No tank can compare to the ocean... especially one about the size of a bathtub.

So much to tell.... so much.

 SeaWorld, San Diego, CA

I can't even put into words what it was like... to see such a beautiful creature... in such a small tank for it's size. I stood there, watching people file in for the "show", and felt my stomach churn.

Before I go any further, I want to explain myself. Some people may wonder... if seeing animals in captivity bothers me, why do I visit these parks? Well, one simple answer. To learn. I have read and watched anything I can get my hands on about animals in captivity. I wish there was something I could do to help them all... but my heart strings simply go out to dolphins and orcas the most. I have read the research, and other people's opinions- on both sides. Now, I figured, it was time to hit the field for a little research. There is nothing like seeing this stuff first hand, let me tell you.

So, while I hate forking over money and "supporting" these parks... I feel like the experience I am gaining in invaluable in return. That way, I can come away with my own opinion, and not someone else's.

While I am there, I observe.
I watch.
I listen.
I take pictures.
I ask questions of the staff.
I watch what attractions bring in the most people.
Sometimes I leave sad... but more so, I find that I have been leaving empowered. Empowered because what I am seeing is not positive... and it makes me want to help. I am not saying that what these parks do is all bad. I am saying that what I observe and what I have researched is not in the best interest of these larger animals. Their home is the ocean.

You'll notice that now I have learned how to post pics. Yeah! The pics I take are mostly of the living conditions of the animals. I also like to take pictures of the crowds of people they attract, because it amazes me. These animals amaze me too.... but, more about that later.

So far this year, I have been able to visit The Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, IL and SeaWorld in San Diego, CA. My future blogs will be detailed posts of these 2 trips. I hope to visit the Miami SeaAquarium, where I keep reading of the Orca Lolita- a whale that is growing much too large for her tiny tank. There have been many cross city (and country) protests to "Free Lolita"... if it were only that simple. Sadly, freeing these animals to the wild often kills them, as was the case with orca from the "Free Willy Movies", when he was finally released.

With that said, I hope that someone out there is able to read this blog and able to use it as a research tool... to form their own opinions... just like I'm doing. Trust me, it's not looking good out there, and these animals need our support. They didn't ask to be put in these tanks... they didn't climb in there... their home is in the ocean.