SeaWorld
Opened | March 21, 1964 |
---|---|
Operating season | Year-round |
Attendance | 20.2 million (2021)[1] |
Attractions | |
Total | 47 |
Website | Official website |
32°45′57″N 117°13′35″W / 32.7657°N 117.2263°W SeaWorld is an American
The parks also feature thrill rides, including
There are operations located within the United States in
The parks were bought in 1989 by
The parks' marine mammal collections have been the subject of public debate and criticism over the years, with critics saying that the park's practices entail animal abuse. The 2013 documentary film Blackfish, produced after a SeaWorld Orlando trainer was killed by one of the park's orcas, led to initial decreases in attendance, profits and the company's share price. In 2018, SeaWorld's attendance and revenue began to recover with the addition of new rides, shows, and animal exhibits at its parks, as well as increased marketing about the parks' conservation and rescue efforts.[3]
In 2016, SeaWorld announced that they would end their in-park orca breeding program and eventually phase out their theatrical orca shows altogether (due to state legislation in California that banned shows using orcas) starting in San Diego.[4][5] It was announced later in the same year, that SeaWorld would build their first park without killer whales and outside of the United States in Abu Dhabi. However, in 2020, SeaWorld reversed course and started introducing new orca live shows to guests.[6]
History
SeaWorld was founded in 1964 by Milton C. Shedd, Ken Norris, David Demott and
After considering other locations in the midwest, including the Lake Milton/Newton Falls area west of Youngstown, Ohio, it was decided that Aurora, Ohio would be the new home of a SeaWorld. The park opened on May 29, 1970.[9] The Aurora site was approximately 15 miles (24 km) northwest of the Lake Milton site and 30 miles (48 km) southeast of Cleveland.[10] By this time, the founders of the company had captured a few more species of animals, including a killer whale that was brought to the new facility. The harsh winter climate permitted the park to be open only from mid-May until mid-September.
The
In May 1987, Robert Maxwell's British Printing and Communication Corporation (BPCC) made an unsolicited bid to acquire HBJ.[12] HBJ defended itself from the hostile takeover attempt by going deeply into debt to make large cash payments to shareholders.[13] The strain of the debt from fighting off the takeover, as well as a strategic decision to re-focus on HBJ's core publishing and insurance businesses, were factors in HBJ's decision to sell its theme park holdings in 1989.[14][15]
The Anheuser-Busch Company made an offer to purchase the SeaWorld parks. HBJ also owned and operated two other parks, Cypress Gardens and Boardwalk and Baseball, and out of fear of not being able to find a buyer for the two other parks, HBJ refused to sell the parks individually. Despite a long negotiation, Anheuser-Busch bought all six parks in 1989: SeaWorld in San Diego, Aurora, Orlando and San Antonio as well as Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven and Boardwalk and Baseball in Haines City. Soon after the sale was final, Busch sold Cypress Gardens to the park's management and closed Boardwalk and Baseball.[16] Anheuser-Busch put millions of dollars back into the parks to revive and prolong their longevity. SeaWorld is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).[17]
In July 2008, Anheuser-Busch was purchased by Belgian-Brazilian brewer
In 2016, SeaWorld admitted that it had been sending its employees to pose as activists to spy on animal rights organization PETA.[23] Following an investigation by an outside law firm, SeaWorld's Board of Directors directed management to end the practice.[24]
Current theme parks
SeaWorld San Diego
SeaWorld San Diego, the first SeaWorld park, opened on March 21, 1964. The park features shows such as Sea Lions Live, a comedic show with sea lions and otters, Dolphin Days, a dolphin show, and Orca Encounter, an educational show about killer whales and their behavior in the wild. There are also many seasonal shows which are featured in the summer, notability Cirque Electrique. Rides include Shipwreck Rapids, an Intamin River Rapids ride, Manta, a Mack Rides Family Launch Coaster, Electric Eel, a Premier Rides Sky Rocket II, Journey to Atlantis, a Mack Rides Water Coaster, Emperor, a Bolliger & Mabillard dive coaster, and Arctic Rescue, an Intamin Family Launch Straddle Coaster. Electric Ocean is the park's nightly summer event featuring pop and electronic style music with lights and seasonal shows, Sea Lions Tonite (a nighttime Sea Lion show featuring spoofs of other SeaWorld shows and attractions), Atlantis Ignites (a tesla coil and projection show), and Cirque Electrique (a Cirque du Soleil-style show on the water that is an electric remaster of the original Cirque de la Mer show).
SeaWorld Orlando
SeaWorld Orlando opened on December 15, 1973.
SeaWorld San Antonio
SeaWorld San Antonio opened on May 27, 1988.
SeaWorld Abu Dhabi
In 2008, Busch Entertainment had previously announced plans to open a fourth SeaWorld park in
SeaWorld Ohio sale, rebirth, and eventual transition
In February 2001, Anheuser-Busch sold the
In March 2004, Six Flags announced that it had sold Six Flags Worlds of Adventure to
After a nearly season-long wait, the Cedar Fair company announced its plans for the non-operational side. That entire portion of the land would become an immense waterpark, Wildwater Kingdom, opening in two phases, with the first phase in 2005, followed by the second phase in 2006. This decision marked the end of the marine-life park permanently.
All of the animal stadiums and buildings were next torn down or converted into other venues. Some of the SeaWorld property remained intact, albeit hidden or modified. What remained included the former seal and sea lion area, the Ski Stadium (to be used in a Lumberjack show in 2006), the aquarium (to be used for unknown purposes), and two movie theater houses/simulators, once housing 3D/4D movies. The Ski Stadium was removed in 2008 to make way for Coconut Cove, a refreshment station/observation area.
All of these, except for Wildwater Kingdom, closed in 2007. In 2016, Wildwater Kingdom announced they would close after the 2016 season.
Orcas
SeaWorld's main attraction is its killer whales, several of which are housed in 5.8-million-US-gallon (22,000 m3) tanks (equivalent to nine
- Eight killer whales live at Corky, Ulises, Orkid, Ikaika, Kalia, Keet, Shouka, and Makani.
- Five killer whales live at SeaWorld Orlando: Makaio, Malia, Trua, Katina, and Nalani[40]
- Five killer whales live at SeaWorld San Antonio: Kyuquot, Takara, Sakari,[41] Tuar, and Kamea.
Organizations such as
Killer whale captivity is a widely debated topic. Regarding anatomy, captive killer whales can exhibit collapsed dorsal fins. However, this trait has been witnessed in the wild and a prominent theory proposes this phenomenon can occur when any orcas live in relatively warmer conditions. Though, since captive orcas are more likely to breach, rising up to warmer waters, captivity itself can increase the temperature in which these whales live. Some evidence has shown that the condition can manifest in individuals after a month in captivity.
Blackfish
In 2013, SeaWorld's treatment of killer whales in captivity was the basis of the film Blackfish, which documents the history of Tilikum, a killer whale captured by SeaLand of the Pacific, later rescued by SeaWorld Orlando who has been involved in the deaths of three people.[51] In the aftermath of the release of the film, Martina McBride, 38 Special, REO Speedwagon, Cheap Trick, Heart, Barenaked Ladies, Trisha Yearwood and Willie Nelson canceled scheduled concerts at SeaWorld parks.[52][53] SeaWorld disputes the accuracy of the film, calling it "propaganda" and "emotionally manipulative". It has spent $15 million on an advertising campaign countering the allegations and emphasizing its contributions to the study of whales and their conservation.[39]
In August 2014, SeaWorld announced it planned to build new killer whale tanks that would be almost double the size of the existing ones to provide more space for its whales, scheduled for completion in 2018.[54] The company maintained the move was not in response to the release of the Blackfish documentary. Wild killer whales may travel up to 160 kilometres (100 mi) in a day and critics say the animals are too big and intelligent to be suitable for captivity.[55] In 2016 it was announced by SeaWorld that they no longer had plans to complete the expansion project.[56] PETA, which opposes whales being kept in captivity, has proposed the theme park operator base its whales in seaside sanctuaries.[57] The company also pledged $10 million in matching funds for killer whale research.[54] The plans to increase the size of the tanks in San Diego were put on hold in October 2015 after the California Coastal Commission ruled that the work could only go ahead if they banned captive breeding, which would eventually lead to end of killer whale shows at the park.[58] On March 17, 2016, SeaWorld announced the end of their breeding program, which signifies the last generation of orcas in captivity in their care, though Takara was still pregnant at the time.[59] Theatrical orca shows ended at SeaWorld San Diego in 2017 and ended in Orlando and San Antonio in 2019.[59]
In November 2014, SeaWorld announced that attendance at the parks had dropped 5.2% from the previous year and profits had fallen 28% over that quarter. As of November 2014, the company's stock was down 50% from the previous year.[60][61][62] From 2014 to 2015, net income in the second quarter fell 84% from $37.4 million to $5.8 million, while revenue fell from $405 million to $392 million.[63]
In February 2020, SeaWorld announced a $65 million settlement with investors who alleged that the company had deceived them about the documentary's effect on park attendance.[64]
Animal rescue and rehabilitation program
SeaWorld operates its conservation program in cooperation with the
Groups concerned for the health and safety of SeaWorld's captive killer whale population have asked for the animals to be released. SeaWorld has defended their decision to keep the animals by citing their inability to survive in the wild after years of captivity.[72]
Response to drive hunt capture allegations
In response to claims leveled at SeaWorld and other marine parks by the movie The Cove which accuses them of obtaining dolphins taken in drive hunts, SeaWorld spokesperson Fred Jacobs stated that, "We think we're being unfairly criticized for something we're opposed to." It is illegal to bring drive hunt animals into the United States.[73] He adds that, "SeaWorld opposes the dolphin hunts documented in The Cove. We do not purchase any animals from these hunts. More than 80 percent of the marine mammals in our care were born in our parks. We haven't collected a dolphin from the wild in decades."[74] Since 1993, there have been no permits issued to facilities in the United States to import dolphins acquired through drive hunt methods.[75] Marilee Menard, the executive director of the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums, has also stated that she believes that The Cove filmmakers are "misrepresenting that the majority of zoos and aquariums with dolphins around the world are taking these animals. "[73]
See also
- Incidents at SeaWorld parks
- Captive killer whales
References
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- ISBN 9780810829237
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External links
- Official website
- Hanashiro, Robert (August 20, 2006). "Training workers the SeaWorld way [Q&A with trainer Julie Scardina]". Executive Suite. Management. USA Today.
Julie Scardina gives a SeaWorld "employee" some positive reinforcement