Orcas could return to SFWoA

http://www.wkyc.com/news/morelocal/aurora/011029whales.ssf" target=_blankhttp://www.wkyc.com/news/morelocal/aurora/011029whales.ssf
Heres a link to the article.
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Don't mess with the X in 01
X-Flight team member 2001!/P

*** This post was edited by XFlight on 10/29/2001. ***

Okay I tired to edit it and messed the thing up. Anyways the article explains how the park plans on borrowing whales from 2 parks, 1 in France and one in South America.

http://www.wkyc.com/news/morelocal/aurora/011029whales.ssf

Lets try this again.

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Don't mess with the X in 01
X-Flight team member 2001!

Obviously they will be located in the current dolphin stadium. If this is true, where will the dolphins go? The sea lion stadium is too small to house them.

Will Batray Cove be transformed into a dolphin area for next year and Stingray Bay will house the current batrays?

X Factor

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SFWoA: An Unofficial Guide
http://sfohio.tripod.com

Maybe the saddened soul of Northern Ohio finally touched a soft spot in their corporate hearts.

(Or maybe they realized how much the attendence for the old Sea World sucked.)

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G.Bush:We will find those who did it, smoke them out of their holes, get them running, and bring them to justice.
I pray that I will never see a Six Flags Conneaut Lake

I seem to recall that the whales and dolphins already shared the same tank, though they weren't in the same portion at the same time. Remember, there are four chambers to that tank, all gated.

I have mixed feelings about this because, as I mentioned in another thread, my biologist wife and some of her fellow scientists aren't very comfortable with the conditions of some of the habitats. On the surface, the change doesn't appear to be good for the people, the animals or the "look" of the park.

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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"

I have a problem with captive mammals, no matter how "nice" the surroundings or how good their care...I know I'd hate to be held captive (except under certain special circumstances that I can't discuss on a family site....)
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rollergator - intent on improving the "guest experience" - coming soon to a park near you

My wife is into this field, although she's in vet practices for the time being, she changed her view a few years ago. Through a few years worth of Marine Biology, she discovered that people need to have these animals around to research, see, visit, learn from, all that stuff. She would never look at a captive animal. SOME facilities do not take advatage of the creatures(as we call it), SOME do. Not every whale or dolphin that is captive is needed, we certainly don't need MORE. Like Jeff said, some of the conditions are unfavorable. The whale that was in Free Willy, his captive home was no Sea World. Shamu, that's different, captive born orcas don't get released do they(?). Not to mention, the Six Flags Marine chain has escaped my direct vision, I know they lost some animals last year, not sure of the circumstances, so I don't know the extint of thier operations, although at glance it looks for commercial gain:(......

As long as somebody mentioned it, the whole issue of performing animals is sick. Outside of education, rehabilitation, and research(that's needed) there is NO need for performing animals. I am what I call anti-circus and proud. Fair ride midways that have animals get protested, too!

Rumor i heard on the last day (before knowing of the whales) was that all the habitats are being upgraded this year. Painted, maintenced, etc.... Now with this addition I dont know. Also in the Plain Dealer this morning it seemed to meantion these whales are coming from other parks on loan to be bred. Ones female and the other male.
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Don't mess with the X in 01
X-Flight team member 2001!

They need more than just a upgraded habitat with paint & maintaince.

Just as an example, look at Marineland, Canada. For years, they were under scrutney because their tanks were just too small for their orcas. Just recently within the past 5 years, they finally upgraded to a much larger million gallon tank for them to live in which provides them with a better habitat.

I have nothing wrong with animals in captivity. Sometimes they are MUCH safer there than in the wild (tigers, although not marine life, are much safer in zoos than in India where the majority of the population resides). As long as their habitat is large enough for them to roam around, and their care-takers do take good care of them in sickness & in health, feed them right, treat them right, and don't push them beyond their limits.

Zoos and parks are great for animals. They have large habitats, and they are kind of "naturally" performing (ie: dolphins have this natural kindness to want to jump out of water freestyle manner, as well as orcas) PLUS they EDUCATE as well as entertain the audience... however, I as well oppose all circuses & fair animals. They just entertain for the soul purpose of entertainment & money.

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Proud to be an American!!

*** This post was edited by DawgByte II on 10/30/2001. ***

Question.  If the survival of the species dictated the need for zoos and marine animal parks, does that give them some credibility?

For instance, Sea World in Orlando is trying hard to save the Manatee, an adorable creature (though not real bright) who is closing in on extinction due to the ignorance of boaters.

I think zoos serve a purpose and I will continue to enjoy them.

When SeaWorld was in existence, Shamu's tank  (Dolphin Stadium) housed 3 whales and 4 commerson dolphins, which are very small whales not over 5 feet long.  Anyway a possible place for the dolphins are at Batray Cove (when it was SeaWorld Dolphin Cove) The dolphins can be placed in the tank and used part of an interactive dolphin where people can feed, touch and interact with the dolphins.  This way Six Flags could get 2 of the attractions they lost when they purchased SeaWorld Cleveland

One of the prime considerations Busch had in selling the Ohio park was that the facilities did not meet the new Federal standards for the care of marine life. In order to meet these new standards the park would have had to been rebuilt from the ground up. Coupled with an unfavorable lease situation it's easy to see why they sold out. If SF thinks they can bring  orcas, dolphins,et al back into this facility, they are probably in for a surprise.

Dutchman,

That is a little extreme.  They would not have had to rebuild the park.  At one time they were considering rebuilding Shamu stadium but it obviously never happened.  The did "winterize" so that the whales didn't have to be flown out every offseason.

The prime consideration in selling the park is that it didn't meet their profit expectations. How do you make money at a park closed half the year with animals that need food and love? The habitats are the same as they are anywhere else.

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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"