SeaWorld, San Diego: Part 1

SeaWorld: San Diego, California.

This past September, I had the chance to visit SeaWorld, San Diego. I have been waiting to post this blog for a while, because I wanted to gather my thoughts on what a moving experience this was.
I myself, had not been to a SeaWorld since the age of about 12, possibly earlier.... I know as a child, I had been to the one in Orlando, and the one that used to be open in Ohio. However, it had been YEARS. And, unlike many parks that hold sea life captive, SeaWorld is one of the only few where you can see Orcas.
First, I will speak on my experience with the Orcas. I refuse to attend shows, but I was amazed at the sheer mass of people that filed in the last 7 minutes or so before, as the show was about to begin. My only wonder was if the trainers were actually going to get in the tank with the whales, because the same week, OSHA had filed suit with SeaWorld in Orlando, and I knew their trainers were not allowed in the tank with the whales due to the whole ordeal. (The suit was filed I believe due to violations by SeaWorld, during the whole trainer death incident with Tilly the Orca earlier this year- but don't quote me on that.)
Anyway, before the show, I was taking note of how small the living conditions of these whales really is, both from the side through the gate and from above from a bridge that went over the entire tank, to the show area. Here are the pics looking through the gate:

In this pic, you can really see how small the holding tank is. Keep in mind, during this time, there were about 4 whales swimming in this tank. As seen in the next pic:

There was one whale, that I sat and stared at for a good 20 minutes. He (or she) just stayed in the same spot, floating, which gave me a lot of time to think about it, and it's small home.....
These pics may all look similar... but taken over the span of about a half hour... of the same whale. Poor thing.

You will notice his dorsal fin- the one on the top is bent over. This happens when whales are kept in captivity. I have heard that they "don't know why"... but I have my own theories... I think it's because they aren't given the chance to swim as fast and the distances they would in the ocean... and the fin then tends to droop over time. Who knows.

 Could sat here, and stared at this guy for days... my heart really went out to him. I just stared and stared... and I felt like he just stared back.

 Watching the crowd start to come in. Amazing how in a few short minutes, those stands will be about full. The whales have yet to be released at this point into the "show" pool.

 Watching the crowd... as you can see, they are filling the stands, and just walking around me in the tunnel. I'm trying to check out what the trainers are doing... was really interested in seeing what was going to happen as far as them getting in the tank... but was SO not staying for the show.

 "Shamu", as every whale at SeaWorld is called (even though they have various other names) is released from the holding pen, into the show tank... the stands continue to fill... about 5 minutes till show time.

 Showtime is about to start... I'm so angry at this point, I don't even like looking the whole ordeal.

 Time for me to jet from the deck viewing area.... I thought it was appropriate that the tunnel felt like you were in a CAGE.

Because that's exactly how these animals feel everyday.

Talking to a staff person at SeaWorld, I asked about the Orca's dental care, because again... that is something that is always of concern for animals and dolphins in captivity. She stated that the whales in this particular SeaWorld (the orcas) typically receive drilling on their teeth DAILY. This was something that I had read about, that is basically the worst or the worst. I didn't think I would be hearing about it happening at SeaWorld... I thought maybe of one of the smaller, private owned parks. She stated that their teeth get so bad, that it's pretty much all they can do for them. Hmmm. I wonder if it's it's their diet? The stress they are under (stomach acid eating away at their teeth)? The fact that they aren't able to hunt like nature intended them too? I wonder how the owner's of SeaWorld would feel getting their teeth drilled on daily.

Sick.
Sick.
Sick.

My next post, I'll talk about the dolphins of SeaWorld, San Diego.

Till Next Time....