The Blackfish effect: SeaWorld loses $25.4 million after documentary [truncated]

AP and UK Daily Mail ^ | February 26, 2015 | Staff and Alexandra Klausner

[C19fan]

SeaWorld reported a wider loss in its fourth quarter of $25.4 million as attendance to its theme parks continued to fall - due in part to the documentary 'Blackfish,' which criticizes the company's treatment of killer whales. Its shares fell in premarket trading Thursday. SeaWorld has been battling negative publicity after a 2013 documentary, 'Blackfish,' suggested that its treatment of animals may have led to the deaths of trainers.

[C19fan]

Sea World is burdened by almost $2 billion in debt.

[Revelation 911]

yeah - that whole killer whale business model thingy isn't working anymore - I saw the movie - it was compelling...but at the same time you kinda had to shake your head at the stupidity of people that would anthropomorphize these animals into a "well behaved companion", when the reality is it's an apex predator...with teeth, in a medium we do not maneuver well in.

we have a word for that around here.....bait.

That said - I think they'd do well to drop the killer whale show and focus on the aquariums that are at least providing a teachable moment

[poobear]

Biggest reason, Seaworld is boring. People see it once if that.

[Roos_Girl]

We just took our son there for the first time a few months ago. The dolphin show they have now is incredible, but the killer whale show is lackluster and I attribute that to the trainers now being allowed in the water with them any longer. It’s definitely not the grand show I remember seeing when I was a teenager. We also were not impressed with the shark exhibit. And I thought they did a poor job of just having a really nice salt water tank (on a large scale of course) experience.

The other “problem” is the lack of roller coaster type rides for younger children, IMO. There are some carnival type rides, a carousel, a small “train”, a couple of things that spin. But, for example, Disney’s new Seven Dwarfs Mine Train allows passengers as short as 38” and a least three other thrill rides they have are 40”. Sea World has a considerably taller minimum height.

[mj1234]

yep-

how many times to go... but i like it (been twice)

close to 90,000 killer whales - world wide-
(Factsofwhales.com)

and they are Sooo concerned about 56 ?-Captive
oh well, add that onto Al Gores polar Bear list