Just in time to resurrect this group again (pardon the Easter-time pun), two bombshells are dropped by Seaworld. One that they will end the breeding and the other that they are ending the shows.

Ending Breeding
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-.....-killer-whales

Ending Shows
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money.....ales/81900498/

The breeding, I'm rather skeptical on. Mostly because they will likely end the AIs, but let orcas be orcas and breed anyway. So "accidental" births will still happen. However, it wouldn't be a constant flow of calves, so it might take a couple decades, but the last orca in captivity WILL die eventually. If they don't agree to finally empty the tanks first, which will take a couple decades anyway.

The shows, I'm more optimistic on. With their focus now on making the encounters more "natural", they can finally work on adding some scenery to the tanks so the orcas are less bored with those stupid white walls. Also, the orca tredmill idea they had before should DEFINITELY be mandatory. Court-mandated, even.

I KNOW it's not the ocean or the sea-pen, but I can certainly give Seaworld a pat on the back for finally realizing the bullshit is over. No big company wants to go down in flames the way it was about to and these two things are MAJOR concessions for them. Hell, I'd even say it's better this way for the little ones. The ones born in captivity have NO IDEA what's in the ocean, so being introduced to a more natural setting would be a great help in case they ever do make it out to the sea-pen.

~Tag