SeaWorld to end breeding program, focus on rescue, and USDA implications.

Two days ago, SeaWorld announced the end of their captive breeding program and plan to focus their attention on "rescue operations — so that the thousands of stranded marine mammals like dolphins and sea lions that cannot be released back to the wild will have a place to go." ( CEO Joel Manby)

This is a meaningful step in the right direction. As a fan of the documentary Blackfish, I felt there was more to this issue than what the opinion of the masses had interpreted from it. No pun intended, I didn’t see it so black and white. Of course, as an animal welfare advocate, the persons responsible for keeping orcas in captivity are rightfully wrong and it was clear as day in the documentary. I was just so overwhelmingly disgusted by the lack of human welfare imposed on the workers at SeaWorld. I didn’t understand how they got away with breeding the same aggressive male, Tilikum, repeadetly. Captive breeding programs should not facilitate the production of offsprings that are genetically inclined to display aggressive behaviors. Then, on top of that, throwing them in with the trainers. In fact, I was disgusted by the whole shebang of misconduct. To me the bigger picture here is - how we treat our non-human animals has a direct impact on how we treat each other as humans and vice versa.

Why hasn't The Cove done the same for captive dolphins in America?

For nearly twenty years, the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been working hard on stepping up their regulations and finally released a proposed federal rule to improve standards for the handling, care, and housing of captive marine mammals on January 21 of this year, 2016.

“Interactive programs like these have carried on with no federal oversight for over 15 years since the USDA suspended its enforcement efforts in 1999,” Pacelle said, “We applaud this step because these interactive programs present significant risk to the health and wellbeing of the animals as well as to humans.”

A meaningful step in the right direction indeed.

USDA proposed regulations can be found here.

#seaworld #usda #Blackfish #animalwelfareact #news