New Aquarium Opened in Times Square, Encounter: Ocean Odyssey, Dolphin Outlook, The International Marine Mammal Project, SeaWorld, Dolphin Saved After Asking Humans For Help, Week 6 Drive Statistics

New Video Debunks SeaWorld’s Ridiculous Lies About Dolphins and Orcas in Under 10 Mins

The International Marine Mammal Project recently released a new video proving how ridiculous SeaWorld’s advertising and claims really are. These claims include that the orcas are healthy, that they are happy, and that keeping them in captivity is the best option for their well-being. According to data collected over the years along with the death of numerous cetaceans, nothing could be further from the truth.

Keiko, the star of the Free Willy movies, was the first orca to be released back into the wild into a protected seaside sanctuary. Keiko lived another seven years, living to the be one of the oldest male orcas in captivity at the time of his release. For SeaWorld to call Keiko’s release into the sanctuary, where he could actually swim for more than a few hundred feet and swim with other orcas, a failure – well, it’s pretty obvious they are getting desperate to save themselves.

The numbers don’t lie –since Keiko’s rehabilitation and retirement, a whopping 77 cetaceans have died at SeaWorld, eight of whom were orcas. Additionally, 325 cetaceans have died in captivity all over the world just during that time period from 1996 to 2003.

SeaWorld has never retired any of their dolphins or whales and the only reason they can give is that it would be irresponsible and potentially fatal to return a captive cetacean to the ocean. The truth is that they would rather work these poor animals until they can’t make any more money off of them.

The good news is that people are becoming more and more aware of SeaWorld’s lies and fake advertising. Thanks to documentaries like Blackfish and The Cove, it’s easy to see that being torn away from family, living in a concrete tank, and being forced to perform silly and trivial tricks is cruel and certainly no life for any marine animal. Some SeaWorld visitors are even suing SeaWorld for misleading and false claims.

Share this video to help spread the truth! The world is waking up to the cruel exploitation of animals in all forms- circuses, roadside zoos, marine parks, and more. To learn more click here.

Dolphin Saved After Asking Humans For Help. You often hear of dolphins rescuing humans from nearby predators or preventing them from drowning. However, when the situation is flipped, and it's humans doing the rescuing, it's just as inspiring and indicative of who dolphins really are. READ MORE

National Geographic is a pioneer in the forefront of photographic imagery, and they have long introduced people to the unknown and unseen corners of the globe with the use of stunning images and video footage. And now, National Geographic is raising the bar even higher with the introduction of a new aquarium in Times Square. But this is no ordinary aquarium; this aquarium is created with the use of technology and features no live animals.

The experience is called Encounter: Ocean Odyssey, and it takes visitors on a mesmerizing tour into the depths of the Pacific Ocean. You can walk through coral reefs, witness giant squid and massive schools of fish envelop around you, interact with marine mammals, and see sharks up close and personal.

The footage is unbelievably lifelike and was made by the animators responsible for the visual effects of Game of Thrones, and the soundtrack was created by a Grammy-award winning composer.

Additionally, there are features about conservation and plastic pollution that inspire people to protect our oceans. And the icing on the cake: 27 percent of each ticket sale goes directly towards ocean conservation.

This fantastic new attraction is the first of its kind and can be enjoyed by ocean lovers of all ages, although some features were created to inspire children to become future ocean defenders. This is very exciting, as children have the ability to make serious change and pave the way for a brighter, biodiverse tomorrow. Considering the alternatives, like SeaWorld, which do not educate or empower children to protect animals, Encounter: Ocean Odyssey is a welcomed addition to the world of public education and conservation.

To view some astonishing photos and videos from this captivating visual experience, you can visit the National Geographic Encounter Instagram page.

To learn more about the attraction, ask questions, and reserve tickets, you can visit the Encounter: Ocean Odyssey website here.

And remember to share this exciting news with your family and friends!