Shamu on Trial: Activists and Fighter Pilots

By Erin McKinney

In order to testify in court as an “expert,” you must first offer your qualifications to the judge and jury.

And contrary to what you see on TV, staying at the Holiday Inn Express does not actually make you an expert.

So, let’s set the table a little here – watching “Blackfish” doesn’t make you an animal behaviorist any more than watching “Top Gun” makes you a fighter pilot, people.

When it comes to the marine mammal captivity “debate,” thinking people look toward experts and facts.

Though there has always been a vocal (and often radical) minority that speaks out against marine mammals in captivity, recent books like “Death at SeaWorld” and the endlessly debunked movie “Blackfish” have brought the issue into the court of public opinion. Unfortunately, otherwise well-meaning people have been duped into demanding that SeaWorld “explain” themselves.

Duped by the people who told you milk causes autism.

Thus, SeaWorld now has to defend their Shamu show and other programs against the allegations brought on by the filmmakers, authors and disgruntled former employees – all with activist backgrounds.

Garbage in, garbage out.

In other words, if you start with a fundamentally skewed or corrupt premise, everything thereafter is fatally flawed.

That’s not how this court should work.

The fact is SeaWorld has evolved dramatically throughout its 50 year history. On their own, they have continually improved their facilities and programs. They are a consistent model within the industry and across the globe. The fact is, real experts look to SeaWorld to learn how to take care of marine animals.

They have multigenerational cetaceans. They have performed shark C-sections, penguin cataract surgery and birthed twin sea lions.

They even preformed surgery on a fish – a fish!

SeaWorld existed BEFORE governmental regulations of marine life facilities, and since the standards have come into existence, they have not only met them, but far exceeded them. They also exceed Association of Zoo and Aquarium regulations as well. If you haven’t had your fill of facts, SeaWorld goes far beyond governmental standard in conservation and education. SeaWorld operates both the Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, and the SeaWorld Busch Gardens Conservation Fund.

Basically, SeaWorld blows governmental standards and regulations out of the water (pun intended). They also contribute more to science and research in a day than all of the manipulative activists combined.

Those are the facts, but the main point is this:

Not a single expert body on the care and keeping of animals has brought a charge against SeaWorld.

All of the accusations come from disgruntled employees and animal rights extremists like PETA and HSUS.

Those accusations are echoed by a mouthpiece with no standards – that’s been caught lying before.

The charges levied against SeaWorld by “Blackfish” and others are serious allegations of animal abuse, misuse, neglect and cruelty. So why are no credible sources standing up to make these accusations?

It is their responsibility to bring in hard, conclusive and undeniable information that makes their point.

They cannot.

Taking YouTube videos out of context is not proof. A disgruntled, terminated, ex-employee’s story from 20 years ago is not proof, especially when more relevant and direct witnesses directly refute the claims.

There is no data point that proves marine mammals are unhappy or abused in zoological facilities. In fact the data shows SeaWorld’s animals are provided for physically and mentally with the top teams in the world attending to their well-being. Individuals with knowledge of marine animals and behavior go to SeaWorld and see well-fed, engaged animals participating in top tier training.

Experts in the eye of the court – if you will.

The allegations of abuse and neglect are coming from those with an agenda. An agenda to make you a pawn. A pawn to raise money. A pawn to achieve political ends. A pawn to increase power and influence. It’s an age old story.

And as for the supposedly expert “former trainers,” each comes prepackaged with their own stories of conflict, egos and self-serving attitudes to prove their interest in SeaWorld’s downfall stems much more from self-interest than a noble quest to help animals.

The bottom line is that the statement “but orcas CAN’T be happy in tanks, I just know it!” carries no more weight then “but he HAS to be the murderer, I just know it!”

It’s textbook logical fallacy and bad lawyers use it all the time to try and trick a jury.

Are you that gullible?