SeaWorld will be phasing out theatrical shows with the animals, and instead having the orcas participate in a new kind of experience that SeaWorld is calling “inspiring” and “educational.” “No orca or dolphin born under human care has ever survived release into the wild,” Manby writes.īut orcas will continue to be displayed to a paying audience - just in a different fashion. Those that weren’t have spent most of their lives under human care. SeaWorld has not captured a live orca in almost 40 years, so most of their animals were born in captivity. In the op-ed, SeaWorld explains that the animals won’t be released into the wild because they would likely die. The life expectancy of an orca is 30 years for males, and 50 years for females, but orcas have been known to live up to 90 years in the wild. In response to this morning’s announcement, Schliff told the BBC, "These changes are something that advocates have been urging for years and I think SeaWorld will find that visitors will reward their actions with a renewed interest in the parks."Īll 29 orcas currently held in SeaWorld parks will continue to live out their lives in these facilities. In November, California congressman Adam Schliff introduced the Orca Responsibility and Care Advancement Act, a proposed bill that would phase out orca captivity entirely. SEE ALSO: Judge Denies Chimps Legal Rights Growing disapproval from the public had been putting increasing pressure on SeaWorld to end its breeding program. SeaWorld had previously announced intentions to phase out its live orca shows, so the decision comes as no surprise. “This will be the last generation of orcas at SeaWorld,” CEO Joel Manby said in a video. Veterinarians and technicians will be challenging students to apply the knowledge and skills that they have worked so hard to develop in the course of their veterinary education.In an op-ed published this morning in the Los Angeles Times, SeaWorld announced an end to its controversial orca breeding program. Students are encouraged to participate in discussion of cases and ask questions. When not directly involved with a case, procedure, or research, the student will be expected to assist the veterinary technicians with their daily tasks and cleaning. Additionally, the student will be asked to write at least two medical SOAPS on two complicated or challenging cases that they shadowed or assisted with during their clinical rotation. Oftentimes the topic is inspired by procedures or cases that are observed during the first couple of weeks on the rotation. Students may also be given the opportunity to assist the rescue team with medical treatments or accompany the rescue team on rescues or return trips.Įach student will be expected to give a presentation on a select topic at the end of their rotation. This will expose the student to proper husbandry techniques, exhibit maintenance and behavioral conditioning. marine mammal, avian, aquarium) who care for animals managed at the park. microbiology, hematology, water quality) and/or our husbandry teams (ie. Students may also have the opportunity to shadow our laboratory (ie. birds, mammals-mostly pinnipeds, and sea turtles), but it cannot be guaranteed. Hands-on experience and the opportunity for a student to co-manage a medical case may be obtained opportunistically as certain rescue cases are presented to us (ie. Due to the specialization of skills required to work on our unique collection safely, our externship program primarily involves job shadowing with the purpose of introducing the student to the concepts of aquatic animal medicine. While on rotation, the student will have the opportunity to observe and assist in various aquatic animal medical procedures and learn the importance of a preventative medicine and animal welfare program at a zoological facility. Participation in after-hours procedures is encouraged but not mandatory. However, students are expected to be flexible in terms of availability as exam times sometimes take place outside of scheduled hours or on weekends. The student is expected to work at least 5 days a week (M-F) with a typical day starting at 0800 and ending around 1700. Students will work alongside SeaWorld San Diego’s clinical veterinarians and veterinary technicians for a duration of 4 weeks assisting with active medical cases and preventative medicine.
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