Walking With … Whales?
OK, ever since we mentioned our proposal to take over a SeaWorld and turn it into a virtual-reality marine-mammal theme park, some people have been a bit, well, skeptical.
Obviously, these folks aren’t familiar with PETA and our unique blend of determination and outside-the-box thinking. Long story short: Never say “never” to PETA people (and that includes our wonderful members and supporters).
Anyone who doubts that we are serious—and, really, we’re a little hurt, Sea World PR man—might want to check out a new animal-friendly show touring the U.S. called “Walking With Dinosaurs.” It features enormous “live” dinosaurs roaring and stomping around the arena, chasing each other, foraging, and protecting their young. Imagine a life-size T. rex towering over you. Using animatronics, lighting, and sound effects, the show is thrilling family-packed audiences.
Unlike the animals currently trapped at SeaWorld, these robotic Barneys voluntarily put on an amazing 90-minute show. Machines don’t get bored and anxious between performances or miss their “natural” environment, but marine mammals—who would naturally swim hundreds of miles per day, eat a diverse diet, and form complex relationships—spend their lives swimming in listless, lonely circles.
If they can already do all that with fake dinosaurs, then our SeaWorld overhaul should be a piece of cake (or maybe a cupcake), right? Like one of those aquarium screensavers—and if you’re jonesing for an aquarium, that’s the way to go—taken to the extreme. It’s win-win: The animals are free to do their thing, and you don’t go home smelling like chlorine.
Written by Jeff Mackey
