SeaWorld: Behind the Scenes

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For 50 years SeaWorld has entertained park guests with numerous stunts involving the majestic sea creature, the orca, also referred to as the killer whale, and their human trainers. What the on-lookers don’t see at these shows is what goes on behind the scenes: how the whales got there in the first place, and the conditions in which they are housed. SeaWorld San Diego opened in March 21, 1964. This was the first SeaWorld park to be established. There three parks all together the other two being SeaWorld San Antonio, and SeaWorld Orlando (Ask Shamu). The profitable park was founded by George Millay, Milt Shedd, Ken Norris, and David DeMott, four UCLA fraternity brothers. The park was originally planned to be an underwater restaurant but the concept grew into the idea of a marine park sitting on 21 acres along the shore of Missions Bay in San Diego (History). The park started out with 45 employees, several dolphins, sea lions, and a couple aquariums. Now that Anheuser-Busch owns the park new attractions were added including several thrill rides and its Shamu stadium (History of SeaWorld). The first whale was bought for $8,000 by someone who captured it accidentally near Namu, British Columbia. After this he captured a female in the Puget Sound and named her Shamu. Whales continued to be captured and brought to perform as SeaWorld and other aquarium (SeaWorld Tragedy). Howard Garrett an OSHA researcher describes the strategy, “They [hired trappers] had air craft, they had spotters, they had speed boats, they had bombs they were throwing in the water… to herd the whales into coves.” Once the orcas were surrounded by nets the trappers would pick out the young calves. Once they were in the corrals they would drop the nets so that the... ... middle of paper ... ...-documen_b_4538119.html>. Reza, H. G. "Whales Collide, 1 Is Fatally Injured in Sea World Tank." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 22 Aug. 1989. Web. 20 Jan. 2014. . "SeaWorld Tragedy Shows Wisdom of Washington State Being First to Ban Whale Capture from Its Waters." InvestigateWest. N.p., 1 Mar. 2010. Web. 20 Jan. 2014. . United States. Office of the Madical Examiner. Autopsyfiles.org. By Joshua D. Stephany. N.p., 25 Feb. 2010. Web. 20 Jan. 2014. . "Whale Watching - Victoria BC." The Family Life of an Orca. Orca Spirit Whale Watching, n.d. Web. 20 Jan. 2014. .

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