Update on SeaWorld Partnership

[minnis]

Over the past few weeks we’ve observed a number of Customers and community members reach out to Southwest Airlines regarding our partnership with SeaWorld.  We want our Customers to know that we’ve heard your concerns and we do not take them lightly.  I felt it was necessary to share our position on the partnership and hopefully address any concerns. We have a longstanding relationship with SeaWorld that is based on travel and bringing families together. We are engaged with Sea World related to the recent concerns being raised.   We are in a listening and education mode with the goal of upholding our commitments as a good corporate citizen.  As a responsible member of the community, we support several organizations and events that are devoted to maintaining the natural world. At this time, our partnership with SeaWorld will continue.  If you’d like to know more about Southwest’s commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet, please read our Southwest Airlines One Report at www.southwestonereport.com

[aef269]

Thank you, Southwest, for not buying into the hype of an antiquated, skewed and cleverly edited "documentary". My family and friends will continue to value your airline!

[elizabeth_shaw]

Southwest gets so much "right" - except for this. My family and I hope you end your partnership with SeaWorld. There is nothing responsible or positive about supporting a business that sucks the life out of the animals it parades around for MONEY.

[dean_gomersall]

So Susan, it would be okay to take a friend or family member away from you and put them in a building that has 5 rooms in it. in this building with no furniture , entertainment or any real stimulation at all is a few strangers. Some speak their language and some don't. Some like them, some don't. They eat the same meal day after day after they are asked to perform tricks day after day on the house keepers schedule. Over the years this friend or family member starts getting bored and chewing on the bars between these rooms. they crack their teeth which are then drilled out and flushed everyday by the house keepers. With lack of exercise their back begins to hunch over.They form a friendship , but that person soon dies of a mosquito bite. They try to join other clicks in the house but are often beat up because they can't escape. They get pregnant at a very young age and they are not sure why and what they should do because they can't talk to the Mom they were separated from years ago. They live in this house until they die at a very young age. How would you like that. Enjoy your next trip to Sea World where you will be able to go with who ever you want, eat what you want. See what you want and leave when you want. Think about it. REALLY think about it. Watch Blackfish and learn the truth. I have been an animal trainer at Sea World and now I have been rescuing sick, injured and abandoned marine mammals off the California coastline for over 16 years. I have seen both sides. It is not most of the trainers fault and not the animal care staffs fault. It is the greed of upper management and ownership that still thinks it's okay to use large intelligent animals for entertainment and profit. Hope this helps. Peace

[nephyl]

Thank you for continuing to support SeaWorld, your partnership with SeaWorld is why I fly Southwest. SeaWorld is a world leader for marine mammal conservation and conservation in general. SeaWorld endeavors to conserve the natural world we all share.

[jbrumley]

I was very disappointed to hear that you will continue to support SeaWorlds abuse of Orcas. I will never fly SouthWest again and am going to encourage all of my friends to find another carrier also.

[vsteinhoff]

I did not know Southwest was a partner with sea world, Southwest has always been my first choice as an airline. This is so disturbing, For many years I always felt something was wrong with sea world. It just never seemed right in my heart , was never a public advocate for animal rights yet the more I educate myself on topics such as sea world and circuses with animals ,the more sickened I become that I participated. I hope Southwest considers to educate themselves with and when they partner with an Organization. You are who your friends are and I am not sure that sea world is a partner that shares the same values, goals and mission as Southwest. I cannot say how although I can understand the business (financial end) you must receive from the partnership. I cannot imagine that you are looking at the social impact as well because if you were , this partnership would be e-evaluated. I am a long time customer, Just got off your plane a week ago and must say I Disappointed in Southwest's Leadership team.

[noel_alfelor_ib]

Thank you Southwest for not caving. You have my business.

[vsteinhoff]

These people you are referring to are some people like me who also made the same mistake and had the same perception as you at one time and respectfully made a decision based on more information not to support animal abuse for entertainment. We are not all "propaganda hype". Please educate yourself before you make accusations on who you are talking to and about. I respectfully disagree with your position on the topic and at the same time find you offensive in your remarks to who I am as a Woman who does not support Sea World and up until learning of this partnership have always supported Southwest. I Thank you

[colorado-rocks]

So happy you stayed true and didn't bend to pressure! I will happily continue to fly Southwest and recommend all my friends and family all around the country do as well! Great job!

[libra]

We will never fly SouthWest again. Very disappointed in your support of SeaWorld. My family business takes us all over the country weekly and we will not fly an airline that partners with animal abusers. Shame.

[libra]

Kara, $eaWorld may rescue and release smaller marine mammals but they have never released an orca back into the wild. They have captured them for PROFIT. They were not sick and should have stayed free. Wild caught Tilikum lives in solitary confinement in a tank 1 MILLIONTH the size of what his daily swimming range would be in the wild. Shame on $eaWorld and shame on Southwest.

[frequentflyersw]

Jet Blue is great too to Orlando. Even better Bigger seats, personal TV's, first checked bag is always free and they have a very accommodating service animal policy. Now that is an airline that cherishes animal. Unlike you.

[frequentflyersw]

No it doesn't. SeaWorld tortures Oracs and allows trainers to get hurt, as documented on many occasions, from getting too close to these very stressed creatures. SeaWorld does absolutely nothing positive for them. You can't rationalize that any good makes up for torture and death.

[sunflowershine]

SeaWorld only donates 0.06% of their profits to conservation efforts. They are not a world leader in marine mammal conservation, unless you consider keeping animals in tanks and withholding food unless they perform tricks "conservation." Sorry, but it's not. The concept of keeping these large, socially sophisticated, and incredibly intelligent creatures captive has been an experiment carried out over the last 50 years, and all that it has taught us was, ironically, that these animals *do not* belong in captivity. 159 orcas have died in 50 years - in the wild, an orca would live around 50 years. Ocean Sun, mother of Lolita at Miami SeaQuarium, is around 80 years old, and "Granny," the oldest orca in the world, first seen in 1911, is estimated at 102. However in captivity, they continue to die in their teens and early 20s, and we are told that this is normal. SeaWorld's research mostly amounts to artificial insemination and reproduction, since some states, like Washington State for example, flat out forbid them from "collecting" whales from state waters, and after wild capture was prohibited in the United States, they had to get their whales from somewhere. Did you know that wild killer whales, who never leave their families for their entire lives, will specifically listen for a "foreign" sounding dialect in order to choose a breeding partner? They naturally do everything they can to avoid inbreeding. Do you know how inbred the animals are at SeaWorld? Mothers impregnated by sons, daughters by fathers, and neices by uncles (for example Kohana, who lives at Loro Parque, rejected both of her calves fathered by her uncle Keto). Females don't even begin breeding in the wild until their teen years, however in captivity, they are routinely pregnant by 5 years old. The SeaWorld orca called "Corky" gave birth 7 times - each one ended in death before 47 days. This isn't conservation; this is keeping animals in a way that *they* know is wrong. SeaWorld will hopefully soon be a thing of the past and we will look back on this and say "what on earth were we thinking?"

[sunflowershine]

If you are really in a "listening" mode, please read some of these articles. "If you look at, say, the brain of an orca [and] the brain of a human, it would be difficult to say that the human brain was capable of more emotional depth than the orca brain, because — again — what you see in the orca brain is an elaboration on the limbic area that the human brain doesn’t have. So if that part of the orca brain is doing what it should be doing, as it does in all mammals — that is, processing emotions — it suggests [that] these animals are doing something very sophisticated or complex while they’re processing emotions. And I think also when you look at behavior of dolphins and whales, especially in the wild, you see a level of social cohesion that is really unmatched in other mammals including the humans." http://theraptorlab.wordpress.com/2013/08/14/inside-the-mind-of-a-killer-whale-a-qa-with-the-neuroscientist-from-blackfish/ "Professor Thomas I White argues that dolphins are non-human persons. Like humans, then, they have moral rights appropriate to their nature. White argues that the scientific data of the last thirty years makes it quite clear that the slaughter and captivity of dolphins are ethically indefensible. He argues further that anyone who doesn't recognize this is either unfamiliar with the full body of relevant scientific literature or doesn't understand the ethical significance of the data." http://us.whales.org/issues/primer-on-non-human-personhood-and-cetacean-rights

[romo2012]

I'm glad that southwest is still supporting sea world. For those who are truly wrap around the movie Blackfish, that's fine. If you don't want to fly sea world because of there believes that fine to. I use to work at sea world, and what the move shows is no where close to how sea world trainers treats the animals, I know they treat the animals with love and respect. If people are so worked up on freeing the whales at sea world, then why don't you free your dogs, and free your cats, and not let your kids have any pets, because you "don't believe in captivity", go protest at a pet store, I'm sure some house pets (not all but some) get less attention then the whales and animals at sea world. The director agenda for Blackfish is not what it portray on film, but to find something controversial and will get her an award. So tell me, whose the one looking bad sea world or the director for blackfish. Here is an interview with a former sea world trainer who was in the film Blackfish. here is what she had to say http://micechat.com/53915-blackfish-exposed/ just something to think about.

[kobayashimailin]

I think that's the right decision, Southwest. Thank you.

[sunflowershine]

Exactly - have you heard about the Spy in the Pod documentaries being run by BBC? These incredibly educational films, showing dolphins and orcas behaving normally in the wild are shot with small underwater cameras - no animal forced into captivity. These are the most educational things because we learn about the animals *as they should be* rather than in an artificial environment, in artificial "pods" with other animals that they can't even understand, performing trained behaviors to get a meal. We aren't learning anything from captivity that we hadn't already learned from wild studies. You can watch live webcams from Monterey Bay right in your living room. The information age has made the idea that we can ONLY learn to appreciate these animals if we have them locked up completely obsolete. It makes no sense in a modern, progressive world.

[paula_berg]

Dogs and cats have very little in common with orcas. Your comparison here is ignorant. More stray dogs and cats in cities is your solution to killer whales being kept in captivity and abused? The damage has been done with the sea world orcas and they can likely not be released into the wild, but they can go to a sea pen sanctuary instead of a bathtub and live out their miserable lives far more peacefully.

[paula_berg]

Terribly disappointed in Southwest's response to the unveiling of the history of torture and cruelty going on at Seaworld. Shame on Southwest. I will take my business elsewhere from now on and encourage my friends and family to do the same.

[huklbery]

Thank you southwest for taking the time to see and understand the truth. Thank you for rising above the sensationalism and climbing over the bandwagon to stand for the truth. SeaWorld believes in connecting and caring. For sharing these amazing animals with the world so everyone will connect and care more with our planet.

[romo2012]

I wonder how many people who are responding negatively to southwest support, who say “they’re not going to fly southwest ever again" are going to end up flying southwest again. I also wonder, how many people truly mean what they say in how "disappointed” they are, just because southwest supports sea world. I know as a kid I love seeing the Shamu plane. I was more excited when I got to fly in one. Thought you may disapprove with southwest and say your "not going to fly with this airlines again" I'm pretty sure you going to be the one that jumps on a good deal that southwest has to offer, and fly with them again. You rock southwest, and don't change your views on a people’s short term up roar. In a month or two, this anger will die out, and like always people will return to their normal lives. And, still thousands of people will continue to fly southwest, whether or not they agree with southwest views. And, thousands of people will continue to go to sea world to see god beautiful animals up close. I love this airlines because they support a good organization, and will not let the negative people change there views and support. Thank you Southwest!!!

[stevelubin]

Bringing families together? What about the orca families that Sea World has torn apart? Taken babies from the wild to support their carnivals of animal pain.

[stevelubin]

RIGHT ON!!

[chris_yarbrough]

Clearly no one commenting below eats meat, because those animals are treated a lot worse than SeaWorld's. People commenting against SeaWorld and Southwest's support of the park clearly learned everything they know about this situation from one source. A very misleading and one-sided source at that. I am proud to work for a company that isn't bullied into severing relationships by false propaganda. In the past few days, many people are coming out AGAINST the movie blackfish and reporting how it presented false information from unreliable sources. One of these people is a trainer who was even in the film. The reason this counter argument isn't picking up as much publicity is because CNN will not profit from it like they do from the film. Thank you Southwest Airlines for doing the right thing.

[jingles]

Sadly SWA chose the wrong side and their profits will too take a hit, just like SeaWorld, Inc. This isn't about bullying unless you are talking about repeatedly breeding captive animals for a life of torture and pain, then yes, that is bullying. Corporate responsibility. 2 words something I was hoping SWA would teach SeaWorld about.

[mrbuckwheat]

For the record, I never said this was the only way to educate or engage. It's one of many tools. Being up close to animals is very different than seeing them on your TV or computer screen. It's very different than seeing a museum exhibit. It's very different than reading a book. Life experiences are cumulative. You guys are trying to negate my argument by taking a super narrow interpretation to dismiss it, which is typical of these types of "discussions." I believe there is a net-positive societal/global impact by having SeaWorld around than not. None of us have data to prove it in either direction, of course. So go ahead and vote with your dollars. Don't give them to SeaWorld or SWA. If you care so much, put those dollars into your own awareness campaigns and run these evil corporations out of business. I'll see you in aisle 7.

[i-support-sw]

http://micechat.com/53915-blackfish-exposed/ Go Southwest! Been flying you for years and will continue for years to come. Unfortunately many people are misinformed by a "documentary" and do not realize the sensationalism that has taken place in this "documentary". The link attached is just a scratch on the surface- shedding the light on some of the inconsistencies and propaganda used in order to portray one side of the story and twist the truth. Thank SWA for standing up and continuing your partnership with seaworld,

[rsussmann]

Dear Southwest: You are doing the right thing. What is not being seen is that there is a heavy level of deceit on the part of the film makers of Blackfish, and that their agenda is to destroy the decades of research on marine life. This backlash against SeaWorld isn't due to rational thought. Your team has made it clear that your partnership with SeaWorld will continue, and this I support fully. Many people do not understand the actual story as it has been covered over by CNN and other sources in attempts to gain money from the film, rather than to understand objectively what SeaWorld does. Thank you for being a responsible corporate partner - and not following the route that CNN and the creators of Blackfish have taken. R.D.S. 1/9/14

[h4l3yc]

That is far from the truth. There are many boating adventures that allow you to see marine life in their natural habitat. Unfortunately Seaworld takes up so much commercialism that these types of places are less heard of. From someone who has done both wild observation and a trip to Seaworld, I'll tell you there is nothing more magical than being in the ocean and seeing whales and dolphins. Seaworld is just overpriced commercialized junk and on top of that doesn't take the time to respect and care for the animals.

[michelle_norwoo]

Thank you, Southwest, for not jumping on this bandwagon. You have and will continue to be my airline of choice not only because of your impeccable customer service but because you have taken the time to listen and then get the correct information before making such an impactful decision. And knowing the truth about SeaWorld and how their animals are very well cared for, I support their parks and more importantly the trainers and animal care staff that dedicate their lives to each and every one of them.

[felix_castro]

Kelly, would you mind if I took one of your kids and locked them in a phone booth for the rest of their lives ? You know, it would be great to share them with passersby so they can connect and care more for children . Sounds terrible and cruel doesn't it ? That's exactly what you are advocating for to happen to Killer Whales, and Dolphins. These aren't goldfish, they have families,language, memories,and feel emotions just like we do.

[vsteinhoff]

Chris, not everyone is making decisions based on one film. Although personally am glad to see the awareness the film has brought to many new people. The awareness that many of us have known for years about Sea World. Instead of anger perhaps educate yourself on the people you seem to be attacking. Also Southwest partnership with sea World will have an impact because they aligned a partnership with a value that many of us do not share. Thanks Vickie

[vassil_mladjov]

I won't be flying with South West until you end your partnership with SeaWorld. !

[wormywyrm]

I will not be flying southwest until they cut ties with seaworld. Having ties to companies like seaworld is a huge tarnish on your companies reputation.

[madarbuck]

There was a movement against SeaWorld years before Blackfish was even filmed. The fact that SeaWorld even HAS trainers is part of the problem people have with them. Animals with culture should not be forced to perform or live in confinement. Basically what you're saying is: it's okay for SeaWorld to profit off of animal abuse but not okay for CNN to profit off of exposing it.

[kim_peterson]

Thank you Southwest! I will continue to support SeaWorld and continue to fly Southwest because they are reasonable, responsible companies.

[patfph61]

I am a 53-year old mother and working woman whom no one would call an activist or a liberal. I strongly believe in capitalism so as a consumer of SW services, I am conveying my views and you can consider them or not. Then as a consumer, I will decide whether to continue utilizing your services or not. I respectfully request that SW officials do its own research into the issue of orca captivity, including this mammal's unique intelligence, sentience, as well as space and social needs. If SW is committed to the planet and its inhabitants, then act on the results of your research. If you only care about the bottom line, then please consider keeping the beautiful Orca planes but allow the Orca to represent your commitment to honoring the plight of these intelligent and sentient mammals and the end of a partnership with an entity that does not. Research whether this would have any economic benefit to your brand. I am a normal citizen who lives in the South. I don't typically write companies or sign petitions but the research I have conducted since the most recent death at Sea World has opened my eyes. I have a deep reverence for this amazing creature that God has created.I have a spiritual duty to speak out against cruelty of any type. SW is an "it" but its employees are humans. I simply ask that you, as a collection of humans, consider what side of this issue you want to find yourself when the dust settles. Thank you for your consideration.

[felix_castro]

Way to miss the whole point Roy, good use of strawmen as well. No one said that the trainers don't love the prisoners or treat them badly. It's the captivity and living conditions that are inhumane. If you love something, wouldn't you want what is best for it ? It is clear, documented by science that captivity is bad for killer whales and dolphins,period. There are no ,ifs, ands, or buts. They do not thrive in captivity and it's wrong to keep them in those conditions. Did you even watch Blackfish ?

[raidersinreach-]

Did Southwest say something about keeping families together? Maybe they should watch BlackFish. Southwest your actions and your responses are reprehensible and purely profit driven, sort of reminds me of the slave trade. We will never be silent.

[alexander_josep]

I'd like to thank you for your continued support of SeaWorld despite the extensive misinformation that has been spread recently. SeaWorld is a first class facility that cares so much for all marine wildlife, as well as their trainers and guests! Please continue to support them, as I continue to support you. : ) thank you!

[john4001]

Matt, When you say there is a "net-positive societal/global impact by having SeaWorld around", net positive for who? You could say people are entertained and walk away impressed with the size and intelligence of these animals. I guess you could call that positive. But it certainly isn't positive for the orcas. In fact, it's downright inhumane to take these highly intelligent, majestic animals and keep them in these tiny tanks so they can do circus acts for humans. And you can't say that people leave the park better informed or educated about orcas, when it's been proven that SW is actually giving out misinformation. I just can't see what's positive about it. Certainly not to the degree that would allow for the abuse these animals suffer just for humans' amusement.

[john4001]

I'm glad to see that people are continuing to post here and that the vast majority of posts are not supportive of SWA continuing its relationship with SW. I also appreciate that SWA appears not to be censoring or skewing the results. As the wonderful airline that you are - innovative, cutting edge, fun! - I hope you will give serious consideration to cutting ties with Seaworld. The "Blackfish Effect" is very real and as the number of people who've seen the film increases, Seaworld's stock continues to suffer. This little David of a film has gone after the Goliath of the industry of animal captivity and has permanently touched the hearts of millions. The genie is out of the bottle. Seaworld needs to seriously revise its business model or go the way of the Edsel. I have every confidence that SWA is the type of company that can do the right thing, but I think it needs to happen sooner rather than later. A lot of people are making a lot of money shorting Seaworld stock. Southwest Airlines risks the same fate and needs to severe ties soon and publicly. Thank you.

[markincolo]

Planning on going to Sea World in San Antonio in June. Already have Rapid Rewards (RR) tickets booked for the outbound leg and will book return leg soon. Planning Southwest for the return. Thanks for having RR availability at a very reasonable number of points required. I am seeing good prices for the return. SWA is #1 domestically!

[christopher_p_b]

no good will come from this partnership. Seaworld is dead to me and I refuse to ride in one of your planes with their logo. I can only vote with my wallet until you end this partnership, so you won't see me until you are done with Shamu, too

[waited4ever]

I want to start by saying I absolutely LOVE Southwest you have always provided my family with the best flying experience. However it is sad that you want to continue your partnership with Seaworld. Long before the movie "Blackfish" I have had an issue with this institution and after seeing the movie I continued to do more research on orca's and dolphins. What they are doing is disgusting and that you are not even willing to suspend your activities with them is also in the same category of disgust. My family will not be flying Southwest until you reconsider your stance.

[nancy1234]

I have much respect for SWA and have received great service from them over many years. I am hopeful that SWA will do the right thing and end their relationship with Sea World. There is no other choice, the majority of marine biologists in this field all have supported the view these intelligent creatures cannot live happy lives in a cement tank. Do the right thing SWA! We are counting on you!

[poorel]

I have flowed SWA regularly before. But after knowing that SWA is partnered with SW and paints their captive animals on your planes, I am utterly disappointed. I hear that SWA is very good with corporate social responsibility. I urge you to end your partnership with SW. By doing so, you will truly be supporting your basis for partnering with SW in the first place "We have a longstanding relationship with SeaWorld that is based on travel and bringing families together." If you are about "travel and bringing families together", please educate yourselves about how orcas travel together with their entire families all their lives in the wild. It is inhumane and immoral to support captivity and commercialization of such highly emotional and intelligent animals that share similar, if not stronger, family bonds as humans. As a loyal SWA customer, I urge you to please take action, and take it quickly. The "listening and education mode" approach that SWA is taking--for a few weeks now--is equivalent to silence. And as a wise man said, "Remaining silent in the face of injustice is the same as supporting it." I urge you to end your association with SW. Else, I will do what one person can do -- stop flying SWA and urge all my friends and family to do the same.

[poorel]

I am sure you or your kids or kids you know love dinosaurs. They must have lived quite a while to have loved them by seeing them perform tricks for you, right?

[nick_aster]

I love Southwest, and I'm glad to see attention being paid to this issue. It's tough to be challenged about something not directly under your control, but the behavior of close partners does matter if one chooses to endorse them. There's a very sticky ethical question about whether orcas should be kept in captivity at all much less be put into shows. I hope to see this dialogue continue and hope that Southwest and their employees look at this as a long term ethical issue and not a short-term bottom line decision.