We’ve written a bunch about the tactics animal rights activists and Blackfish supporters use to belittle SeaWorld and other accredited marine institutions.
But outright assault is not belittling.
It is also not acceptable and should not be condoned by any member of the marine animal loving community.
Throwing rocksĀ at people rescuing and aiding a sick sea lion pup on a San Diego beach takes abuse to a whole new level.
A SeaWorld animal rescue team was targeted by “hecklers” after receiving a call from concerned citizens about a sick sea lion pup.
The employees managed to get the sea lion safely off the beach and into the care of marine biologists but only AFTER they left and returned with police protection, CNN reported.
Let’s get that straight.
If the animal had been in dire conditions, on the brink of life, the time it would have taken for the SeaWorld rescue team to leave and return with police protection could have caused a death.
“Thank goodness it didn’t make contact, and no one was injured, including the animal,” said Kortney Sanders, a SeaWorld employee. “But it definitely created a hostile environment, where we no longer felt safe.”
SeaWorld employees have faced more outright harassment since the 2013 release of the movie Blackfish, which we’ve debunked before.
We’re thankful that the sea lion pup and rescue team came out of the situation unscathed, but next time they might not be so lucky.
If you happen to see a rescue attempt first-hand, steer clear of the encounter and let the professionals do their jobs. And if you see anyone trying to harass a dedicated marine mammal rescue team, stand up for the professionals and stand up for the animals in need.