Six Flags Marine World to offer dolphin encounter, activists protest

Oh well. I guess you can't really understand how animal rights activists feel unless you are one. I guess the fact that the dolphins aren't out in the wild can be viewed as "abuse". However, I bet those dolphins will be taken care of VERY well.

In terms of "educational value" I have to disagree. I think swimming with dolphins is very educational. It shows people how intelligent the animals really are.

All these attractions prove is that dolphins will swim up to you if you offer them overpriced fish.

While keeping animals inside attractions such as these can certainly be controversial, there are "right" and "wrong" ways to do it. At Sea World Orlando, the dolphin habitat was teaming with staff members walking around educating the guests about these animals. When I visited the dolphin pool at Six Flags Worlds of Adventure, on the other hand, there was never a trainer in sight.

I have always been, and likely will always be, reluctant when it comes to keeping mammals in captivity...hey, dolphins are people too...;)

That being said, UBRhino hit it squarely on the head with 'In terms of "educational value" I have to disagree.' We'll likely never know whether we're learning more about them or vice versa, but teaching *respect* for the other life forms on the planet CAN'T be a bad thing...And in my (twisted?) way of thinking, the activists often do more harm than good when they FAIL to distinguish between proper care/socialization/interaction and the less-than-stellar alternative...

Man, I'm going to have to give up the *knee-jerk liberal* label if I keep this up...:)

"We" as in society may not learn anything, but there's something to be said for individuals, and especially kids, for learning about something you can see and touch. I've never been to SFMW, but SeaWorld I believe is exceptional at this, and they manage to make it a business as well.

I wish Six Flags did this sort of thing when we had SFWoA.

I personally cannot comprehend, nor follow, PETA's manipulative ways...they've done good in the past about true animal abuse, but now they resort to lies and mistruths in order to sway political and socialogical opinion.

If i was Shouka or any of the other marinelife animals, I'd be glad to be taken care of so well. (hmmm...cute ladies feeding and massaging me all day, and all I have to do is jump a few times all day...my kinda heaven :) )

I wish there was a better animal-care group to support than PETA, because they are becoming more of a nuisance and problem than they are worth in modern times.

It's all about keeping your job..

If they admit that many (most?) of the animal abuses are taken care of and fixed, then people who work for PETA all of a sudden are out of a job.. or at least some of them.

This is one thing that bothers me about cure-for-specific-disease charities that have been around for 40 years. Do they really want to find a cure knowing that when they do, people will lose their job? I remember when I was little, every year at my (public) school we had a read-a-thon that lasted a month for Muscular Dystrophy. Between the people that come to give the presentation to get the gradeschoolers psyched about reading and getting pledges, the prizes for raising x dollars or reading y books, etc. it struck me how all that would be changed if/when they find a cure. Great for people who have the disease, but not for mommy who's out of a job - to say nothing of the economic impact of all those prize-orders that aren't being placed. Don't get me wrong, I still donate (and will continue) but I wonder about such things.

Sounds like a great addition to the park to me. I always enjoy feeding the dolphins. If the crowds at Sea World (San Diego and Orlando) I fought the last year are any indication, then I would have to guess that protests will not have too much affect (or effect---I always forget the rule) on the bottom line.

Easier to have said, "I would guess that the protests would not affect the crowds." ;)

Or something like that...what the heck do I know...

Anyway, I'm torn on this....I think Dolphins and humans should interact, but perhaps on the dolphins' terms.*** This post was edited by janfrederick 1/28/2005 12:38:08 PM ***

Or perhaps on our terms, which is more realistic.

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I wish Six Flags did this sort of thing when we had SFWoA.

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They did when it was Sea World Ohio. Lots of trainers on hand to answer questions PLUS the ability to interact with the dolphins. It was really a great exhibit at the park, and was one of the many highlights of our park visits. RIP Sea World Ohio....