Decide For Yourself, Awesome Ocean or Factual Evidence.

Once again Awesome Ocean write a piece trying to avoid the facts of why people actually DO protest Seaworld.

People have protested orca captivity since it began, the things that have happened in those tanks over the years have only strengthened peoples resolve to finally bring this to an end and get those captive orcas out of there.

Luckily this piece enables all the factual information from places like NOAA to be put into one place so people can actually check out the information themselves. NOAA, Courts, Government Agencies have no agenda and are neither one side or the other, but they do hold FACTS which prove which side is trying to mislead the public.
 Is it Seaworld who at the end of the day are trying to protest their financial interests or those Awesome Ocean call Keyboard Warriors and Animal Activists?

I will just add in the information from neither Seaworld, Blackfish or PETA as Awesome Ocean seem so obsessed with them so you can see and check both sides of the story and you can decide for yourself. 

As usual on this blog I will leave Erin McKinney's blog in Black and add in the replies in red.

 Why Condemning SeaWorld Is A Really Bad Idea

Keyboard warriors and animal activists alike have been jumping on the SeaWorld bandwagon for a while now and attempting to convert ordinary people to support their cause with as little validated, balanced information as possible.
Once again the name calling starts from the first few words, whatever Erin chooses to call anyone doesn't make the slightest bit of difference, the only difference maker is the FACTS. I could be called an activist, and many who think the same as I do are trying to ''convert'' no one they are only trying to provide links to factual evidence so you can see the truth for yourself so I will continue to do just that. 

In some cases, this has been successful, especially when said activists conceal their true radical agenda within the guise of “progressive animal welfare.”
I notice again here there is no link or evidence to show what Erin thinks the 'true radical agenda' actually is, it is just something that has been used over and over as a distraction technique to draw people away from the evidence showing that those wanting those orcas out of the tanks are not actually lying about anything. 
The freedom of information act allowed many people to request and access files that Seaworld had locked away for a long time. Ordinary people can access court transcripts, citations, animal profiles and autopsy and necropsy reports so nothing remains hidden any more.

However, as we see through the actions of PETA in the case of Maya or the Blackfish crew’s misguided support of sea pens, the agenda drives much deeper then simply “free the orcas.”
 Again to put links to your own rantings is not really proving anything to anyone, the only way to do that is to produce FACTUAL evidence, from unbiased sources, so people can then again make up their own minds based on the actual documents. 

Although PETA really have nothing to do with the things that have happened in Seaworld tanks, I will still answer to the above. For what ever reason Erin McKinney, Eric Davis and Seaworld have a fixation with PETA trying to mislead people that everyone who opposes Seaworld must be part of PETA. 
They are very very wrong, but whilst PETA still have a kill policy, which many of those who want the orcas out of the tanks also protest, it provides the distraction from what Seaworld have actually done to many people.

The link to Maya's story is HERE and a quick check through PETA's social media accounts will show you that there are far more activists protesting about Maya than there are actual Seaworld supporters. I have written on both and emailed them telling them that they really need to explain what went on here, how come they were there in the first place, and as taking a basket of fruit seemed like an apology, they need to explain themselves to the family to help that poor girl get some closure. 

CC Tragically Sad @godsake2  ·  Nov 25

.@peta Please give this girl some closure and tell people what happened here. Why was she euthanised so fast? http://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/virginia/2014/11/24/peta-protest-accomac/19483803/ …

 I was also argued with on there, and by Eric on twitter, strange though but I didn't see any direct contact with PETA from either Erin or Eric, which seeing as they are supposed to be so outraged you would think there would be wouldn't you?

You’re actually supporting hate campaigns on a whole lot of other good stuff, without even knowing it.
Well as I said at the beginning we will see and more importantly let everyone else see too

Here’s what you’re effectively condemning if you’re one of the many misguided souls who thinks “SeaWorld should close:”
This is really not true at all as we will see below

1: The largest rescue and rehabilitation program in the world
SeaWorld self-funds the largest marine animal rescue and rehabilitation program on the planet, with 24,000 successful animal rescues ranging from sea turtles to dolphins to pinnipeds to birds and more.

Seaworld DOES NOT and NEVER HAS self funded their rescues.
As you can see from the screen shot below, had it not been for the Prescott fund grant which funds the majority of the rescue organisations, Seaworld lacked basic supplies and equipment to respond to live animals, had no capacity for archiving and lacked capacity to process valuable samples. How can that be if Seaworld has been there for 50 years and self funds  ''the largest marine animal rescue and rehabilitation program on the planet''??

The link to the screenshot above can be seen on NOAA's website here 

They receive another $99,996 here

They received another $99,964 here 

It doesn't matter where the money comes from to help the rescuers, but as you see from the links many other organisations are also in the NOAA stranding team who openly advertise the fact that the grants have helped them. Why is Seaworld the only one in that group who do as Erin has just shown above and lie to people saying that they are totally self funding. 
If that was the case wouldn't they have bought their own boat, freezer etc and said give the grant to a rescue facility that need it more?  

As for research and to show a comparison. The Marine Mammal Center 
Their mission says 
         ''Our core work is the rescue and rehabilitation of sick and injured marine mammals, supported by  state-of-the-art animal care and research facilities, a corps of dedicated volunteers, and an engaged community.''
They rescue the same animals as Seaworld, they have no captive orcas stating they need them to fund the rescues, and they have out researched Seaworld hands down 
Their science publications are here 

As a comparison to Seaworld's research documents
The marine mammal center has papers for

• Evidence for a genetic basis of urogenital carcinoma in the wild California sea lion. 

•   Use of cellulose filter paper to quantify whole-blood  mercury in two marine mammals: validation study.

•   Spatial and temporal analysis of killer whale (Orcinus orca) strandings in the North Pacific Ocean and the benefits of a coordinated stranding response protocol.

•   Criteria and case definitions for serious injury and death of pinnepeds and cetaceans caused by anthropogenic trauma. 

These are just 4 of many which can all be seen and investigated here to give an example of research that does actually benefit the marine mammals in the wild.

In comparison I already broke down some of Seaworld's research publications on my blog previously, you can see that here 
But to show the comparison some are here 

•  St. Leger J, Wu G, Anderson M, Dalton L, Nilson E, Wang D: West Nile Virus Infection in Killer Whale, Texas, USA, 2007. Emerg Infect Dis. 2011;17(8):1531-1533.

• Robeck, T.R., S.A. Gearhart, K.J. Steinman, E. Katsumata, J.D. Loureiro, J.K. O’Brien:   In vitro sperm characterization and development of a sperm cryopreservation method using directional solidification in the killer whale (Orcinus orca).  Theriogenology.  2011;76:267-279.

•  Sigurjónsson, J., and S. Leatherwood:  The Icelandic live-capture fishery for killer whales, 1976 – 1988.   Rit Fiskideilder.  1988;11:307-316.

•  Robeck, T.R., K. J. Steinman, S. Gearhart, T.R. Reidarson, J.F. McBain , and S. L. Monfort: Reproductive Physiology and Development of Artificial Insemination Technology in Killer Whales (Orcinus orca).  Biology of Reproduction. 2004;71, 650-660.

As you will see from the link above I already explained some of these research papers, but you can type them into google yourself to view them in their entirely for those who are not linked. How to identify and capture whales, studying diseases that have killed the captive orcas after the event and AI research does nothing to help the wild populations at all.


This program operates under the supervision of federal and state governments again another link to Awesome oceans own page and abides by all levels of regulation regarding what animals can and cannot be reintroduced into the wild (read: not the orcas).  Do Read this link as it isn't not the orcas, it is NOAA's STANDARDS FOR RELEASE. Which highlights exactly what the problem is here.

Attacks on SeaWorld ignore the fundamental fact that the structure of SeaWorld parks is integrated with the rescue and rehabilitation program, and that level of funding and infrastructure is only possible under the greater system of the company.
 Basically: close the parks, stop the rescues. Unless you’ve got several hundred thousand dollars lying around to fund them yourself… this again is fabrication to try to influence people to support Seaworld through guilt.

As you can see from NOAA's website this is actually not true at all. Rescues are a recent event in Seaworld's history as you can see from the screen shot above which is dated 2001-2010, and states very clearly that prior to that Seaworld had no rescue programme. You also need to add into that, the manatee and sea turtle rescues which are funded separately also by government agencies.

As NOAA and the NMFS co ordinate the rescues, should there come a time when there is NO Seaworld, they would not leave the animals stranded or in need of rescue as it is them who co ordinate who goes where not Seaworld.

As for ALL the comments above stating that the agenda people who want those orcas out of there have is to close Seaworld down completely. This again is total fabrication from the likes of Erin, Eric and Seaworld as scientific evidence has been put forward to Seaworld many many times and no one has said close it down not even PETA who they like to use as an example so often. See below  

PETA's website says
Please take a moment to ask SeaWorld to immediately set in place a firm and rapid plan to release the animals to sanctuaries that can provide them with a more natural environment.

Naomi Rose put forward a win win Situation to Seaworld  
which states
''These facilities can work with experts around the world to create sanctuaries where captive orcas can be rehabilitated and retired. These sanctuaries would be sea pens or netted-off bays or coves, in temperate to cold water natural habitat. They would offer the animals respite from performing and the constant exposure to a parade of strangers (an entirely unnatural situation for a species whose social groupings are based on family ties and stability -- "strangers" essentially do not exist in orca society). Incompatible animals would not be forced to cohabit the same enclosures and family groups would be preserved.''

AB2140 also does NOT ask for the orcas to be freed into the open ocean. There are many links here together for you to check through to prove that too. 

So as you see the statements above from Awesome Ocean are also part of Seaworld propaganda as they are simply not true and can be proven to be untrue, by doing a little research no one has asked for Seaworld to close no matter what they have you believe. 

Things like this are perfectly within Seaworld's capabilities, it is more educational as people would get to see orcas behaving as orcas, as no where in the wild does anyone see orcas with their mouths wide open begging for dead fish. They would also have the best of both worlds, they would get to feel the ocean, catch their own fish, swim in their matraline groups and have the trainers there as care takers for husbandry.

Seaworld have the room at the San Diego park and it is probably already set up for netting as they used to hold dolphin shows out there. If they did something like this their profits would increase, their respect and regard would increase too as those protesting outside would then be inside visiting those orcas. 

As you can see below Seaworld San Diego has the perfect place for them, wouldn't this be better for them and those orcas? 
Wouldn't this be a better alternative giving them the space to escape altercations with other orcas?
Wouldn't this be better for those orcas, more space to explore, using their echo location, swimming in their family matraline which have been separated across the parks? 
Wouldn't this be a much better use for the hundreds of millions they say they have to spend building new tanks? 
From here they could live as near as natural as possible and be the orcas they were born to be, not the entertainers you see today.

2: Millions of dollars in conservation funding annually
SeaWorld operates two not-for-profits. One is the SeaWorld Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, which donates millions to land and sea conservation programs all over the world.

WDC explain the Conservation Fund spending much better than I can, take a look here 
They concluded -
This therefore leaves only US$76,588 directly attributable to monies spent focusing on “wild” whales and dolphins. And that works out at 14% of the total spent on whales and dolphins and a mere 0.88% of the total spent on ALL their projects.

That includes wild orcas.
As yet when Seaworld launched their blue world project they stated 
 As part of the project’s vision, we have also committed $10 million in matching funds focused on threats to killer whales in the wild, especially those identified by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration related to the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whale.

To date none of that money has been forthcoming.

The Center for Whale Research has been working with the Southern Residents for years.  Ken Balcomb is a world renowned wild killer whale expert, working with NOAA If Seaworld truly want to help the Souther Residents wouldn't you think it would be advisable to work with or donate to someone like him, who has been studying them for 37 years? 
Sadly as Ken was interviewed for Blackfish, purely because of his expertise, and has given statements saying 
Given the natural differences among killer whales, breeding them at parks is contentious.
 "SeaWorld states it's saving an endangered species, but that's bogus," Ken Balcomb, senior scientist at the Center for Whale Research, says. "They make up stories about their lifestyle, social structure, and life span and try to sell it as fact. It's like Disneyland telling a mouse biologist the way it is. It's horseshit."

Seaworld attacked these experts calling them too as being radical animal activists. 
Stating The film also relies on animal rights activists masquerading as scientists: The film relies heavily on the dubious reflections of scientists who have aggressively campaigned against marine mammal display for decades, and have no expertise with killer whale behavior in captivity. 
I also looked into that and you can see the evidence of their scientific abilities here

In the meantime Ken Balcomb continued working and fighting for the Southern Residents.  

Awesome Ocean couldn't resist sickeningly using the death of Southern Resident J32 Rhapsody to also try to boost Seaworld attendance in their recent article.  
There are some bridges no one crosses, but please do read it as one again the death of that poor first time mother in labour and the bullying of Ellen Ericksen have once again been rolled into one article.


Calling people names, trying to discredit them and misleading the public does nothing for the campaigns of either Seaworld or Awesome Ocean.
The initial opening of ''Keyboard Warriors'' is a bit rich coming from people who write
Awesome Ocean, Stand with Seaworld, Seaworld podcast, I love Seaworld, Micechat, etc. How much time away from a keyboard do they have? 

Bullying seems to be common place and many do jump on that bandwagon with them, but that does nothing for Seaworld and certainly does nothing for the wild marine mammals. 
I have in the past debunked so many articles and supplied the facts via links to external sites, so people can look at the evidence themselves and make up their own minds.

I wouldn't expect anyone to blindly follow anything without giving them the tools to look into things for themselves. Nor do people on this side of the fence use diverting tactics, they just stay focussed on the evidence, unlike these articles below.

Awesome ocean attack Melissa Cronin

Awesome Ocean attack Ellen Ericksen

Awesome Ocean attack Ric O'Barry

Attack on the scholastic news

Awesome Ocean attacking a 10 year old girl

There are many many more articles here which show why people protest Seaworld,
45 dead orcas
numerous trainer/orca incidents
4 dead people 
hybrid breeding in the tanks
mothers separated from their offspring
Pathogens, bacterias and fungus in the tanks killing the orcas
Orcas pregnant at 6 years old

Some external links.

Science against orca captivity

Ethics of keeping killer whales in captivity has been debated since 1970

Captivity is wrong

How and why captivity harms cetaceans

The diversionary tactics, name calling and lies to mislead people is getting to ridiculous levels now from Awesome Ocean. Maybe they are unaware of the facts themselves, maybe it is deliberate, only they themselves know.

 This sort of behaviour does nothing to help either the orcas in Seaworld's care or those in the wild.  

From a ''radical activist, keyboard warrior'' stand I would love it if people WOULD actually look at the links that are neither to Blackfish nor to Seaworld and see the actual evidence for themselves.

No one can make a conscious rational decision if they haven't been given all the facts.

Who knows once you see the evidence for yourself maybe you will never go to Seaworld again. 
Either way that choice is entirely yours based on ACTUAL facts rather than the rants of a blog that supplies you with none.

If feeding time at Seaworld doesn't look like this you have learnt nothing from your visit

Awesome Ocean blown out of the water AGAIN!

 Once again Erin McKinney writes a load of unproven ''facts'' for Awesome Ocean, the site set up with Seaworld's money. 

Lets look at the FACTS and PROVE these facts this time, as this is just getting ridiculous and is presented as a factual report when really it is the presumption of one person only.


In order to testify in court as an "expert," you must first offer your qualifications to the judge and jury.
This is very true so we will look at their qualifications
And contrary to what you see on TV, staying at the Holiday Inn Express does not actually make you an expert.
No one said it did!

So, let's set the table a little here - watching “Blackfish” doesn’t make you an animal behaviorist any more than watching “Top Gun” makes you a fighter pilot, people.
Many activists have said over and over if Blackfish is such an issue to you ignore it and look at the real facts. Have you?? No instead you continue to block anyone with a differing opinion, anyone proving you wrong and you continue to provide material that can be shredded with FACTS in minutes. 
  here  , here, here , here, here, here

In the same way that you state you cannot take Blackfish as a reference point then I say neither can you take Seaworld's website as a reference either. They are fighting to keep their business alive and are not going to say anything that may turn even more people away are they?   You don't need either as the proof is all there in official documents.

When it comes to the marine mammal captivity "debate," thinking people look toward experts and facts.
Exactly so lets look at them, as I see you have provided NONE yet again!!

Though there has always been a vocal (and often radical) minority that speaks out against marine mammals in captivity, recent books like “Death at SeaWorld” and the endlessly debunked movie “Blackfish” have brought the issue into the court of public opinion. Unfortunately, otherwise well-meaning people have been duped into demanding that SeaWorld “explain” themselves.
Duped by the people who told you milk causes autism. 

Once again you try to tie everyone to PETA, they are just one voice fighting the anti captivity campaign, but I guess they are the easiest option for you as it aids you in avoiding answering real questions as all the people who Stand with you, say exactly the same thing, so as they are a separate organisation and we are looking at Seaworld FACTS lets take them out of the equation too.

Thus, SeaWorld now has to defend their Shamu show and other programs against the allegations brought on by the filmmakers, authors and disgruntled former employees - all with activist backgrounds.
 Garbage in, garbage out.

LETS GET THIS CLEAR BEFORE MOVING ON AS WE GO OVER AND OVER THE SAME THING. 
ACTIVISTS ARE NOT PROTESTING BECAUSE OF BLACKFISH, DEATH AT SEAWORLD OR FORMER EMPLOYEES, THEY ARE PROTESTING BECAUSE OF SEAWORLD THEMSELVES. Now we have that straight we can move on with the real TRUTH AND FACTS!!


In other words, if you start with a fundamentally skewed or corrupt premise, everything thereafter is fatally flawed.
That’s not how this court should work
You are correct so now we have everything out of the way, we can look at those facts.

The fact is SeaWorld has evolved dramatically throughout its 50 year history. On their own, they have continually improved their facilities and programs. They are a consistent model within the industry and across the globe. The fact is, real experts look to SeaWorld to learn how to take care of marine animals.
They have multigenerational cetaceans. They have performed shark C-sections, penguin cataract surgery and birthed twin sea lions.
They even preformed surgery on a fish - a fish!

Again you need to separate why people protest from what Seaworld does.You as supporters seem to have missed what Seaworld is trying to tell you. They know why people protest. After Blackfish Seaworld started to change their websites for example.

These are the old Seaworld websites, featuring their star attraction.
 

 

This is the new website 

Notice anything missing???

Seaworld tried and still try to switch the focus from their orcas to their rescues. As people protesting are not stupid, showing picture after picture of rescued manatees and turtles although fab, does not change anything for those captive orcas. Why on earth would people protest rescues??? Seaworld now where the problem is the only people who seem to be missing that fact are people like yourselves.

To back up your statement above, could you also list what people look to Seaworld to learn how to take care of marine mammals. Are they other marine mammal keepers??

 SeaWorld existed BEFORE governmental regulations of marine life facilities, and since the standards have come into existence, they have not only met them, but far exceeded them. They also exceed Association of Zoo and Aquarium regulations as well. If you haven't had your fill of facts, SeaWorld goes far beyond governmental standard in conservation and education. SeaWorld operates both the Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, and the SeaWorld Busch Gardens Conservation Fund.
Basically, SeaWorld blows governmental standards and regulations out of the water (pun intended).

This is where you start to lose your credability again, they HAVE NOT far exceeded the governmental regulations since they came into existence at all. 

Firstly there is the most well known $75000 fine and 3 citations for the death of Dawn Brancheau. Seaworld also lost the appeal. 

Click here to read the full 35 page decision by the court of appeal 

Then 3 years later they were fines again and have been labelled repeat offenders see here 

Seaworld were fined for polluting Mission bay in 2012, with the California Regional Water Board stating
   
Since April 13, 2005, there have been numerous violations of effluent limitations at the facility, including three exceedances of Ammonia, six exceedances of Enterococcus, and one exceedance of Total coliform.
"Furthermore, there have been multiple months in which required sampling was not reported.
"The constituents not sampled have included pH, Total coliform, Fecal Coliform, Enterococcus, and Total Residual Chlorine."
See the full report here  
There are historic violations but as they are historic the current ones are more relevant but as they are noted as being repeat offenders, both in safety and water standards the documents prove that
SeaWorld DEFINATELY DO NOT blow governmental standards and regulations out of the water

 They also contribute more to science and research in a day than all of the manipulative activists combined.

This again proves that you have researched absolutely nothing other than that which fits your own agenda

I recently went over and sent you a response to your last post about the research Seaworld have on their website. If you look through it there are numerous articles on live capture techniques, articles on how to identify young in a pod, surveys that were required prior to capture and numerous for the diseases those captives died from, not done as a prevention, done after the fact. To save going through them all again you can see them here . There are 48 publications in total less than one per year.

Compare that figure to say - the Marine Mammal Center who are also rescuing marine mammals, and they have released that number in the past 2 years!! See for yourself here

The links I have provided so far are actual FACTUAL documents, even where they connect up to my own blog, the links to those disputing facts are there too. As you said yourself ''thinking people look towards experts and facts''.


Those are the facts, but the main point is this:

Not a single expert body on the care and keeping of animals has brought a charge against SeaWorld.
And in return if all they say are lies and misinformation why has Seaworld not sued any of them or taken them to court? 
All of the accusations come from disgruntled employees and animal rights extremists like PETA and HSUS.
Really well lets look at those you call animal rights extremists, and disgruntled employees.

These are the scientists, you have labeled animal activists. SEE THEIR CREDENTIALS HERE  
In short

Ken Balcomb does studies for NOAA, he is deemed good enoughfor NOAA but not for you.

Lori Morino is the author of over 80 publications on dolphin and whale brain anatomy and evolution, comparative intelligence and self-awareness in dolphins and primates, and the ethical dimensions of human-nonhuman relationships, including dolphin-assisted therapy and swim programs, as well as elephant-assisted therapy.

David Duffus, has more scientific publications published than Seaworld

Naomi Rose -  is a member of the International Whaling Commissions Scientific Committee. She has published popular and scientific articles and lectures at several universities. She participates in task forces and workshops at International, National and State Level. She received her PhD on the social dynamics of killer whales in 1992 from the University of California in Santa Cruz.

Jeff Ventre also had peer reviewed publications out on the captivity issues. See here

John Jett has peer reviewed publications out too here

If by saying Samantha Berg and Carol Ray were not experienced enough to speak on the issue of Tilikum or didn't work with Tilikum, then surely that is confirming what they say. Whether they worked with him or not, Seaworld state everyone was issued with a special protocol for working with Tilikum as part of their training. 
They also say it takes a long long time to become a Shamu trainer and they have to be competent before being allowed in the water with them, so if you say these 2 people were none of the above, are Seaworld lying about their training then?

 John Hargrove was employed twice by Seaworld and was the last to leave, if they didn't think he was up to scratch would they have employed him again?

Lastly there is the anti captivity person turned pro captivity and writer for yourselves Bridgette Pirtle.

 Regardless whether she had a falling out with Blackfish or not, when she left Seaworld she blamed Seaworld themselves for that stating: 
''SeaWorld has an opportunity right now.  They can spend the money to fight to preserve the appearance of the fallacies they have been built on OR they can spend that money on the animals that deserve it.  I spent too many years watching decisions made to spend money on show elements, playgrounds or barbeque restaurants.  Now is the time to let actions speak louder then words.''

'' Ultimately, the same concerns voiced as a result of Dawn’s accident had been voiced after incidents in the past. Lessons not learned and continually disregarded. Many of those taking care of the animals are fighting for less responsibility to be placed upon their ever-drooping dorsal fins. Show schedules, public interactions, and dining obligations create a strain on animals already in a highly stressed environment. They are proudly introduced as “ambassadors” but they are simply work horses for a profit hungry industry desperate to remain relevant in a society that has already begun to recognize we have moved past such a trite necessity. Until parks like SeaWorld exhale their dying breathe, tighter regulations and stronger accountability for adhering to such guidelines is a given.''
Why would someone say those things about Seaworld?? Did she lie back then or is her support for Seaworld now, a lie as one of them is?  See the full interview here.  
As I always try to find the truth, I have asked her many many times, if this is truth or lies, as her Nat Geo interview said the same as did her book launch, and in typical fashion there is no reply.


Those accusations are echoed by a mouthpiece with no standards - that's been caught lying before.
You need to do as I do when reading articles as anyone can post an article to the dodo, but the one Eric posted by Melissa Cronin is listed above as a complete manipulation of the truth, go look that up too.

The charges levied against SeaWorld by “Blackfish” and others are serious allegations of animal abuse, misuse, neglect and cruelty. So why are no credible sources standing up to make these accusations?

They have, have you forgotten AB2140?

Check the lastest data here 
This report collates scientific evidence which includes

• Previous analyses using data through 1992 showed that captive orcas have higher mortality rates than wild orcas; new analyses examining data through 2010 confirm that the situation has not improved in the past 18 years, and in fact has worsened. Captivity is, in essence, poor habitat for orcas, causing early death.
• Captive female orcas give birth too young and too often, leading to both high adult and high infant mortality.
• The most common cause of death for captive orcas is infection. Chronic stress may be an important factor in weakening the animals’ immune response.
• Captive orcas have poor dental health compared to wild whales, which may be another factor in their susceptibility to fatal infections.
• Orcas in captivity are more aggressive toward each other than in the wild. Females also behave abnormally toward their calves more often than in the wild.
• Since captive orcas have been publicly displayed, they have seriously threatened the lives and safety of dozens of people, and four people have been killed. However, wild orcas have injured only a handful of people — none seriously — and there are no records, at any time in history, of them killing anyone.

It is their responsibility to bring in hard, conclusive and undeniable information that makes their point.
They cannot.
They have over and over again, but you choose not to see it, you choose to look for reasons it cannot be so and then look for reasons that the people presenting the evidence must have some agenda. The agenda is that science is proving that it is wrong to keep these animals captive. 

Taking YouTube videos out of context is not proof. A disgruntled, terminated, ex-employee's story from 20 years ago is not proof, especially when more relevant and direct witnesses directly refute the claims.
Where are the more relevant and direct witnesses refuting the claims? Where are their scientific documents showing that those presented are incorrect? 

There is no data point that proves marine mammals are unhappy or abused in zoological facilities. In fact the data shows SeaWorld’s animals are provided for physically and mentally with the top teams in the world attending to their well-being. Individuals with knowledge of marine animals and behavior go to SeaWorld and see well-fed, engaged animals participating in top tier training.
 Experts in the eye of the court - if you will.
Many of those experts have also written against the captivity of these creatures, but again you don't cite any and only choose to see what you want to see. In the recent debate, even Seaworld vets agreed that collapsed dorsal fins are caused by captivity, there isn't enough water pressure or activity to keep them upright. He also said that the Seaworld website WAS misleading as they had used data by Ingrid Visser who studies New Zealand orcas to state the rate in the wild is 23% collapse, when in reality it is only 1%. That poor man had to stand up in the debate and admit Seaworld had done that, if they hadn't have lied and mislead people in the first place that wouldn't have happened.

The allegations of abuse and neglect are coming from those with an agenda. An agenda to make you a pawn. A pawn to raise money. A pawn to achieve political ends. A pawn to increase power and influence. It's an age old story.
I have no money to raise, those protesting Seaworld outside have no money to raise, the scientists on Blackfish who you call activists but whom I have proven to be actual scientists have no money to raise. So where do you get that idea from?? On the other hand, from this side of the fence, is Seaworld going to tell you 45 orcas have died in those tanks, are they going to show you their orca profiles, showing over 100 incidents between orcas and trainers, are they going to admit why they breed hybrid orcas with no conservation value what so ever, and are still doing it today with Kalia?? No of course they're not as they do want your money, as they are going under fast.

And as for the supposedly expert “former trainers,” each comes prepackaged with their own stories of conflict, egos and self-serving attitudes to prove their interest in SeaWorld’s downfall stems much more from self-interest than a noble quest to help animals.
Why did they leave then and how does their stories differ from those of Bridgette Pirtle who you have writing for Awesome Ocean. They have stuck to the same story over and over again, has your heroine? 

The bottom line is that the statement “but orcas CAN’T be happy in tanks, I just know it!” carries no more weight then “but he HAS to be the murderer, I just know it!”
It's textbook logical fallacy and bad lawyers use it all the time to try and trick a jury.

No one I know has said that, everyone I know has done exactly the same as I do, they are not supposed to be in there because of ........ Tilikum reacts to stress in his environment aggressively , Seaworld say so here . Daniel Dukes had injuries consistent with being pulled into the pool by Tilikum, here is the evidence etc etc.

Most people supporting Seaworld do exactly as you have done here and provide absolutely nothing to prove what they are saying. where in this whole article have you put, the trainers said ''quote'', the science is wrong because ''quote''

TO QUOTE YOU YOURSELF - THINKING PEOPLE LOOK TOWARDS EXPERTS AND FACTS. 

Well start to provide some as once again this is just your opinion supported by nothing in an attempt to win support from the people on Stand with Seaworld. It is not those sheep you need to convince, there is no point preaching to the converted, if you want to convince people like myself that everything is brilliant at Seaworld than start to provide factual evidence to do it. I have NEVER blocked my blog, my facebook or my twitter, it is always open to anyone who wants to debate something, maybe you should start to extend the same courtesy in return. You may not always like the answers but a FACT IS A FACT which ever side of the fence it is on.

Are you that gullible?
Read through the FACTS, look in the mirror and ask yourself that question!