I admit it. We took our kids to Sea World to see Shamu about 15 years ago during spring break. Sea World hadn’t been open very long In San Antonio and everybody in Texas couldn’t wait to go. We thought it was great- at the time. Later that same summer, we learned what we did was wrong, very wrong. In my defense, we didn’t know any better. (However, that never really gets anybody off on Law and Order does it)?
We laughed, and oohed and aahed along with everybody else in the crowd, naively assuming that the lives of their animal performers were great. I did think about the confinement issue. However, I justified that in my mind by thinking that they really didn’t have to do that much everyday and they only worked 6 months a year. They had major medical; not to mention no more worries about being attacked in the wild or having to forage for food.
A few months later we took to the kids to Corpus Christi, a resort town located down the Texas coast about 225 miles from Houston. Being raised by two avid (fisherpeople)?, Corpus was where we went every summer, two or three times. I wanted our kids to see the town and some of the places that I so enjoyed growing up. While checking into the hotel I saw a brochure that had dolphins on it. It was for a small little business called the Dolphin Connection. For $15, you could go out in a small boat into Corpus Christi bay and interact with wild dolphins, so it said. I called and booked our trip for our last day of vacation.
The next few days were fun, a little too much sun and some so-so food; but the kids had a good time. They even saw the hotel pool where I learned to swim. I was waiting for the last day. When we got to Ingleside, a tiny little community right by Corpus, we met Erv Strong and his wife and Sonja AKA The Dolphin Connection. Weather permitting, Erv takes a maximum of 6 people at a time, out to see the dolphins in the bay. I think now he charges $25. This trip is so worth it.
It is like nothing you could imagine. These wild dolphins come up to the boat to interact with you because they want to, not because it’s their job or because they get fed. You can dangle your feet in the water and they come right up to you. If you love dolphins and whales please go to the link and check out the entire website. You’ll learn a lot and probably never go to Sea World again.Here’s a link to just one page of their blog.
I’m not against Sea World. They rescue and rehab all kinds of marine life. That’s just great. However, after listening to Erv, who has been with dolphins for almost 30 years, you’ll never again want to see a captive dolphin or whale show. I’ll probably never again get to be as close to an orca as I was at Sea World. I may never even get to see one on a whale watching tour; but that’s OK. I’d rather see them on Animal Planet or the Discovery than ever see a captive dolphin or whale again.
Here’s an excerpt from one of the links on their site. I heard this info for the first time while out on a trip with Erv. Ric O’Barry, who captured and trained the dolphins that played “Flipper” said, “Flipper was the best and worst thing that ever happened to dolphins.
On one hand it made the masses aware of them, and on the other, it created an image of them that made people desire to have, hold and be with them.
What turned me around on the captivity issue was when Flipper die in my arms inside a cold, chlorinated, steel tank at Miami Sea Aquarium.
I must tell you. I believe it was suicide.”
If you decide to go, please tell him that you heard about him from the Bodacious Boomer. We gone many times over the years and enjoyed it every time. Last time it was just Doug and I.
FYI- They have life jackets for your little ones; and it’s usually better when the water gets a little warmer.
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i use a combo of shea butter and aloe vera moisturizer. Works great. I use shea butter on my lips, around my eyes and nose (dry areas), My father swears by vasoline.
p.s. I dropped your name on Gina's post, Barb. ;)
I agree with you. I used to go to Sea World as a child. However, now I do not go to zoos of any type. I experience my animals in the wild. And before I get lots of posts about how money from zoos make it possible for all the resue activities, I get it. I do. However, I just can’t do the zoos. There is something inheritly sad about the whole idea.
I know where you’re coming from. When I was little, Houston had a big zoo. However, 75% of the animals were on concrete floors with bars in front of them. I found it very sad, even as a child. The zoo here has now improved dramatically. However, captivity is still captivity. Please send the link for the Dolphin Connection to others you know so people may know there’s an alternative.
i did go to Sea World and wondered about the whales. I just followed the group and actually enjoyed the show, but did wondered if this was a good thing. I do not go to circus where animals are used nor do i go to a show being announced now called calvaria or something like that. IT is with a horse or horses. Sea World says that they will continue to use the specific whale that killed its trainer and others. I do not know why they would do that, it does not make any sense. Is it too late to free this whale? Will he/she be able to survive in the wild after such a long period of time in captivity? The humane thing to do is to let it go… be free.
From what I’ve heard they do not believe that Tilikum could make it on his own anymore. He’s been in captivity too long. The day it happened I heard Sea World was considering moving him to a “sea pen” off the coast of Iceland, where he was from. I gather they’ve changed their minds about that in later days.
Thanks for your story, our animals are so important. My husband and I have a fishing boat we take off the west coast of BC, Port Renfrew. Just wide open ocean, many amazing things happen.
One very exciting moment happened so suddenly, as a 3 Killer whales, ran a seal sitting on rocks about 50 feet from us. They flung the seal in the air to kill him, and then dragged him under. At the same time a little porpoise came scuttling around the other side of the boat. Hiding from the whales, right in front of us the Orca, did that” spyhopping” looking for the porpoise. When the whale left the little porpoise quickly made it to a shallow bay. At the same time a grey whale was feeding close to shore behind us too. The Orcas didn’t see him either, that was quite a moment, time to call it a day.
You’re very welcome. These animals are so important and although it’s sad that most people will never get to see an orca in the wild, I believe that’s just where they should stay. What do you and your husband fish for? How long are you out at a time? I’m very envious of all the amazing things you must be able to see close up.
i cannot take it when the strong kills the weak either, i change the channel immediately when i see it on TV. I always put myself on the one that is being attached! Too stressful!!!!
I’ve always wanted to go to Africa, and will someday. However, I’ve heard that you must be prepared for anything you see and nature isn’t always kind. That part will be hard for me.
We fish for salmon, if we go everyday for 2 weeks, we’ll probably bring mome 3 over 30 pounds. Fishing regulations are very strict, fish and game officers are at every dock. Checking for over fishing, licensing, poaching. I’m very glad for this. We can often be on the water for 8 or ten hours. All the animals tend to feed at the same time, based on the tides, which are based on the moon.( I think the moon cycles affect all animals and feeding) So when that is happening the herring are moving close to the surface (called a baitball) the salmon will come up to feed on them, at the same time, the eagles will go for the herring from above (poor herring) then the Orca or Seals, dolphins etc will go for the salmon. Baleen whales, like grey whales will come around at some point too. To eat the shrimp and other small things. they all have to watch out for the killer whales. When the eagles grab some herring and head for the highest tree he is followed by crows, who try to annoy him in to dropping something, but he never does. If we jigg for bottom feeders like cod, the eagles watch us very carefully. They know before we do that there is something on the line. If we unhook a small cod, through it in the air an eagle will catch it before it hits the water. It’s glorious!
I hope people understand that recreational fishing is very regulated. Most fishermen contribute a lot to wildlife preservation. It’s nothing like commercial fishing, sucking everything off the bottom of the sea and picking out what you want, leaving the rest to die, or large nets that trap everything.
Then there’s the bears, but that’s around the rivers.
I’m assuming that all salmon brought back must be over 30 lbs. Do you wind up taking other fish home as well? You all must truly love it. How big is your boat? My dad used to go out in the Gulf of Mexico 30 miles in a boat only 16′. (I wouldn’t go out that far). Are you ever anxious about being so close to such big creatures? When we were in Mexico on spring break long ago, a migrating humpback surfaced about 10′ from the boat we were on. The boat was about 30′. It was fabulous!
Our boat is 18 feet, and it’s terrifying and exciting when they come close. We wouldn’t purposely go close to them, or get in their well known travel routes.
The type of salmon determines the weight you can keep, Chinnok/Spring are the biggest chum, sockeye,cohoe,pinks just depends the season. Like to get halibut, and some times we’ve brought back red snapper, and crab.
Wow, I’m so envious. It sounds so wonderful. You’re very lucky. Do you ever take video when you’re out? If so, I’d love to see it sometime if you’d share.