About this dolphin and orca thing..

[FlameWizard492]

You're allowed to say the word 'mod' dude.

The game is designed to be a realistic zoo simulator (barring obvious gameplay limitations) with a focus on conservation. Consistently throughout history the capture, containment, showcasing, and even breeding of large marine mammals like whales and dolphins has been detrimental to their conservation. The controversy exists because X group of people wants the game to suddenly ignore its own message to appease their Zoo Tycoon nostalgia, and Y group of people thinks the game should stick to its message and not touch the actual real world controversy with a ten foot pole.

What about rescuing marine mammals from marine parks that don’t focus too much on welfare?

 

[Spiderhawk]

Beluga is the ONE marine habitat animal I'd be sooooo grateful and exceeted for!
I loved them since I saw them (IDK if it was TV or book or what) for the first time. I've seen them in person since then and they are purest white animal you could imagine.
I wanted to do a Beluga encounter. Still do...

Mystic Aquarium located in Mystic Connecticut
My 18th birthday I got to do a beluga encounter
The belugas are well taken care of, their habitat is large and they are well taken care for. The aquarium is AZA certified

Bucket List Achievements Updated! See a Beluga in the Wild (Not Completed).
That's really cool. Even just that you've been to the Arctic alone...

I got a suggestion for you
Go to Alaska, in particular Anchorage Alaska in September. The Cool Inlet Belugas come very close to shore chasing fish and you can see them on the turnagain arm. They are more likely to appear around September depending on the tides. Therefore you don’t have to go to the Arctic to see them, this population is unique as they are descendants of belugas that got displaced and never had a reason to leave the inlet, making them one of the only beluga populations not found in the Arctic Ocean.

Now back to the main topic. NO on orcas in captivity! Yes it’s a game but I refuse to support having orcas in captivity.

 

[Orkan]

Mystic Aquarium located in Mystic Connecticut
My 18th birthday I got to do a beluga encounter
The belugas are well taken care of, their habitat is large and they are well taken care for. The aquarium is AZA certified

My mom worked there for a short time probably about twenty years ago now. She made food for the penguins. She eventually left to train sea lions at the New England aquarium because she didn’t like something about the place. What, I don’t exactly remember, but it was something. I think it had to do with the penguin’s diet?

I’m sure they’ve changed a lot since then, and if they’re AZA certified then I trust them. Even zoos such as Southwick’s who aren’t AZA but have everything they need to be AZA I’ll trust. But most non-AZA zoos I won’t go to.

 

[Cynogale bennettii II]

With regards to the bottlenose dolphin, there was a scientific paper published yesterday that has found that captive dolphins are now living longer than those in the wild. I personally wouldn't mind them at all - to me, they are no more controversial than elephants or great apes.

Marine mammal longevity study reveals remarkable advances in animal welfare

A new study provides compelling evidence that animal care and management practices at zoos and aquariums have significantly improved over time. The study, led by Species360 and University of Southern Denmark Research Scientist Dr. Morgane Tidière in collaboration with 41 co-authors from...

phys.org

 

[Spiderhawk]

My mom worked there for a short time probably about twenty years ago now. She made food for the penguins. She eventually left to train sea lions at the New England aquarium because she didn’t like something about the place. What, I don’t exactly remember, but it was something. I think it had to do with the penguin’s diet?

I’m sure they’ve changed a lot since then, and if they’re AZA certified then I trust them. Even zoos such as Southwick’s who aren’t AZA but have everything they need to be AZA I’ll trust. But most non-AZA zoos I won’t go to.

Both aquariums are amazing IMOP
I last was there 2 years ago, I talked with an educator for a while (I was an educator ftr), she explained the research they are doing with the penguins ( if I remember correctly I think they were African penguins) and there’s some serious projects going on.