Winter and Hope Remind Us Not All Is Peachy
Image Credit: (L-r) WINTER and HOPE in Alcon Entertainment’s family adventure “DOLPHIN TALE 2,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Warner Bros. Pictures
Friday marks the long-awaited continuation of the story of Winter the dolphin, previously made famous by the family film Dolphin Tale.
We wrote an article on the coolest part about Dolphin Tale 2 earlier this summer focusing on the level of care instead of sensationalism. These kinds of feel-good films are a breath of fresh air for marine lovers everywhere.
But there’s more.
Dolphins like Winter and Hope remind concerned citizens and marine activists of the dangers facing wild dolphins on a daily basis. Dangers that seem to get lost in the shuffle promoted by animal rights activists and films like Blackfish.
Strandings, fish hook ingestion, monofilament entanglement injuries and viruses like the deadly cetacean morbillivirus are affecting marine animals left and right.
The devoted men and women of accredited zoos and aquariums bust their butts every day to rehabilitate injured or sick animals and ensure the safety of hundreds and thousands of animals. They deserve respect, not attacks.
Most importantly, they deserve to hear “good job” rather than “animal abuser”.
Films like Dolphin Tale 2 remind the public that when the certain misguided “activists” scream and shout that cetaceans should be in the wild ocean no matter what, we should let science and reason be our guide along with the level of care given by places like the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
It is a sad but true fact that not every animal rescue ends in smiles and a release. That’s just the way the world works: sometimes there’s not a happy ending. But who picks up the pieces?
People in the network of institutions like the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, The Florida Aquarium, Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, Harbor Branch, SeaWorld, and the Mote Marine Lab work each day to rescue animals along Florida’s 1,400 miles of coastline.
That’s no small task and their efforts should not be diminished.
Stories like Winter and Hope are made possible by those who care in the biggest way possible: through real action, not hashtags and signs.
When you watch Dolphin Tale 2 remember that only by partnerships can we work toward more happy endings like Winter and Hope.
And if you see an ill, orphaned or injured animal, please contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: 1-888-404-FWCC (3922).
