No one shall ever know... >:3
I'm a big bad dragon (as said in my username)
Student petitions school about SeaWorld. A Westview High junior in Rancho Penasquitos has collected more than 1,000 signatures on a petition that demands the Poway Unified School District cut all ties with SeaWorld, and his effort has gained the backing of a national animal rights organization.
Zach Affolter, 17, launched the petition May 4 on Change.org. As of Friday, more than 1,200 people had signed it; his goal is 5,000. “It’s been incredible,” Affolter said about the attention he has received. “It just caught on by its own. I can’t believe how fast it’s picked up.” SeaWorld has been the focus of criticism in recent months, largely sparked from the documentary “Blackfish,” which painted a harsh pitch of how orcas, or killer whales, are treated at the parks. 8 Reasons Orcas Don't Belong at SeaWorld. 1.
Premature Deaths Orcas in the wild have an average life expectancy of 30 to 50 years—their estimated maximum lifespan is 60 to 70 years for males and 80 to over 100 for females. The median age of orcas in captivity is only 9, and orcas at SeaWorld rarely make it even to the average life expectancy of their wild cousins. Whales and dolphins in captivity - Facts and information. We understand why people love dolphins and why many want to see them close up, but putting whales and dolphins in tanks for our ‘entertainment’ is wrong.
Whales and dolphins are highly intelligent animals who want and need to live in complex social groups. In captivity they will usually have been separated from their families, often in cruel hunts and some when they are very young. Wild whales and dolphins can swim up to 100 miles a day, hunting and playing. In captivity they have very little space and cannot behave naturally.
A concrete tank can never replace their ocean home. The mental, emotional and physical stress that a captive whale or dolphin suffers can weaken their immune system and make them prone to disease. Captive whales and dolphins have been trained to perform tricks, day after day, for food as a reward instead of behaving naturally. Wild capture of whales and dolphins is brutal. SeaWorld, activists make questionable claims on killer whale life spans. ORLANDO, Fla. — In the middle of “Blackfish,” the scathing documentary about SeaWorld’s killer whale program, an activist says the whales in SeaWorld parks die early while their counterparts in the wild live as long as humans.
The claim, which goes unchallenged in the film, is a powerful contrast, meant to suggest that the giant marine mammals suffer when forced to live in man-made pools. Yet SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. says its killer whales have life spans equivalent to those of wild orcas, an assertion the company makes to show that it provides a healthful, stimulating environment for the 29 orcas it owns at four marine parks — the largest captive collection on the planet. The truth is not nearly as simple as either side claims. The fact is that scientists don’t know for sure how long killer whales live.
Amazing Facts About Adelie Penguins. Voting to give bears a fair chance. NEW YORK — It's been a big news year for bears, especially in Maine.
Voters there face a question on Nov. 4 that has troubled other states with large numbers of bears. Maine wants to keep its bear population low. Yet at the same time animal rights groups are trying to outlaw certain hunting methods that would help it do just that. Maine voters will decide on a hunting ban, which will appear on the November voting ballot. The fight to change Maine's hunting laws has shined a light on its special position.
Voters are being asked whether these methods should be banned. Bear Claws Come Out. How One Student Got Her School District to Ban Glue Traps. Thanks to Abby Reiman, a passionate young animal advocate and 11th-grade student, the public schools in Fairfax County, Virginia, will no longer have glue traps on their campuses!
In case you weren’t already aware, glue traps are inhumane “pest control” devices that consist of a board coated with a sticky adhesive designed to ensnare any small animal who wanders onto its surface. The victims of these devices aren’t limited to mice and rats—birds, frogs, insects, and even kittens are easily caught in these torture traps. Animals stuck on the surface experience slow and agonizing deaths. Many traps are thrown into the trash while still bearing a live and suffering animal. Unfortunately, many institutions—including schools and universities—still use these horrific devices instead of choosing humane methods to keep rodents away. Teachers: Your voice can make a difference, too!
Abby Reiman Just Made Virginia Safer for Animals. Virginia’s Fairfax County Public Schools will no longer have “torture trays” hidden in the dark shadows of classrooms, thanks to rockin’ animal activist and high school junior Abby Reiman!
Abby on left. :P After Abby learned the truth about glue traps—that they ensnare small animals, who experience slow agonizing deaths and are thrown away with the trash—she immediately investigated to find out if there were any traps lurking around her school. Teen Activists and Issues.