Activists oppose import of whales to Six Flags

Funny, there was never a problem when it was Sea World. I don't care what the activists say, we in Ohio want our whales back!
Edti I found this to be very funny:

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Six Flags spokeswoman Debbie Nauser said Six Flags' staff and facilities are excellent and that breeding would benefit the species.

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Hmm, Jeff and family, your thoughts?
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CP! Still the coaster capital of the world in 2002!
My fellow Americans; Let's Roll!
WoodenCoaster.com *** This post was edited by bigkirby on 12/8/2001. ***

What a moron. I hate it when someone takes some high ideal and tries to make it some illogical moral absolute.

The fact is that orcas are being considered for the endangered species list because their populations are dwindling. This freak's own Web site indicates this. Their natural habitat in the Pacific Northwest is hurting them, and that's bad news.

There are two issues here. The first is that the animals born in captivity, or those held in captivity for the last several decades, can't be just be released back into the ocean. Remember Keiko, a.k.a. Free Willy? They've been trying to get him back to the wild in Iceland for years. He'll swim out and mingle with a wild pod, but he's rarely accepted into their social structure and comes back to his pen to be with his humans, despite every effort to convince him do otherwise. Without them, he'll go hungry. The point is, a captive whale doesn't have the experience to live in the wild.

The second issue is one of conservation. If an animal is threatened by extinction, especially from our own doing in destroying their habitat, it's our duty to preserve them. Anheuser-Busch has been doing this for years and they've gone way beyond the point of being "good corporate citizens" in doing so. Did you know they rescue and rehab and release 200 animals at Sea World San Diego every year? The biggest was a giant gray whale a few years back. She was found near death and nursed back to health for a year before being released back into the Pacific.

Now... the only problem I have is that Six Flags has no record of conservation that I'm aware of, and I'm not yet convinced they're maintaining the educational programs that Sea World Ohio maintained. Combine that with the low opinion of habitat conditions by several biologist friends of mine (including my wife), and I have to wonder if they're up to the task.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"

You can please some of the people some of the time... but as in every case... you can NEVER please all of the people all of the time.

Wherever you go, there will be somebody opposing an idea that is proposed. Whether it brings in a thousand jobs, it cleans the environment, generates money for the local economy, or boosts attendance... there is somebody out there that will find the negative side on it, and will wind up opening their big mouth and making some kind of deal about it that will bring about the media.

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...Wondering what the 2002 season holds for all parks...

Blah,Blah,Blah...  I tired of extremists trying to run our lives.  Zoos, aquariums, etc. serve a real educational purpose by introducing the GP to endangered animals.  The fact that we may also be entertained is a plus.  Assuming that precautions are taken to assure quality of life for the whales, I say bring them back to SFWoA.  If no one ever sees these magnificent creatures, we are much less likely to support their survival in the wild.

Mike

I'm not a fan of keeping anything caged up, put yourself in the postion of the animal what would you rather do live free or live your live penned up, ask a prisoner that question. Why do you think we lock up prisoners in cages its a form of punishment and all these animals did was that they where animals and as humans we think we can lock them up for our enjoyment. As far as animals and SF goes ask the humane society about there track record, they are known to sell older animals(babies bring people in) to caged hunt ranchers most of these animals have been hand fed and walk right up to the hunters. I can supply a link as soon as I find it again, they say SFGaV is the worst for this.
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Army Rangers lead the way *** This post was edited by supermandl on 12/8/2001. ***

what would you rather do, be stalked by some ship with a harpoon, starve, or be fed a good diet and be in a safe enviorment? 

Sorry to burst your bubble but orcas are no longer hunted since 1980, as far as starving its part of mother nature(cruel as that sounds watch a documentry about animals its a way of life for some). Now you say they are in safe enviorment but that is false also here is a list of how long orcas have lasted at parks compared to the average life span of 30 years in the wild.

 

http://www.orcaconservancy.org/captivity/captured.asp

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Army Rangers lead the way

Whales belong in my belly.

What? It's an equally valid alternate theory. In a perfect world, sure. Unfortunately, perfect this one is not.

at our ACE regional Xmas Party.Confrence....we discussed this among our little table/group. We knew it was only a matter of time before this crap started happening.

-Josh

The problem I see with the proposal is that Six Flags Inc. is running the show, and we have seen how much things have improved under their leadership.  Also, Disney had a lot of problems with animals dying in captivity there... the problem was they're a comapny whose core strengths are theme parks, not zoos, as is the case with Six Flags.  As for the notion that it will help preserve the species... sure it will, but only in captivity.  If a whale (or virtually any other animal) is raised in captivity, it becomes so accustomed to its surroundings that they are difficult if not impossible to release into the wild.  I think we should leave the Orcas in care of better-suited organizations out there.

It's funny I've never heard of the animal problems at SFMW,yet everyone now assumes they can't get the job done at SFWoA.

As for the activists,they should be more concerned about saving the human race with the ways things are going today. *** This post was edited by DirtyVern on 12/8/2001. ***

Your kidding about SFMW I hope so here is a list of the complaints about the place. Six flags should not be in control of animals.

 

http://www.idausa.org/campaigns/marine/mwusdacomplaint.html

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Army Rangers lead the way

Interesting,but if you actually read this letter,you'll see that it states"The signers of this letter have no way of confirming the validity of these allegations, as the reports were made in an anonymous manner."This could just be a false allegation from a disgruntled employee,or from a competing business.;)

I'll see if a freind of mine who works for Knight Ridder could look into this allegation,I'm sure she'd be more than happy too.:)

All the deaths are factual and known to have occured(read the paragraph that starts since 1997 when the premier theme park took over) its the other statements from employees that they cant confirm. I have a link below with an actual animal trainer complaining(sworn affidavit) about SFMW read all the way down until you get to the SFMW listing. Says she has witnesed animals being beaten. I'm against this because of my ex wife she is a marine biologist and I had to listen about this every single day of my life about how bad these places are for animals.

 
http://www.lcanimal.org/cmpgn/cmpgn_006.htm

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Army Rangers lead the way

*** This post was edited by supermandl on 12/8/2001. ***

What's so wrong about caring about animals all of the sudden?  You know, if there weren't any so called "extremists" out there, nothing would ever change.  I had no idea that being passionate about something was such a taboo nowadays. 

And werd up to supermandl, i actually agree with you on something!  lol.  *high five to you*

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Kicking screamin' Gucci little siggy.

I think if there weren't people who cared about the environment so much, there would be many more extinct species.  I'm with you ravenguy!

Thanks ravenguy98 right back at you with the high five, it is funny we agree on something lol and it took whales of all things for us to agree.
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Army Rangers lead the way

The animal rights activists will always find something to whine and complain about!!!! These are the same wackos who complain about people wearing fur and then commit crimes and break into farms and release animals who subsquently die as they cant handle the wild! 

Bob O, don't feel too bad, I'm not an activist and I still find plenty to complain about.