Awesome Ocean - Blackfish is a Documentary if The Notebook is a Slasher Film DEBUNKED

It seems Danielle Cookish, the new Awesome Ocean writer is either totally unaware of what she is getting in to or just as bad as the original writers. Judging from this article debunked below it seems she is just as bad as their original writers are at trying to manipulate a situation to fit the Seaworld Agenda. What a shame.

Blackfish is a Documentary if The Notebook is a Slasher Film

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Visual effects and gripping music are the tools of the trade when you have an opinion to share, but do not want it met with skepticism. Hooking an already empathetic audience from the beginning by jarring them emotionally is one of the many steps on the pyramid of persuasion.
Please watch the following:

We’re all familiar with the film The Notebook (New Line, 2004) a highly emotional, epic love story that follows the lives of two characters and their experiences, all culminating into a tragic twist in plot.
What you’ve just watched is the original theatrical trailer for the film, which does well to describe the storyline, the characters, and what you can expect from it.
Now, we’ll watch the trailer again. This time, it has been cut, re-scored, and manipulated to make the romance film appear to be a psychological thriller. You will notice a striking similarity to the theatrical effects that make up Blackfish.

Lastly, let’s watch the trailer for Blackfish.

Did you notice anything interesting?
The manipulated version of The Notebook and the Blackfish trailers are identical, presenting only different content. They are constructed with identical rapid cut-away techniques, ominous music, and flashes of what is supposed to be absorbed as credible text.
Except the things said in the Blackfish trailer are true. The recording was the actual recording and most importantly as you can see from the court documents Seaworld DID blame Dawn for her own death, however much they deny it, court transcripts don't lie.

Thousands of people have been psychologically and emotionally manipulated and it happened so fast, they didn’t even notice.
Wrong, it didn't happen fast at all for the past 50 years people have watched orcas die in those tanks, dolphins die, belugas die, that is documented fact and all down to Seaworld.
Despite the fact that for the last five decades, SeaWorld has been a beacon of education, family entertainment, and marine animal research, they have recently been awash in public backlash because of the manipulative tricks of the activist film.
Wrong again people protest Seaworld because of what Seaworld have done, Blackfish just highlighted it. You seem to forget that Blackfish was made AFTER Tilikum killed Dawn, Keto killed Alexis, Tilikum killed Daniel and long after the death of Keltie Byrne. It was made after Kasatka tried to drown Ken Peters, It was made long after Kandu V and Keanu dragged  Johnathan to the bottom of the tank, leaving him cut all around his torso, with a ruptured kidney and a six-inch laceration of his liver, yet luckily he managed to escape and get out of the pool. It was long after Orky 2 permanently disabled John Silick and 13 years after Chuck Tompkins gave this statement in court
Chuck Tompkins, a senior executive at SeaWorld and head animal trainer, said in an affidavit. Those are signs Ikaika is testing his environment and seeing what he can do, Tompkins told the court. "And if you're not aware of all the little things that killer whales do, you can get somebody really, really hurt," Tompkins said in his affidavit. "I've got grave concerns on the safety of the staff and inevitably the safety of the animal because of the lack of change."

Blackfish isn't to blame for all these things Seaworld are! 

Taking a closer look at the psychology behind the creation of Gabriela Cowperthwaite’s Blackfish (Magnolia, 2013) we see how easily we can be manipulated.
Cowperthwaite admitted to having no prior education or training in the field of marine mammal care before creating the film. Her interest began after learning of the 2010 incident where senior trainer Dawn Brancheau was killed by Tilikum, a 12,000 pound bull orca at SeaWorld Orlando. Wow you are actually right AFTER Dawn was killed!
Cowperthwaite’s use of archival footage, lack of original material, and non-credible witnesses earned her a snub from the Academy during the 86th Academy Awards announcement of nominees for Best Documentary Feature. Blackfish has won many awards and how was it snubbed lol

Blackfish was developed on the foundation of sensationalism. A 90-minute spectacle of anthropomorphism and audio/video manipulation, all set to dimmed filters and a suspenseful, dark musical score.
The recording of the medical technician was an actual recording and all the proof of what was in Blackfish is here,  Go check it out as unlike Awesome Ocean stuff I provide the evidence and links to PROVE it.
Cowperthwaite implemented persuasive, emotionally driven film techniques, assuming that would be enough to argue with fifty years of scientific study and research. Have you actually read the research if not go and look again here 
After speaking out about the injustice and manipulative nature of the film, it is reported that Cowperthwaite phoned former trainer Bridgette Pirtle and requested, “Please wait until after award season to criticize Blackfish.”
Bridgette Pirtle has had plenty to say about Seaworld herself quote ''they (the orcas) are proudly introduced as ambassadors but they are simply work horses for a profit driven industry'
She has plenty of other things to say too see here

Due to the manipulative effects used in the film, it's no surprise that audiences, especially children and teens, have lashed out at SeaWorld. An endless parade of hashtags, outrageous demands, bullying of others, the spewing of profanity, and slander dominate the landscape.
 This type of reaction to a shock-value film is not new, but it has set a new precedent. It seems a tide has turned where it is now socially acceptable to believe what’s seen in a film or on television and ask no further questions.
You are completely missing the fact that all the incidents and deaths that have occured at Seaworld which people have protested since day one happened BEFORE Blackfish was made, they are even documented in Seaworld's own animal profiles - again take a look for yourself  here

There are then all these cetacean deaths to account for - should animals who have restaurant quality fish, top vet care, dental care, regular health check as Seaworld profess they do have died in these numbers in their small 50 years? 

A similar effect was achieved in 2004 when director Morgan Spurlock released Supersize Me (Hart Sharp Video, 2004), a film which follows Spurlock on a 30-day journey where he consumes only food from McDonald’s.
His weight, cholesterol, blood pressure, and other vitals were monitored by a medical doctor during the process and the results were not shocking. Spurlock’s central thesis was eating McDonald’s three times a day for 30 days will have negative effects on your health. No kidding.
Interestingly, viewers of the film grabbed their torches and pitchforks and began harassing, protesting, and boycotting McDonald’s as if they had been duped into believing McDonald’s served healthful food with no health consequences during excessive daily intake.
Comedian Jim Gaffigan touched on the topic during his Mr. Universe special, where he said, “I just love the societal outrage at McDonald’s. There is no nutritional value, there are no vitamins. McDonald’s is like, excuse me, we sell burgers and fries. We never said we are a farmer’s market.”

While we work tirelessly to present sourced facts and data that completely debunks the pre-determined opinion selected for you by Cowperthwaite, many people continue to fiercely defend the film as their reason for outrage.
When factual evidence that goes against the Blackfish agenda is presented, those who support the information put forth in the film become agitated, petty, hostile, and even violent. Why?

Sourced facts and data - really???? 

 I think you need to look at these as Awesome Ocean has been debunked many many times with factual links from court reports, necropsy reports, NOAA, official documents and records that cannot be disputed by either side. Take a look at them all 
 Awesome Ocean blown out of the water AGAIN!

 Awesome Ocean, misses information and misses the p...

 Decide for yourself Awesome Ocean or Factual Evidence 




Awesome Ocean lies about the death of J32 and orca captures 

Awesome Ocean Sick response to the death of J32 Rhapsody 

Awesome Ocean - Kids Reject Blackfish, No they don't lol

Awesome Ocean, Bridgette Pirtle Q and A's still not answered

Awesome Ocean 3 things you're not supposed to know

Awesome Ocean killing Keiko Mark Simmons Q & As

Awesome Ocean - yet another twisted tale about Philippines dolphins 

Awesome Ocean V the DODO manipulated information A...

Awesome Ocean Blackfish is full of Black lied debu...

Awesome Ocean - Independent AP Study Shows Marine ...

Response to Awesome Ocean Benefits of Species Surv...

Response to Awesome Ocean Blackfish

 Awesome Ocean - Eric Davis - Absolute Bullies and ...

Awesome Ocean misleads again - these are NOT facts...

Awesome Ocean calls Ric OBarry an animal abuser.

Awesome Ocean Activists attack rescues Really? lol

You most certainly have this as facts are facts which ever side you stand on, and yet you still dispute them

Sometimes it can be difficult to differentiate fact from fiction because the art of manipulation is a psychological science. Finding the truth often requires vast amounts of research into both sides of an argument.

This is true it does require research but not the sort you give to people which has been proven to be manipulated, selectively put forward or in some cases are downright lies, as this piece is too hence it getting debunked yet again.

Blackfish has a transparent agenda shown in its parochial manipulation techniques. Finding truth through science is black and white.

It most definitely is Blackfish looked at incidents that had already happened at Seaworld. Gabriella Cowperthwaite didn't do any of them, PETA didn't do any of them, Seaworld are responsible for all of them and the quicker you look at the official paperwork and see the light the better it will be all round as at the moment you make the educational programme Seaworld say they have in place look seriously questionable.

Bridgette Pirtle Q and A's with Awesome Ocean

When you spoke to CNN and told them they needed an experienced trainer, what was John Hargrove, you worked with him a lot?  He was in fact more experienced than you were!

 

When you did you Micechat interview with Eric Davis you said

Why did you not say that here??

When you say you didn't want to be a part of the activist propaganda, you did many interviews of your own in which you had a lot to say about Seaworld yourself. They all have nothing to do with Blackfish and all to do with the reasons YOU gave for leaving Seaworld, yet in the Qand A's you said it was because of family, so which was it and if it was because of family are all these interviews lies as you repeat the same things over and over.

In this interview in 2013 you said
 

 

In this one with Nat Geo published in Jan 2014 you still said

Then there is this interview with John Hargroves where you talk about how badly Unna was treated, having a fetus drop from her in a show and continuing the show!

This one given to Yahoo News you say conditions at San Antonio were atrocious and John Jetts account of Orlando was SPOT ON 

 The reason I picked these 4 interviews was because the comments you made had nothing what so ever to do with Blackfish. You gave those statements as your reasons for leaving Seaworld. 

Whether you had issues with Blackfish is irrelevant to any of the above interviews, so why did you say the things you did about Seaworld themselves and the way they treat those orcas?? 

 I have asked you many many times and each time you decline to answer, if you are speaking the truth now as you say on the Q and A's then which part is truth and which is lies. 

Are the reasons you give in the interviews above true? 

Did Unna lose 3 calves not one like Seaworld said? 

Are those orcas workhorses for a profit hungry industry?

Do you think the breeding programme should be stopped?

Do you think they should stop being used for entertainment? 

None of those things were covered in your Q and A's and lets face it who really expected them to be?

Tumblr had this to say about you and I think it pretty much sums up what has been going on, one minute pro cap, one minute anti cap. 

Bridgette Pirtle. ''What an interesting roller coaster she has been on the passed year. First, anti captivity, bragging about Blackfish and her claim to fame along with it. Now, pro captivity asking for her job back at SeaWorld claiming Blackfish is propaganda.
What I find most interesting is she had seen Blackfish at the premiere, way before any of us saw it. Way before it was made famous. She knew what was in it, she knew the message it sent and she knew what information it gave off. After the public outcry against SeaWorld and the trainers in the movie became a little famous and she did not, she became a little crazed.
She needed a way to get her name in the spotlight again. She chose to be one of the first trainers to go against Blackfish that snowballed into other trainers doing the same.(and sounding absolutely ridiculous, I might add)
What is her stance on captivity? She believes that her relationship with the orcas is most important piece to this pro-anti captivity puzzle. Yes the trainers and orcas have a supposed intense relationship. Whether this is true or not, what importance does it serve? It doesn’t, she just needed something to get her back into the spotlight.
It’s obvious everything she says is biased and set to her agenda. She is pro captivity when it suits her and anti captivity with it suits her. That is why nothing she says can be trusted or taken seriously.''

As for your comments on Keiko, this has already been questioned and there are numerous other people who were involved in the project with Mark who say differently to him,  and even the likes of Robin Friday said it was a success. See for yourself here .

Your reasons for leaving Seaworld and the reasons for not getting along with Blackfish are two entirely different things, and if as you seem to be now,  you are a big Seaworld fan and advocate, then either that is a lie or the statements you made about the things that happened there are lies, so which ones are they Bridgette?
10 years is quite an achievement, but people think of you as flip flopping because at the moment that is what you are doing. I was hoping for the truth but once again didn't get it as those reasons for leaving were not even addressed, how very disappointing.

Awesome Ocean - Eric Davis - Absolute Bullies and Factually Incorrect Again!

I think this time Awesome Ocean have completely stepped over the mark. 

Whether Seaworld are panicking, Eric Davis is panicking or whatever the reason to attack someone like this over what they believe is really out of order. 

The other side of this is, for some reason Eric seems to believe that people protest at Seaworld because Ellen says so, how wrong can someone be lol. 

His closing statement is  

Welcome to the world of the people who brought you the movie Blackfish. The people who say anything to get you to conform to their world view.It is time that we stop listening to radicals and start listening to reason. While she is out screaming and handing out thousands of pounds of literature, places like SeaWorld are donating millions to save the Southern Resident Killer Whales and other marine animals and personally rescuing tens of thousands more.

So who's telling the truth?
Who's the real animal hero?

I think it is about time someone told Eric why people protest Seaworld and seeing as Blackfish is such a massive issue to him, I will ignore it altogether.
The reason people protest Seaworld is because of Seaworld themselves, some of those reasons are below. Remember Blackfish won't be mentioned at all so it takes it completely out of the equation so people like him cannot use it as a divertion from what people know has gone on in those tanks, Blackfish wasn't thought about until after Tilikum killed Dawn and came from that incident, people however have been protesting Seaworld long long before then.

Firstly all these incidents have happened between trainers and the killer whales, all prior to the incident in 2010. As you can see Seaworld's own animal profiles are linked to them, the incidents where it says bumped etc, are not passed off as nothing, they were deemed serious enough to be recorded by Seaworld themselves on their own Animal Profiles. These incidents were not recorded by activists they were recorded by Seaworld including the one with Tilikum and Dawn.
See them all with their links here 

Next, Seaworld has and still does collaborate in the wild caught industry. In 2012 they applied for a permit to import a Japanese dolphin. Last year they took a pilot whale called Argo from the same park. This is not ancient history as Seaworld would have you believe this is current.
 In 2001, SeaWorld Orlando supplied Ocean Park in Hong Kong, China with California sea lions and Harbor seals. Ocean Park HK buys dolphins from Taiji and has been linked with the recent Russian captures.
They are also named as recipients in the Georgia Aquarium importation of Belugas, taking more of the Belugas than any of the other parks. This is also current.

On this link you can see the Taiji drive hunt has never been tradition and Seaworld collaborated with these people at that time. Worse still is that they thought the lie that they were 'rescuing' these creatures from slaughter would suffice, when in reality everyone knows that it is the captive industry keeping this drive hunt alive, if it wasn't for the captive industry there would be no hunt. Seaworld were not rescuing them at all they were perpetuating it.

Old newspaper reports also show that Seaworld played down or tried to hide the incidents happening in their parks. Daniel Dukes was passed off as a drunk drug fuelled vagrant who jumped into the wrong tank. This too was far from the truth and Seaworld still maintain they do not know Tilikum's involvement. Daniel Dukes autopsy report shows a completely different story, it shows both pre and post mortem injuries, his scrotum was completely torn off and on reporting about his parents lawsuit against Seaworld the press stated ''The lawsuit contends that puncture wounds on Dukes leg and foot are consistent with him having been pulled into the pool by Tilikum''. Many years later Tilikum once again pulled a someone into the water, so this could actually be the case, but no transparency has been forthcoming from Seaworld.

Next there is the gene pool. In the wild it has been proven from DNA sampling that a transient and a resident orca have never interbred, nor have members of differing groups, i.e. Icelandic and Southern Resident,  the only cross breeds like this are in Seaworld tanks. As an institution who supposedly promote conservation, why would they breed animals with no conservation value what so ever as they have no equivalents in the wild. These animals are condemned to a life of captivity as they can never be released into the open ocean for fear of them contaminating the wild gene pool.
As we know Kalia is currently pregnant as Seaworld have a research team there, why would they allow that as Kalia is also a hybrid orca.

Seaworld's orcas - 
Katina             -wild caught Icelandic
 
Tilikum            -wild caught Icelandic

Kayla              -HYBRID - mother  Keanu (Icelandic W) Father Orky 2 (A5 Northern Resident)

Trua               - Icelandic - mother Takara (Icelandic C) Father Taku (Katina, W Tilikum both Icelandic W)

Nalani            - INBRED Icelandic mother Katina (Icelandic ) Father Taku - (Katina, Tilikum both Icelandic)

Malia            - 2nd Generation HYBRID C - mother Taima (Gudrun Icelandic/ Kanduke Transient) Father Tilikum

Makaio         - Icelandic C - mother Katina(Icelandic W) Father Tilikum (Icelandic W)

Corky 2       - Northern Resident wild all 7 calves deceased

Kasatka       -  Icelandic wild

Ulises           -  Icelandic wild caught  1 calf by AI to Wikie in France

Orkid           - HYBRID - mother Kandu V (Icelandic wild) Father Orky 2 (A5 Northern Resident wild)

Keet           - 2nd Ge HYBRID - mother Kalina C (Hybrid KatinaW/WinstonW) Father Kotar (Icelandic)

Shouka        - Icelandic Captive - mother Sharkan (Icelandic wild) Father Kim 2 (Icelandic wild)

Nakai         - Icelandic - mother Kasatka (Icelandic W) father Tilikum (Icelandic W)

Ikaika         - Icelandic C - mother Katina (Icelandic W) Father Tilikum (Icelandic W)

Takara      -  Icelandic CAPTIVE - mother Kasatka (Icelandic W) father Kotar (Icelandic W)
 
Kalia          - HYBRID - mother Katina (Icelandic W) Father Winston (Southern Resident W)

Makani      -  HYBRID - mother Kasatka (Icelandic W) Father Kshamenk (Unknown pod W)

Kyuquot    - Icelandic C - mother Haida 2 (Icelandic W) Father Tilikum (Icelandic W)

Unna         - Icelandic C - mother Katina (Icelandic W) Father Tilikum (Icelandic W)

Tuar          - 2nd generation HYBRID C - mother Kalina C(Hybrid Katina/Winston father Tilikum W

Sakari      -  Icelandic - mother Takara,(Icelandic C)  Father Tilikum (Icelandic W)

Kamea    - HYBRID - mother Takara (Icelandic C) Father Kshamenk (unknown pod W)

Skyla      - 2nd generation HYBRID C - mother Kalina C(Katina I/Winston SR) father Tilikum W

Kohana   - Icelandic C - mother Takara C (Icelandic) Father Tilikum (Icelandic)

Tekoa     - 2nd generation HYBRID C - mother Taima C(mother Gudrun Icelandic, father Kanduke Transient) Father Tilikum

Keto     - 2nd generation HYBRID C - mother Kalina C(Katina I /Winston SR) father Kotar (Icelandic W)

Adan    - 3rd generation INBRED HYBRID C - mother Kohana (Icelandic C) Father Keto, Hybrid C

Morgan  - wild caught




Disease - Seaworld state their facilities are free from Pathogens, Bacteria, Diseases found in the wild. This is also NOT TRUE. The necropsy reports for their deceased orcas show a totally different picture. Fungus infections, abcess's, stress ulcers, Viral  Leptomenigitis, Candidiasis, numerous deaths from pneumonia, Zygomycosis. The links to the necropsy reports can be see here
Recent reports state
Most cases of marine mammal pneumonia have significant bacterial involvement, and most organisms cultured from terrestrial species have been identified in marine mammals. Pneumonia often can be considered the result of mismanagement. Here

So as you can see it is NOT TRUE that those tanks are a better environment for those orcas at all.
  
When Dawn died Seaworld were adamant and pretended to be upset that they were being accused of blaming Dawn for her own death. When copies of court transcripts were made public, this is what was said. 
Jeff Andrews BLAMED Dawn for her own death!! 

In 2006 Seaworld sent 4 'excess' orcas to Loro Parque. What made Skyla, Keto, Tekoa and Kohana, 'excess'? Whilst trying to do some recent damage control Seaworld had Wendy Rameriz release a video stating, 'why would we do that' when discussing the separation of Takara, Kasatka and Kohana. Well why would you do that as the physical evidence is there for all to see Takara lives in the USA and Kohana was sent to Spain???
Seaworld gave excuses for Tilikum, but what excuse is there for Keto killing Alix Martinez, he is a Seaworld orca born and bred, Alex had been for training at Seaworld San Diego, he was under the supervision of Brian Rokeach, competent Seaworld trainer and Julie Scardina said Seaworld supervised every second of the day at Loro Parque so what reason does Seaworld have for his death? It wasn't until the death of Dawn that people started really looking into it, it was swept under the carpet and had Seaworld taken the trainers out of the water as they did after Dawn's death, then Dawn would still be here, so what is the excuse? The events of that day and leading up to his death can be read here

Babies having babies and separation
No matter how hard Seaworld protest, the physical evidence of mothers being separated from their offspring is there for all to see.

Scientists have researched and documented that

Females typically gave birth to their first viable calf at 14.1 years of age (SE=0.050; range 10-21 years) and those that survived produced a total of 4.7 calves at mean intervals of 4.9 years (SE=0.18; range 2-11 years) over a reproductive lifespan typically lasting about 24 years.So why do Seaworld orcas to be pregnant  at only 6 years old??? 

The videos Seaworld released trying to address this issue were absolute lies, you can see why here

The list of reasons people protest could go on and on, but as you can see none of them have anything what so ever to do with Blackfish, they have to do with 45 dead orcas in 50 years, 243 dead dolphins in 50 years, orcas being named the same thing so as to deceive the public when one died, Canuck, Canuck2, Nootka 1 to 6, Orky 1 and 2, Corky 1 and 2 etc and that is the reason all the orcas are called Shamu as the deaths were so regular and in the early days the paying public could not tell when one was replaced. I would dare say that today, some of the day visitors wouldn't be able to tell from a distance either. As for the dolphins, they are more alike than the orca's and no one could tell how regularly they were being replaced the numbers show an average of 5 per year.  It doesn't matter whether they were reported to the officials or not, the deception was for the public not for those working with or being reported to. 

The previous trainers -  taking the Blackfish trainers out of the equation again there is this from former trainer Bridgette Pirtle (now Davis) In this article she states  

 

This from a trainer who writes for Awesome Ocean, and who Seaworld supporters trust and like. She may well have fallen out with Blackfish the movie, but this statement isn't about Blackfish it is about her feeling towards Seaworld' itself and states many of those taking care of the animals are fighting for the same. 

As you can see from the picture here people have been protesting since the days of Namu. In the UK dolphinariums closed in the 90's due to pressure from activists and scientists were listened too and they knew way back then that this wasn't the right environment for these cetaceans.

Seaworld and people like Eric has kept the focus on Blackfish, not the activists, that movie was just the catalyst for those who didn't know before. Seaworld know what the issues are as they have changed their visuals away from the orcas who used to dominate their websites, to rescues. This again is another diversion tactic as although rescues are to be commended no one has ever protested them and they have nothing what so ever to do with the plight of those captives.

Then there is as in this article Eric has written about Ellen, the attacks on anyone who tries to put forward scientific or researched information. As you can see here, every one of these people have been called activists or extremists. They are proven scientists and whale researchers, unlike Seaworld when Blackfish asked them for their opinion they gave it, had Seaworld done the same when they were asked would they also be activists then??? 

Lastly lets take a look at some of the things Eric has done, this also involves Ellen below.

On his Stand with Seaworld facebook page he organised the Protest the protestors event

This was the result of that once again you can see Ellen here with the policemen.

Ellen being abused by one of his protestors

and again

ellen with police whilst watching the protestors continue their abuse

Even the police couldn't hide his amusement at this idiot.

This was the culminating video, those who frequent Stand with Seaworld will recognise the people involved

Eric Davis at the protest the protestors event.

I think it is ridiculous for Eric to be calling Ellen who at the end of the day organises peaceful protests, when his two attempts at organising protests to protest her have ended up with abusive behaviour like this. Are these the sort of people Seaworld support??

Along with the event above and the bullying below, Is this really the sort of person you associate with.

Once again Blackfish the movie hasn't entered into any of the evidence provided as people like me don't need it, as we know there are hundreds of reasons people protest and people would still protest if the film had never been made. The people who do need Blackfish are people like Eric so they can use the film as a diversion tactic, find people to try to discredit and try to blind anyone who did support Seaworld who now wants to find some facts of their own. Those facts are in Seaworld's own animal profiles, their own necropsy reports, in autopsy reports and court transcripts and I hope you take the time to read them above even if it doesn't change your mind, an informed decision is much better than a blind one.

As Eric said himself 

''So who's telling the truth?''

Check out the links to all the documents above and find out for yourself!! 

OBEY: Meet Ellen the Vegan

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The leader of the anti-SeaWorld movement in San Diego.
Want to get to know who's behind the protest at SeaWorld San Diego each week? Want to know who will say anything to convince you of her crusade?
Meet Ellen from San Diego. If you live in the area, you may recognize her from TV. She has perfected screaming in righteous indignation. She has the all important bull horn - a staple in the activist tool bag. She's the leader of the protests in front of SeaWorld San Diego.
She'll do anything to force her world view on you.
Why would someone engage in that kind of activity? The better question is, why would you follow this person?
While sympathizing with Ellen in the wake of viewing the movie Blackfish may seem easy, the truth behind her activism may prompt more regular people to reconsider her version of the truth.
You see, like most of the activists feeding misinformation to the public about SeaWorld, it's not really just about one righteous cause.
It's about forcefully seeking to change the way everyone lives because she knows better.
Ellen spends her weekdays hassling train riders who eat foods she doesn't approve of. She plasters stickers and radical vegan pamphlets all over stores like Trader Joe's and Whole Foods. Her zealous passion is at best frightening because she demands all others adopt the lifestyle she adopted in 2011.
Does that sound like someone who would let truth or objectivity stand in the way forcing you to change your behavior? For radicals, the ends always justify the means.
Obey.
So aside from SeaWorld, we want to share with you the most likely places you would encounter Ellen and her radical gang:
Joan Rivers died? Eh, good riddance 

You will find her outside McDonald's

You will find her outside KFC

You will find her outside the San Diego Zoo

You will find her inside In-N-Out Burger

You will find her outside Wal-Mart

You will find her on the train

You will find her at a Trader Joes

You will find her outside a Farm

You will find her outside a Movie Theater

You will find her outside a Circus

You will find her outside a Department Store

You will find her outside the Horse Tracks

Ellen and her radical group are not content with people making their own choices, they will only be satisfied when everyone complies with their lifestyle, their world view, even if that means passing laws.

There is no middle ground with Ellen, there is no compromise.  Ellen isn't alone, and she isn't unique, she represents the radical fringe of the animal rights movement.

Is there anything she won't protest?
Welcome to the world of the people who brought you the movie Blackfish. The people who say anything to get you to conform to their world view.
It is time that we stop listening to radicals and start listening to reason. While she is out screaming and handing out thousands of pounds of literature, places like SeaWorld are donating millions to save the Southern Resident Killer Whales and other marine animals and personally rescuing tens of thousands more.
So who's telling the truth?
Who's the real animal hero?

Seaworld Round Table Review - Seaworld 10 lies debunked by their own admissions

Walkthough points for the debate on 

What SeaWorld and "Blackfish" Mean for San Diego

Voice of San Diego

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Attending the debate

• Naomi Rose, marine mammal scientist with the D.C.-based Animal Welfare Institute; she was a key consultant for "Blackfish" and likely helped craft the so-called Blackfish bill;
• Susan Gray Davis, former UC San Diego professor who wrote a book about SeaWorld San Diego and can speak to local contributions;
• Dr. Todd Robeck, Vice President of theriogenology and is responsible for the company's breeding and reproduction program;
• Kristi Burtis, worked with SeaWorld more than 25 years, supervisor of animal training and is currently a killer whale trainers.

The debate can be seen here  
Naomi Rose's review can be seen here 

Take note of the admitted things from Seaworld that the 'so called activists' have been saying for years and which Seaworld have said are not true. The Seaworld vet Dr Robeck proves that some of those things stated by Seaworld in recent videos etc are misleading and NOT TRUE.

1. The dorsal fin information they put out WAS misleading it is only 1% of the wild population.

2. From the trainers point of view - only those who have actually been to Seaworld care about those orcas. Seeing them on TV, documentaries etc isn't the same. Tell that to the UK and the majority of countries who don't and wont have them captive!!

3. From Susan - saying the park is educational is AMBIGUOUS the lease says the park has to be educational, but her study shows it is very closely tied to the marketing. Science education experts independant of Seaworld need to do the study again.
Difference between good education and bad. - Good education doesn't lead you to the purchase of products

4. Naomi Rose - Seaworld need to start telling the truth about the impact captivity has on the orca. What they say in the guise of education is just not true.

5. Seaworld vet - She is absolutely right on the dorsal fin collapse. There lifestyle is not the same as they would have in the wild there is NO WAY you can replicate that.  It was misleading I'll give you that, you are right it is less than 1% Lie 1 uncovered.

6. Seaworld vet states the dorsal fin is made of cartilage. He is a vet?? The fin is made of collagen.

 
It is a true physical manifestation of being captive.

7. Seaworld vet produces teeth picture from John Ford, which is of a shark eating killer whale, as we know sharks have skin like sandpaper and the orca's at Seaworld do not eat shark! Type 1 killer whales show significant tooth wear indicating they use the same foraging method, but they are not down to the gum line as Seaworld orca's who don't forage are.
 Naomi Rose - this shows captivity as a habitat results in conditions which cause health issues.
See tooth wear of killer whales from Seaworld below, they don't eat sharks and as we see from the trainers feeding them, don't forage either.

Corky, teeth just about gone.

So people cannot say well Corky is old, here are Morgans teeth since being in captivity

The deterioration of Morgans teeth

Every Seaworld orca has some issue with their teeth, see here  how can that be when Seaworld say they provide superior dental and veterinary  care?

Captive orca chewing concrete

 The orca project shows pictures and details tooth damage on many of the orcas in Seaworld's care. view here    
 Lie 2 - Seaworld are not providing superior dental care they are merely dealing with the damage

8. Seaworld vet - their longevity HAS been worse in the past. Statistically I cannot say we are doing better, and produce a graph of an incomplete data set, then produces another showing the wild population are doing better than those at Seaworld, but their longevity has gone up. The graph reflect mortality that shouldn't have occurred.

This is NOT TRUE as revealed by Seaworld own vet. 

Lie 3 the lifespan isn't equivalent to the wild as those charts showed.

9.  Seaworld vet - you can't expect improvement in a few years - it isn't a few years they have had 50 years to get it right and still haven't.
The things Seaworld state orcas in the wild have to endure - pollution, looking for food, predation etc and those orcas out there still outlive Seaworld orca.
Naomi Rose - this is 50 years of work, if they haven't yet equalled the longevity of a well studied wild populations let alone beyond it, they have been given 50 years, no one should give them anymore.

10. Are there any benefits to captivity 
Naomi Rose - back in the 60's the situation was grim, they were being shot at it was an eye opener to see them being friendly etc in captivity. When studies were done in the wild they learnt family groups, there weren't thousands of them, only hundreds of them and so on.
There was a value initially, but very rapidly the work in the wild caught up, by the 90's biologists knew there were heavy costs involved with captivity. 20 years on again and a lot of my colleagues are realising it is time to stop this, as 50 years in plenty enough time to decide whether you can do this.

Susan - my study showed it was the Marine Mammal Protection Act that forced Seaworld to produce what it called a research agenda. The MMPA made it that if you applied for a permit to capture or display these animals you needed to show it was for research or education. One of Seaworld's founders was a marine biologist so a small institute called Hubbs was incorporated and after 1972, they expanded the publics aware ness of the institute. The study showed it wasn't a particularly robust research agenda.

Seaworld vet - they have published 50 articles in the last 50 years. Those research publications can be seen here and read like a history of Seaworld, I have tried to explain them all in the link.
 Question if Seaworld are studying captive killer whales and people want to preserve wild killer whales how does the research apply.
Seaworld  vet- behaviour studies - no direct correlation to wild populations
                        studies on how they react to the environment do apply

Naomi Rose - the recent Seaworld paper on metabolic rate is a note, not a peer reviewed paper
Seaworld list it on their website as one, the Seaworld vet agreed  lie 4 uncovered

Seaworlds website states Studies at SeaWorld have added significantly to the natural history of killer whales the Seaworld vet stated above, no direct correlation to wild populations - lie 5 uncovered

Naomi Rose - Seaworlds research output has been pathetic. She has produced 30 papers in 25 years.

11. Seaworld vet states they have a healthy breeding population of killer whales, have had 29 calves in the past 25 years. Yet the total of animals in the collection is only 29.

12   Seaworld Shows - Quote from OSHA v Seaworld case after Dawn Brancheau's death
Its 20/20 hindsight engaged by the government how a company cannot continue to offer its product, its like if the government came in and told the NFL that close contact was banned.
Seaworld trainer response - we rescue 23000 animals that was due to human cause things like not enough fish in the ocean, pollutions, trauma. Because we have animals in our care we know how to better care for them. There is a great benefit to what we do. (WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH THE QUESTION ON SHOWS)  Because we have close contact we can gain measurements etc.

13. Q Explain the relationship you have with them - how can they make a choice or make relationships or friends with you, are they thinking feeling beings behind the glass? 
Seaworld trainer - Absolutely, I can ask a killer whale do do something and it chooses whether to do it or not. Relationships as we only know human relationships, I would call it a trust and respect.  

Like a dog? - yes absolutely.

When Blackfish say they are even more sensitive than humans, they may even have more cognitive thought what is wrong with that, what are they missing when they say that? 
Its a difficult question, you are trying to compare animals with humans and its the only thing we have to compare.
Vet - its a tough question they are intelligent wonderful creatures, are they going to be flying jet aircraft next week, No, they are intelligent animals and deserve respect.

Back to the show riding a killer whale etc why is that so important? Why is an attorney fighting so hard to have the trainers in the water during a show, Why is that so important? 
Seaworld trainer -  I'm not saying its important, its one way we interact with these killer whales. This is how the public experience the killer whales. You don't see the work that Dr Roebeck does, you don't see the learning, the husbandry all the things that take place behind the scenes. The shows are what you know, its exciting, its one way we interact with them. People ask how do you get a job, its inspiring.

Susan - I think they are the key to the brand. It subtlety shows people in charge of the animals. Its done in a skillful artful way but that is what people are seeing. It is interesting to see that the trainers haven't been in the water since the OSHA decision and it shows that this brand can be forced to change.

To Seaworld vet - has there been any change, has it had an effect on the animals.
Seaworld vet - NO but they are used to that and its something the whales want. You can see that with Keiko, he grew up with dolphins and no other killer whales and the interaction was everything to him. I was talking to a trainer from Oregon his favourite game was to tip a raft. This bond is very important to them and to take it away, I can't read their mind and there are no changes in health parameters but it must have an effect.

Naomi Rose the fact they come up to Christie (Seaworld trainer) and ask how do I get your job proves they are selling a product and that product is the bond that is exactly what the OSHA attorney said. They are not selling conservation and protection of these whales but a purely captive element. The bond is clearly real they are intelligent social animals, BUT that isn't what they are supposed to be doing.

Having to watch a show in order to get inspired about conservation is part of the problem, not part of the solution. Clinging to an old business model is not innovative.

Seaworld vet - the shows do inspire you. We are always looking to improve our shows and if you have ideas that are constructive we are always welcome to hear them.

Shouldn't they be looking at ways to improve the lives of those orcas not the shows?

Susan - the shows allow people to have feelings about the animals, sometimes those feelings aren't always controllable  sometimes they turn into a feeling that the animals shouldn't be in captivity. 

Seaworld vet - I agree 100% everybody here all care about these animals but we have different opinions on what is good for them or not. Seaworld is effective and creating a connection and we are not trying to control it one way or another. Everyone is energised not because of people shooting them with machine guns but because they were brought and we were all able to see them inspire us for the future.

Although Seaworld had to keep being dragged back to the show question, their vet stated that the lack of waterworks since 2010 has had NO effect on the health parameters of those orcas what so ever. 

14. Regarding the bill being passed

Naomi Rose - one of the members at the hearing said there is no reason it cannot be passed, there are seapens in Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, there are seapens all around the world for dolphins. The engineering principles are established, and there is no logistical reason why they can't exist. 
The main focus of the bill wasn't about seapens it was about stopping the breeding programme, and phasing the animals out. I honestly believe it would be better for their wellbeing to have more space and be in natural sea water, and be in a natural environment, but still enclosed and still receiving human care as it is very clear many of these animals will never be able to return to the open ocean.

Would they survive a seapen? 

Naomi Rose, I will regret this but Keiko survived a return to a seapen. The reason I say I regret this is bringing it up in this environment as people out there are saying I am responsible for killing Keiko. He made that transfer to the seapen without any problems at all.

Seaworld vet - we are not interested in seapens, one of the persons who worked with Keiko claims when the seapens move the pier would become unstable, they had to use daily adjustments to get the sea pens to stay in place, there is a huge amount of noise (what about fireworks and music? ) This is what Mark (Simmonds the ocean embassy dolphin catcher) like water torture, squeaking, grinding etc, we had to switch the hydrophone off as it drove us crazy. Seapens have their own problems with noise reverberating off the bottom, boats, pollution and hurricane. (Things wild orca experience every day lol) 

Naomi Rose - I do hope you take those concerns to the US Navy and tell them these are the concerns you have for their facility in San Diego. They have 70 dolphins there in a sea pen right in the middle of a shipping lane, with traffic in and out of San Diego harbour. 

Seaworld vet - as soon as the US Navy get killer whales we will have that discussion.
Naomi Rose - they have dolphins
Seaworld vet - I thought we were here about killer whales.
Yet Seaworld profess to advocate for the care of animals.

15. Question - are moms and calves separated? 

Seaworld vet - we don't move dependent calves 
At what point are they dependant
Seaworld Vet - when they are not nursing or requiring them mom for their health and well being. Wild do stay together for life but that is not the case for all eco types. 
States seaworld orca are type 1 yet gives a quote for transients and off shores. Why give them as an example because it shows these animals have an ability to adapt. Our habitat is a different environment again and they adapt well. See website here 
Lie 6 - yes we do separate moms and calves

Lie - they do as confirmed by their own vet.

                                Seaworld vet proves this video from Mark Simmons is also a lie


 Naomi Rose studied resident and transient, transients separate about 10 years old, but do periodically reunite as they always have that mother and calf bond. They don't live right by their sides as residents do but they do have lifelong bonds. Seaworld have no transients in their tanks now, Kanduke being the last.
Given that captivity is another habitat I fail to understand why extra effort isn't made to accomodate a natural history pattern that is apparent in several different eco types. It would be an enormous step forward in improving their welfare. Its cruel.

Seaworld vet - an assumption is being made that we don't respect the bond we don't move calves but we do move juveniles, there has been 12, this is what we have done and our animals are doing quite well.

Naomi Rose A specific animal Skyla - what was the criteria you used when you sent Skyla to Loro Parque she was less than 2. 
Audience - she was more than 2 - (SHE WAS ACTUALLY 2 YEARS AND 3 DAYS OLD.)

6 of Seaworld killer whales were moved between 2 and 4 years old.

Seaworld vet - I don't believe what you say but I can't dispute it. What I can say is the animals are doing quite well. Why do wild orca stay together, why do they do that - because they co ordinate food activity, (they could do that with a group of strangers) 

Naomi Rose - Kohana - sent very young to Loro Parque - she was bred twice and rejected both calves, one of which is now dead, one hand raised. Was that appropriate that she had no adult female to supervise her or mentor her?
Seaworld vet - she was around other calves and we have had mothers younger than her raise calves, (she was 8 when she gave birth). Yes that did happen, was it ideal ABSOLUTELY NOT, but due to our expertise in raising rejected calves we were able to get that calf through that moment and one of them is alive today. 
Lie 7 - why would we do that? Killer whales have approx 17month gestation, Kohana gave birth in Loro Parque at 8 years old, she was not pregnant before she left the USA

Lie 7 why would you work for a park that just shot itself in the foot and admitted that YOU DO DO THAT??

16 Seaworld jobs - What about the people who depend on Seaworld for jobs. If the loss of the orca shows meant the demise of Seaworld could you look them in the face and say it was worth it.

Naomi Rose -  I am proposing an evolution in their business model, I don't see why they should go out of business. If they stopped the breeding programme they would still have these animals for another 30-40 years by Seaworld calculations. Monteray Bay Aquarium is one of the most successful in California and it has NO marine mammals.
Seaworld won't know until they try. Marineworld Africa USA still successful but don't have killer whales anymore. 

Q. Seaworld has an agreement with the city that at least 75% of their exhibits need to be animal or conservation related.
Naomi Rose - and there would be no way of renegotiating that? 
Maybe but would Seaworld be interested?? 

Seaworld vet - Lets talk about the breeding programme - its a very import part of their lives, to interact with juveniles, its one of the instincts all animals possess. 
We have a thriving population that is breeding successfully.
Naomi Rose - I would dispute that but Ok talk
 It is a model, this population is the only one that can provide information and benefit those in the wild. As Dr Rose mentioned the wild is not pretty. Right now they are collecting feces from killer  whales in the wild wouldn't it be great to be able to collect it every day and compare it to the wild. Stopping the breeding programme would be a huge mistake. Second of all Seaworld is not interested in changing the model of killer whales in San Diego or anywhere else period.
We are open to suggestions to improve what we do but not open to suggestions that are not constructive.
Naomi Rose - and that answers your previous question.(It certainly does Seaworld ARE NOT open to changing anything to improve the lives of those orca, preferring the shows) 

17. Q Dr Rose how hopeful are yo that the live marine mammal shows will be banned in California within the next 10 years - summed up as - what is going on with AB2140.

The bill was referred for interim study, it is going to be reintroduced next session. The interim study has already begun. It is my firm belief that the committee who participated in April up to that point their main point of reference was a film, a documentary Blackfish, and they want to understand the issues better, they want to have more basis, more foundation for any vote they take and I was very much in support of that so this interim study is very important.

Lie 8 - the bill was not thrown out or buried, it wasn't a win for Seaworld as many stated.

18.  When we wrote about this issue many said ' why not let the market decide'.
Naomi Rose - that is fair enough and I believe the market will decide. I would hope it doesn't take 10-15 years as I believe the animals are suffering now. The 54 killer whales currently in captivity are suffering now, and sea pens with human care would be a vast improvement.
Seaworld vet declined to comment - stating move on

19.  Hasn't the killing of trainers proved that these creatures suffer psychological harm in captivity.

Seaworld trainer - Absolutely not, we are working with large animals, there is inherent risk working with any animal

Q So people shouldn't be concerned that this will happen again? 

Seaworld trainer - Of course but we have had millions of interactions with these animals that have been safe, so unfortunately there have been some incidents and we are learning from those and hopefully our safety practices will continue to improve.

Seaworld vet - lets put it in perspective there are approx 20 people per year killed by cattle, 50000 incidents per year with horses, working with large animals is inherently dangerous everyone knows that. 
They sign up for the job, its a choice we all make when we ride our horses.
So its the trainers fault for signing up if they happen to get killed??

Naomi Rose - the failure rate, or mortality rate if you like, is greater than we as a population accept for cars. 

Seaworld vet - I'm not a mechanic I am a vet  
We have 1.6 million interactions and 7 that required outside care. Lie 9 there are at least 11 incidents logged on here requiring hospitalization or worse.
Then there is this one too, another lucky to be alive. Although Orky was not in a Seaworld park at the time he was then bought for their breeding programme. What reputable breeder breeds an animal with a history of killing, yet Seaworld have done it over and over?

 This is a voluntary job, people sign up for it and it is inherently dangerous, at some point we have to take responsibility for the risks we assume on ourselves, we cant go around having people tell us, we can't ride a horse, we can't work we cattle, we can't have a dog, we can't have a python. Whatever you want to restrict us on this is a choice and all the information is there that people make every day.
Seaworld seem to be missing the point that riding a horse is a choice, in business the business owner has a responsibility to ensure staff safety and welfare, what ever the business model is, that was the basis for the OSHA hearing, the training looking for precursors failed, in many cases there were none and as a business safety  is their responsibility.

20.  for Christie Seaworld trainer, you mention that the killer whales have a choice please discuss what happens if killer whales decide not to perform.

Seaworld trainer - One of the things we have learned is how to communicate when behaviours are incorrect, we have hand signals to communicate a particular behaviour if they decide not to participate they simply won't engage in that behaviour over the years and because of our experts we have learnt that pausing for a few seconds we call it an LRS  least reinforcing scenario,  communicating to the animals they are incorrect, but with the killer whales we reinforce them on a high ratio for accepting the failure. We know as humans failure is a great way to learn if we reinforce the animals for not participating, they will learn hey I am just going to hang out. Most of them do participate but if they choose not to we pause for 2 or 3 seconds and move on.
As part of our job we know each individual animal and we are trained to look at the group, and look at the social dynamics and determine, was it a failure on our communication part, is there something going on in the group, sometimes we bring animals out into a show and they don't participate at all, we interact and hang out with the animal, lining them up, rubbing them down, interacting with them out in a show environment. One of the ways we can vary what we do with them. 

Q one of the things said is if they don't participate they don't eat.

Seaworld trainer - well thats not true 
Seaworld vet - I would be the first to stand up and say that isn't acceptable, they have a minimum base for their nutrition, they get their base every day, whether they participate or not. 

Q - so reinforcement isn't food.
Seaworld trainer - its not just food, food is one thing, most people don't know we feed them all their food in that interaction, then interact with them in a show, as trainers we are very creative we have such bonds with these animals we don't need the food, so for those of you who think we are training based on food, forget it, food has a very low reinforcing property, it loses its reward very quickly.
Seaworld vet - they get their food no matter what and they are intelligent animals, we have to be smart enough to make it fun for them, otherwise they choose not to participate, its that simple. Its a good opportunity to clarify that issue. 
VOSD - when you see them being fed, you wonder how else does it happen.

21.  Why is this issue such a big deal?
Naomi Rose - thats a really good question, first of all, there is an ethical question here, I do not want to take away 10's of thousands of jobs, but if those jobs are based on a practice I find unethical I think as a society we should work to figure out other ways to interpret those jobs.
Secondly - why is it so important as in the case of orca's we are only talking about 54 animals, but as said early 24 million visitors visit Seaworld,  and 180 million visit Aquariums every year. Thats a lot of people getting everything they know from this source, which from my perspective as a scientist is giving out biased and incorrect information,  so if you are trying to tell people the truth about what needs to be done in the wild and  about conservation based on lies you are telling a lie and they are not going to learn what they need to learn to care about these animals habitat. They are going to think that by going to Seaworld they have given up the office, I just spent $84 today to get in the gate as its my job and I am being told that the money is going to conservation and its actually not because its a for profit corporation and they have shareholders to be concerned about.

We got that data right - in a state assembly committee hearing the Seaworld San Diego president said they had spent $750000 dollars on its animal rescue programme in 2013 and that pencils out at 0.05% of the companies total revenue. However that does not incorporate other things Seaworld does and they will not release that information, they say because they are publicly traded. 
Lie 10, this is true despite Seaworld saying it isn't.

Seaworld vet - I want to comment about your ethical question, just because you disagree ethically doesn't mean society has to change, we all have different opinions and society is an amalgamation of many different opinions. Often the majority rules
Naomi Rose - the market will speak
Seaworld vet - when people know the truth that our animals are thriving and doing well and the benefits they can provide to wild animals they are going to be as excited about them as I am and thats my opinion.
Back to the issue of conservation - Seaworld has had 5 different owners since 1989,  it hasn't had the continuum, but as a veterinarian every single time we have needed money to do something to buy facilities or go save an animal, anything animal related there has never been an issue.

Closing statements

Naomi Rose - I think its really great that this issue is being discussed. I have been doing this for over 20 years and this just would not have happened 15 years ago even 10 years ago, so its a sign of progress just being on this stage and I am very pleased about that. I do believe the market will speak and as I said to you Scott I just hope it doesn't take that long. Market forces are slow, and I honestly think the animals need help now, so I just hope the market works fast enough so we can all work constructively work towards an evolved business model.

Susan - I have one take away. I believe the animal rights movement has really changed and grown and gotten stronger in the last couple of decades and I have been very struck by the outspokenness of these issues I think thats very interesting and very noteable.
The second thing I would like to say is brands change, brands have changed over time and brands can also be hurt and be vunerable. For example Walmart and McDonalds have been taking it on the chin for paying such low and anti union wages, the same thing is not untrue of Seaworld in the vunerability of its brand and its anti union and low wage status as well for many of the people who work there. When brands dont jive with reality thats when they become vunerable.

Christie Seaworld trainer - Well as I said for the last 26 years I have actually been caring for animals at Seaworld, Ive rescued, Ive rehabilitated, Ive given up a lot in my life to help Seaworlds mission and I can't tell you strongly enough, they have inspired me as a person and my goal every single day is to connect with people so they can help the wild population. I meet people every single day and what strikes me most is the kids, and I think there is one aspect to having animals at Seaworld that we haven't covered today and that is they do connect with kids and I tell you I just got a visit the other day, I won't tell you her name. I met her 4 years ago and randomly asked her if she wanted to come meet a dolphin she was about 4 years old and after the interaction her mother grabbed my arm and said 'how did you know' I said how did I know what?  This little girl is in foster care she has been abused multiple ways she's never been made to feel special, I've never seen her smile and I can't believe how much interaction she had with those animals. This shows the power these animals have to create something in this childs life she never had. Shes 8 years old now they come every year to see me and say hello and she's a well adjusted little girl. Its not because of me its because of those animals, they make a difference not just in my life, not just kids but everybody out there.
( how do the abused children say in the UK where there are no captive mammals go on then? They too turn out to be well adjusted kids, it has absolutely nothing to do with the power of those animals and everything to do with realising that the person who abused her is bad, not all people abuse or hurt, the problem is with the abuser. I personally think that is a sick example and an insult to abused children worldwide if she seriously thinks that those dolphins aided in her recovery). 

Seaworld vet - I think its important to understand that everybody who works with these animals, (crying) on a daily basis, sorry I am getting emotional, we dedicate our lives to them. We are truly the advocates of these animals, everyone that works there is dedicated to them. Dr Rose does too we just have a difference of opinion. Everybody that works at Seaworld is an advocate for that animal who is a part of their family and these animals are doing well, and I guarantee you that if they weren't doing well you would have a mass exodus of veterinarians, animal trainers, activists, they would be with Dr Rose, but they're not.
The reason I am getting emotional is I am thinking about my son who was born 9 weeks ago and I would rather be there with him but I chose to come here, and the thought of him not being able to have the experiences I had, the emotion, the connection, its horrible. Seaworld is very important for the lives of the next generation, they are very important to keep this connection up, its incredibly important for the wild animals and if we can do a better job getting the message across, we will take advice, but we will continue to improve, and invest in our facilities and continue to make Seaworld the best place to go to have experiences with these animals.

Some of the twitter comments to the #Seaworldchat link show the public feeling from the debate.

Ah, I'm sorry #StandwithSeaWorld-ers, did no one boo Naomi as instructed? #seaworldchat #Blackfish

 Ah, the old 'animal ambassadors make people care' line. Explain the UK. No captive dolphins. Explain dinosaurs.

 so basically SeaWorld, for us to care about animals it is imperative that we first capture, confine and be entertained by them #seaworldchat

 DR. NAOMI ROSE KICKED SLAVEWORLD'S PROFITING AND LYING ASSES! VICTORY FOR THE REAL TRUTH TEAM! 

 I am so embarrassed for the two Seaworld representatives. Damn. Do they realize this is being recorded?

 It's so sad that @SeaWorld refuse to grow and be a force for real good, they could easily do it - pride & greed get in the way #SeaWorldChat

 .@Seaworld what's next after the orca chart? A coloring book? #SeaWorldChat #Blackfish #CaptivityKills" More crayons!! O_o

  the orca trainer contributed very little to the discussion I felt #seaworldchat

 Since they haven't got a leg to stand on, @seaworld pulls out the crocodile tears! You make me sick! #SeaWorldChat #Blackfish

 #seaworldchat weakest argument-humans need to see captive Orcas to help wild Orcas-I'd do anything to help Orcas+have never seen a captive 1

Got the Ford paper right here for anyone who wants to see it! #SeAWorldChat: http://www.int-res.com/articles/ab2010/11/b011p213.pdf … pic.twitter.com/UGZZnfkfei #Blackfish

View photo


  Take home from debate? Anti-cap arguments grounded in science whereas @SeaWorld relies on tears, stunts PR
 
Most of the comments seem to run along the same lines, with many people upset by the child being used as an example, the fact that the likes of the UK have no captive orcas so Seaworld using the same argument over and over that they have to be seen in a captive facility to inspire people to preserve and care for them is really rubbing people the wrong way.

Seaworld made it very clear they are not prepared to move to seapens so we all know that a fight will have to be pursued.

I personally think this example shows a win win for all. No lost revenue for Seaworld, none of the issues Seaworld say Mark Simmons states about Keiko's release and more importantly a much better as near as natural as possible environment for those orcas, where people can actually learn from some of the natural behaviours those orcas will perform and the orca will not miss out on the human bonds they have created.

What do you think?