freedomforwhales:saveblackfish:Artificial Insemination Whales and dolphins have also been bred i
freedomforwhales: saveblackfish: Artificial Insemination Whales and dolphins have also been bred in captivity through artificial insemination procedures. The male is trained to present his penis to be manually stimulated until ejaculation. The ejaculate is then collected, frozen, and stored for future use. The procedure for females involves hormone therapy, monitoring of the estrus cycle, and the insertion of an endoscope, catheter, and semen directly into the uterus. This method has resulted in 35 cetacean calves across five different species. Marine parks and aquariums have detailed this procedure in papers which are available to the public. One very broad paper published in 2010, revealed shocking information about the captive breeding program at SeaWorld. According to the paper, SeaWorld obtains semen through cetacean subsistence hunts, and from dead animals both captive and wild. Females who do not voluntarily submit to the artificial insemination procedure are “removed from the water under mild or no sedation” for the 30 minute ordeal. Orkid, one of SeaWorld’s female killer whales, knocked a trainer off of a wall while being prepared for an artificial insemination procedure. This could be indicative of how distressing the procedure may be to female whales and dolphins. #seaworld #seaworldsucks #captivitykills #endcaptivity #emptythetanks #freetilly #freetilikum #watchblackfish #blackfish #boycottseaworld #orcas #killerwhale #dontbuyaticket #seaworldkills #fuckseaworld by freedomfororcas http://ift.tt/1MlLKWK There’s an error in this post, unfortunately :/ Seaworld does not currently, nor have they ever obtained sexual organs from wild cetacean hunts. They did apply for permits to do so in 2003, but the permits were not granted and Seaworld did not pursue the matter due to public outrage. It’s still terrible and goes to show their conservation message is faulty because of the fact that they even attempted to do this, but it’s incorrect to say that they ever did or still do practice this procedure. I think they’re talking about this report in which SeaWorld said they had been obtaining beluga sperm from animals killed in subsistence hunts and had (unsuccessfully) artificially inseminated female belugas back at their parks.It would have been helpful if they had linked it. -- source link