Last month CL published a story about animal welfare, and specifically on the moral debate about keeping animals in captivity in places like SeaWorld, after the tragic killing of trainer Dawn Brancheau by an orca named Tilkium at SeaWorld in February.
Our article alluded to the fact that in order for parks like SeaWorld and the Florida Aquarium to acquire permits from the National Marine Fisheries Service to import whales or dolphins, they must prove they have an educational program.
But do they?
Last week in Washington, the House Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife held a hearing to discuss the issue (While the next day the Orlando Police issued their report that said that trainers knew never to be in the water with Tilikum).
Among the quotes that stand out from this USA Today story on the hearing include:
The animals are trained "to do stupid tricks for our amusement. We are beyond that. Our kids are beyond that," says Louie Psihoyos, director of The Cove, a documentary on dolphin hunts that won an Academy Award this year. "There's no education at all involved in a dolphin circus show."
Many of the education programs at the animal parks include outdated and inaccurate information and often omit information critical of captivity, says Lori Marino, who studies whale and dolphin brains at Emory University in Atlanta.
"The basic requirement that information be accurate is not being met," she said.
There were several people defending SeaWorld at the hearing, including Orlando area Democratic Congressman Alan Grayson, whose district includes SeaWorld.
"SeaWorld is a shining jewel," Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla., testified Tuesday. SeaWorld Orlando is in Grayson's district, and the company has five other parks in Florida.
"The economic impact is tremendous," Grayson says. The parks offer an "opportunity to connect with wildlife in meaningful ways."
This article appears in Apr 28 – May 4, 2010.