SeaWorld’s Open Letter

Misconceptions & TruthKaitlyn Glaza

Compelled SeaWorld to RespondBlackfish

Mainstream media, with for-profit influence, perpetuates misleading stories about orcas to a targeted audience. These messages offend some people within the non-target audience, who see through the false portrayals and have suggestions to better represent the orcas.

Thesis Statement

CulturesCollecting Orcas Interactions with Non-Species

Important Findings

Note Physical Differences:

134 Orcas collected since 19611

◦106 are dead1

◦More orcas die in the collection process than survive it

Collecting Orcas

“We give our animals restaurant-quality fish, exercise, veterinary care, mental stimulation, and the company of other members of their species.”

SeaWorld’s Letter…

Apex predatorHunt anything except humans

Interacting with Non-Species

Countless Stories◦Shipwreck10

◦Guiding boats to safety11

Saving Humans

Humans saved 11 orcas trapped in ice

Kandu’s Death7

Great White Shark http://37.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mbyp04UUXc1rcreq5o1_500.jpg

Human & Orca http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/130110045343-vo-canada-trapped-whales-00004019-story-top.jpg

1Williams, V. (2001) Captive orcas “Dying to entertain you.” A Report for Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) Chippenham, UK. http://www.wdcs.org/submissions_bin/orcareport.pdf

5Original Shamu http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3f/Cetacea_range_map_Orca.PNG

6Dead Kshamenk http://championsforcetaceans.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/kshamenk-the-forgotten-orca-2.jpg

7Kandu Death http://championsforcetaceans.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/kshamenk-the-forgotten-orca-2.jpg

8Forgotten Shamus http://th05.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/i/2013/301/c/d/forgotten_orcas_project_1_by_okura-d6s1uf7.png

10https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1ZkkHesyjg 11Whales in the wild. (2014, February 21) National Geographic.

http://seaworld.com/en/~/link.aspx?_id=9D0C956E74134E4AA34626AD43CC1F79&_z=z

References