in captivity. Then there are people who feel like you shouldn't keep large mammals like whales and dolphins, and pelagic fish like whale sharks, mantas, and some other sharks in captivity. Reef fish will do well in captivity if the habitat is well taken care of. A clown fish will rarely leave the security of its anemone their whole life. Same goes with a lot of reef fish. But a whale shark or an orca that swim hundreds of miles a day through different habitats and have complex social structures is completely different. Orcas in nature: [img_thumb]http://i.imgur.com/ezSPEUm.jpg[/img_thumb] Orcas in captivity: [img_thumb]http://i.imgur.com/BEcTX8s.jpg[/img_thumb] Reef in nature: [img_thumb]http://i.imgur.com/pjrYm6R.jpg[/img_thumb] Reef in captivity: [img_thumb]http://i.imgur.com/rQrPrSf.jpg[/img_thumb] There's a big difference. I can make a suitable environment for a complex reef in 100 gallons of water (or less). A whale or a big fish takes an ocean.

I was just there last week for the first time and it's pretty funny half the time they do the shows is basically trying to defend themselves and "OUR WHALES LOVE IT HERE."

[QUOTE=HoodedSniper;48395964]Thats insanely smart. PETAs a fucked up org but I applaud them for that.[/QUOTE] Yes, good job PETA for taking the initiative to most likely kill the whales before SeaWorld does! Great job! Seriously though, what's this all about? I've always thought SeaWorld was a good place. This is the first I've heard of any controversies.

Quick! Everybody go to seaworld before it closes and the park never closes.

[QUOTE=Coyoteze;48399026]Seriously though, what's this all about? I've always thought SeaWorld was a good place. This is the first I've heard of any controversies.[/QUOTE] The orca's are kept in enclosures that are too small and then they end up killing the stunt performers

Yeah, Seaworld hasn't captured Orcas in the wild in 30 years! Because they buy them from other places that have and use the male they've had forever to breed them. You know, the one that rages and kills and is constantly picked on by the females and has to be separated from them

[QUOTE=Coyoteze;48399026]Yes, good job PETA for taking the initiative to most likely kill the whales before SeaWorld does! Great job! Seriously though, what's this all about? I've always thought SeaWorld was a good place. This is the first I've heard of any controversies.[/QUOTE] If you haven't seen it, check out the documentary Blackfish. It's on Netflix, I believe. Seaworld can owe almost all of its current publicity problems to that film. It put a spotlight on a dark world of abuse, death, lies, misinformation, and corporate coverups. [media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6ou5DqfkZ8[/media]

[QUOTE=Bread_Baron;48396120]I loved it there when I was a wee lad of 7, I have very fond memories of that place. I'm glad I saw it all before adulthood and reality hit me, though I've got to say the dolphins were very happy creatures. Malicious, hateful creatures that will bite you for fish but happy nonetheless.[/QUOTE] Because they're trained to do tricks and they have a "smile?" [editline]7th August 2015[/editline] [QUOTE=Coyoteze;48399026]Yes, good job PETA for taking the initiative to most likely kill the whales before SeaWorld does! Great job! Seriously though, what's this all about? I've always thought SeaWorld was a good place. This is the first I've heard of any controversies.[/QUOTE] It's a good place if you like watching enslaved, abused and depressed animals do tricks to earn food.