SeaWorld asks the public not to support local school board’s anti captivity resolution
Captivity show giant, SeaWorld have reportedly followed up their recent disastrous campaign to gain support via social media with another desperate attempt to change public opinion about captivity shows.
Earlier in the week, SeaWorld tried to repair the damage done to its reputation, visitor numbers and revenues with a Twitter exercise using the hashtag #AskSeaWorld. The idea was to generate positive PR via questions that it could then answer on its website. However, unsurprisingly, what resulted was a flood of critical comments and searching questions about captivity from the general public.
Days later, SeaWorld have now reportedly attempted to quash a local backlash against its shows by asking parents and carers in San Diego to send messages to the San Diego School Board requesting it reconsider an ethical resolution that the board put forward (and that was passed unanimously) which questions captivity, criticises the educational value of these shows and asks SeaWorld to explore sanctuaries for the whales and dolphins it holds in small tanks. High school students from the Cinematic Arts Program at Point Loma spoke in support of the resolution at the board meeting. Opposing them were representatives from SeaWorld San Diego, including its president, John T. Reilly.
SeaWorld San Diego has apparently asked the public to let the school board members know by email how disappointed with their action they are and has provided a template letter for them to use.
