New Film Exposes the Long and Controversial History of Sea World and the Entire Captive Dolphin and Whale Display Industry

New Film Exposes the Long and Controversial History of Sea World and the Entire Captive Dolphin and Whale Display Industry

SAN FRANCISCO, July 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Sea World is responsible for the death of thousands of dolphins and whales, so states former Sea World biologist Dr. John Hall. That is the thread of the first comprehensive documentary film to explore the sordid history of the captive whale and dolphin display industry. A Fall From Freedom, an 82-minute film produced by San Francisco-based EarthViews Productions, includes interviews with scientists, marine mammal biologists, former trainers, activists, and current and past marine park representatives. It is available for viewing free of charge on its website, http://www.afallfromfreedom.com.

Narrated by Mike Farrell (M*A*S*H, Providence), A Fall From Freedom digs deep into the history of the captive dolphin and whale industry. Topics covered in the film include:

-- Sea World representatives secretly promoted the Japanese dolphin drives
where thousands of animals are driven to shore and brutally killed, in
order to provide their parks with replacement animals, says Dr. John
Hall, former Sea World biologist.

-- There is no educational value to having whales or dolphins in a captive
environment, states former Sea World biologist Dr. John Hall and former
Sea World killer whale trainer Dr. John Jett.

-- Contrary to the claims of many marine parks and aquariums, captive
killer whales die far more frequently and at a far earlier age than they
do in the wild, says Dr. Naomi Rose, biologist for Humane Society
International.

-- Sea World has been involved in illegal and unethical actions to assure
their parks are well stocked with killer whales, states former Sea World
biologist Dr. John Hall.

-- The Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums has worked tirelessly
to reduce government oversight on the health and well-being of captive
whales and dolphins, states Dr. Naomi Rose.

-- Sea World representatives have claimed that whales and dolphins are not
highly intelligent, sophisticated, and social animals. Dr. Lori Marino,
a leading expert on killer whale intelligence and social dynamics,
asserts that their intelligence and social dependence is second only to
humans.

-- Sea World and other marine parks claimed that the rehabilitation and
release back to the wild of Keiko, star of the Free Willy movie, was a
failure from the start. Dave Phillips of the Free Willy-Keiko Foundation
argues that the project was a rousing success, which proved that these
animals can be taken from captivity, rehabilitated and returned to the
wild.

A Fall From Freedom is a comprehensive history of facilities worldwide that hold whales and dolphins for public entertainment. The film was sponsored by Friends of Animals, Humane Society of the U.S., Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, BlueVoice, the American SPCA, The Summerlee Foundation, the Donald Slavik Family Foundation, and The Campbell Foundation.

EarthViews Productions has been producing environmental documentaries for nearly 40 years, including Where Have All the Dolphins Gone?, a one-hour film on the killing of dolphins during tuna fishing operations, hosted by the late George C. Scott, which was broadcast primetime on Discovery Channel and was partly responsible for all U.S. tuna canners accepting only dolphin-safe tuna. Its other films include The Free Willy Story: Keiko's Journey Home, a primetime Discovery Channel original program, narrated by Rene Russo, and a primetime TBS Special, A World With Dolphins, hosted by Bridget Fonda.

Contact:

Stan MinasianExecutive Director/Senior ProducerEarthViews ProductionsFort Mason, Quarters 35NSan Francisco, CA 94123415 775-4636delphinus@aol.comhttp://www.afallfromfreedom.comhttp://www.earthviewsproductions.com

Photos available upon request

This press release was issued through eReleases(R). For more information, visit eReleases Press Release Distribution at http://www.ereleases.com.

SOURCE EarthViews Productions

EarthViews Productions

Web Site: http://www.earthviewsproductions.com

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