14 DAY TRIAL // SeaWorld's popularity has plummeted following the release of documentary film “Blackfish.” Celebs have bailed out on it events, folks have demanded that it be kicked out of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and one school has canceled its traditional trip to the marine park.
As previously reported, the documentary tells the story of the abuses that SeaWorld employees commit against the marine mammals in their care.
It focuses on Tilikum, an orca whale that conservationists claim only ended up killing three people due to the stress and horrific conditions that the marine park subjected him to.
In an attempt to stay afloat, i.e. not lose all its visitors and eventually go bankrupt, the marine park has launched a PR campaign against said documentary film.
The goal is to convince people that, contrary to what animal rights activists say, SeaWorld treats its animals right and does a wonderful job looking after them. Hence, there is no reason to trash the marine park and its employees, and pray for its shutting down.
According to Daily Mail, SeaWorld's attempt to regain some of its popularity boils down to the marine park's publishing an open letter in eight of the largest newspapers in the United States.
The letter hit the public eye this past December 20, and some of the papers in which it can be read are the Orlando Sentinel, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and USA Today.
“Inaccurate reports recently have generated questions about SeaWorld and the animals in our care. The truth is in our parks and people, and it's time to set the record straight,” the marine park's letter says.
Furthermore, “The men and women of SeaWorld are true animal advocates. We are the 1,500 scientists, researchers, veterinarians, trainers, marine biologists, aquarists, aviculturists, educators and conservationists who have dedicated our lives to the animals in our care as well as those in the wild that are injured, ill or orphaned.”
As was to be expected, PETA and other organizations have trouble believing SeaWorld's claims that it has never done anything to harm the marine creatures it keeps captive.
Check out the video below to see what PETA's Senior Vice President, Lisa Lange, has to say about the marine park's open letter.
