This makes me sad

[BeatriceC]

I didn't realize that plucking can happen in any bird in captivity. This is a penguin at San Diego's SeaWorld. I didn't get a chance to talk to the keepers about this specific bird, but the animals at this location are either bred in captivity or are wildlife rescues that can't be released. I have a soft spot for plucked birds, so of course this guy is my new favorite penguin. MrC the meaniehead says we should call him spot. He's a jerk.

 

[itzjbean]

Oh wow, that is sad I've never heard of a penguin plucking before but I'm the same way when it comes to that stuff. I totally feel for animals in zoos like penguins...have you seen the movie Happy Feet?

Animated, but there's a scene where the main character penguin gets captured and put into a penquin exhibit in a zoo, all they do is basically stare at the walls and wait for their next meal....super depressing. As a kid I loved zoos, but now if I go to them I only end up feeling horrible for them and wishing they were free.

 

[GaleriaGila]

Sad, yes, very.

Mr. Rival is also a meaniehead; he says we should name him ColdSpot.

 

[SailBoat]

Not so sure that it is a result of plucking. The droop along the top and the bulge at the bottom looks like a separation of the skin layer. But, that just my wild guess at it based on the photo.

Ask when you visit next time.

As far as my peers are concern: If us guys didn't provide meaningless, cold hearted humor to heart-string moments, the gals would have very little to bring up about their meatheads. You would be stuck taking about your MetroSexual's great fashion sense. And lets face it, that would be so boring!

 

[GaleriaGila]

As far as my peers are concern: If us guys didn't provide meaningless, cold hearted humor to heart-string moments, the gals would have very little to bring up about their meatheads. You would be stuck taking about your MetroSexual's great fashion sense. And lets face it, that would be so boring!

COLD-HEARTED???????????????
You just can't stop yourselves, can you????

 

[EllenD]

Sad, yes, very.

Mr. Rival is also a meaniehead; he says we should name him ColdSpot.

Men.

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[EllenD]

Not so sure that it is a result of plucking. The droop along the top and the bulge at the bottom looks like a separation of the skin layer. But, that just my wild guess at it based on the photo.

Ask when you visit next time.

As far as my peers are concern: If us guys didn't provide meaningless, cold hearted humor to heart-string moments, the gals would have very little to bring up about their meatheads. You would be stuck taking about your MetroSexual's great fashion sense. And lets face it, that would be so boring!

Men.

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[EllenD]

SeaWorld is historically not an ethical place, it never has been, and unfortunately probably never will be because they should have learned by now and changed their ways. The SeaWorld we used to go to was the one in Aurora, OH, which closed long ago, thank God. I remember being a young kid and driving to SeaWorld and Geauga Lake and absolutely loving that trip. Now I think about it and cringe.

Have you ever seen the documentary "Blackfish"? If not it's definitely worth watching. It's available on Netflix streaming.

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[BeatriceC]

I can't speak for any of the other SeaWorld locations, but I'm going to have to disagree with you as far as their recent actions are concerned. Historically, yes, there's a lot of negative things to be said for them. These days? Not so much, at least not in San Diego. The San Diego location has a massive bird rescue/rehab program. It's not open to the public, but they rescue thousands of birds each year. Last year a baby seal somehow managed to get itself into a local high school practically across the street from the San Diego Zoo, yet it was SeaWorld that responded and rescued the critter, not the Zoo, not Birch Aquarium, nor any other wildlife organization in the city. A few months ago a Toucan was spotted in the mountains east of here. It was the SeaWorld staff that responded with personal phone numbers, along with park resources to retrieve the bird and find its owners. All in all, and while they certainly have a history to overcome, they're not the same organization they used to be.

And, by the way, I did go back and ask about Spot. It may or may not be plucking. Penguins go through a catastrophic molt, not a gradual molt like tropical birds. It makes sense that they would do so, given they conditions they live in. That particular bird apparently has some other issues, and they're not sure if it's a result of plucking or his other issues, but did say plucking does happen, though is very unusual in penguins. The staff is on top of that guy though.