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"SeaWorld is launching a nation-wide counter-attack against criticism that has followed the release of the documentary \"Blackfish.\"The company has placed full-page advertisements in eight of the country's largest newspapers, including the Orlando Sentinel.\"Blackfish\" sparks debate over taking kids to animal parksThe ad \"SeaWorld: The Truth Is in Our Parks and People, An Open Letter from SeaWorld's Animal Advocates\" never identifies the movie \"Blackfish\" by name but it does defend how it cares for whales in captivity.Read the full open letter from SeaWorldCiting inaccurate reports, the letter goes on the counter attack with six key points. Among them:-SeaWorld does not capture killer whales in the wild. They say the last one was 35 years ago.-SeaWorld does not separate killer whale moms and calves.-SeaWorld has invested $70 million in improving its killer whale habitats.-SeaWorld's research helps animals in the wild.-The life span of killer whales at Sea World is the same as in the wild.Eight performers, including Heart, Willie Nelson, the Barenaked Ladies, REO Speedwagon, Trisha Yearwood, Martina McBride, .38 Special and Cheap Trick, have pulled out of the annual Bands, Brew and Barbeque concert series.\"I think they're getting desperate now because almost all of their musical acts have canceled and don't want to be associated with the inherent cruelty of forced performances of these captive animals,\" said Don Anthony, with the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida.Last week, SeaWorld released a statement saying some people are misinformed but they do respect the bands' decisions.A protest is planned by the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida this weekend."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.wesh.com/article/seaworld-launches-counter-attack-against-criticism/4430271>