OCEAN WORLD: Victim of Animal Rights Activism

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OCEAN WORLD: Victim of Animal Rights Activism

by GREG MAY
(Orlando, Florida)

World's First 'Porpoise Petting Pool'

Growing up in Florida in the 60's was a lot of fun if you were a dolphin lover like me. Back in those days, Florida was known as 'Porpoise Show Row' for there were marine attractions - or oceanariums - on both coasts.

There were the big ones - like Marineland and Seaquarium - and there were others like Aquatarium on St. Pete Beach, Gulfarium on Ft. Walton Beach and Theatre of the Sea in the Florida Keys.

And then there was Ocean World.

This Ft. Lauderdale attraction opened in 1965 and was located on the 17th Street Causeway next to the popular South Florida resort, Pier 66. (Remember the jingle: "Get your kicks . . . at Pier 66!")

When Ocean World opened, it offered three attractions: Davy Jones' Locker was their three-story high tank where you watched 'The Flying Dolphin Show' on the top deck. 'Educated' sea lions and dolphins performed in The Grandstand Arena and there was a pool planned for the exhibition of manatees, or sea cows.

But the manatees never made it on the Ocean World playbill. It seems there was 'a surplus of dolphins' according to Ocean World's Director of Training KEN ENGLES, so two of the dolphins were placed in this pool for the public to pet and feed.

This was the very first dolphin feeding pool and Ocean World was the first marine attraction to allow the public to get 'up close and personal' with dolphins. This is where this writer got to touch a dolphin for the very first time!

My first visit to Ocean World took place in 1970. Although a small complex compared to today's Sea World parks, Ocean World offered the most charming presentation for a marine attraction and they had the best dolphin show anywhere!

I will always remember how kind and gracious KEN ENGLES was to this wide-eyed kid as he let me tag along with him and took me behind-the-scenes.

Beginning in the late 80's, this charming little sea paradise became the target of animal rights' activists, who complained that the tanks and pools for the dolphins were too small. Led by RIC O'BARRY - a former Seaquarium trainer who worked with motion picture and television star, 'Flipper' - Ocean World became the site of ugly demonstrations which gave the attraction bad publicity and intimidated the park guests.

I will never understand why these 'activists' choose to target aquariums and oceanariums since this writer feels that the animals are better off in their care than in their polluted natural environment. Having once worked for Sea World, I know for a fact that captive marine mammals receive better care than some humans. And marine life parks are a valuable teaching tool to educate the public about sea animals that most people will never get to see in their lifetime.

Because of the demonstrations, Ocean World closed forever in the early 90's. The dolphins were moved to a facility in Honduras, and a lot of people were put out of work.

It is hoped by this writer that the animal rights' activists will turn their attention from marine life parks and concentrate on doing something about the wholesale slaughter of dolphins in Japan.

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OCEAN WORLD: Victim of Animal Rights Activism

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Dec 29, 2011

memories of pirates
by: idania

I remember growing up as a kid in Florida going and falling in love with Pirates World.Such good memories of being a kid,too bad they shut it down good times were sure there.

Sep 18, 2011

Ocean World
by: Ken Stevenson

I worked here in the mid to late 80's, I was a diver in Davy Johns Locker. I remember the two dolphin in the picture. The dolphin in the front of the picture is Cindy, She was my favorite dolphin in the park.

We had a close bond, so close that she gave me my own signiture whistle, basicly naming me. She would always call out to me when I walked by the pool, to come play.

The dolphin in the background is Pollyanna, she was a saved stranded dolphin, you can see if you look close that she is missing a pectoral fin. Like her, the bulk of the animals were stranded animals, and would have trouble if released back into the wild.

And by the way I would like to add when I left there Pollyanna was 55 years old.

The people who worked there were good people who really cared for the animals. We all felt that if they could not be in the wild, then we would make there lives as meaningful and enjoyable as much as we could. It was a good time.

Sep 11, 2011

Who's the victim?
by: Anonymous

Wow, you are completely NOT getting the point. The dolphin slaughter in Taiji is partially attributed to the captive dolphin industry. The dolphins are hearded into the coves, and the "prettiest" ones are captured and sold to aquariums worldwide. The others are then slaughtered for their meat. It has been documented that the captive dolphin industry provides the greatest monetary reward for the fisherman; therefore, it is very profitable to hunt/capture the dolphins. Additionally, do you seriously believe it is best for a wild dolphin to be stolen from his beloved social group to be housed in a smallish tank . . . where he is forced to be petted by the public? Really? It may have left you with fond memories, but I'm sure he felt differently. The visit only made me sad for the dolphin.

Jul 18, 2011

Ocean World was fantastic!
by: Anonymous

I remember as a kid, going there all the time! We would have family and friends visit, and that would be their first stop! Where else could you feel like you were up close and personal with the animals...ulike other parks around today. I enjoyed the calm and peaceful pace of the park, even as I returned as a young adult. I took my kids to a recent park in the Orlando area and was sad that they will never have the same experiences that I had. It was crowded, over priced with games and roller coasters. Odd.... Anyway, Ocean World is a part of South Florida history that will never be replicated. Perhaps it was forced into closing by animal rights groups, but perhaps their efforts would have been better spent improving the park and encouraging the education of the public through the park's exhibits. What in the world are they doing about the large parks in the other parts of the state? Uhm, I guess nothing as they are too big to take down. Unfortunately, Ocean World was not. Goodbye....thanks for the memories O.W.!

Feb 18, 2011

brings back fond memories
by: Anonymous

Lived directly across the canal at the Caravel Apts, as did the trainer you mentioned, Ken Engals. The owner, Mr. Beckwith (I'm sue I spelled it wrong), lived on the top floor of the same apt building.
Having listened to the loud speaker announce the countdown to the next show, promote items available in the gift shop and of course the need to experience the skyride literally hundreds of times, I could recite it in my sleep. Ken's show was by far the most entertaining, the porpoise show and the sealion comedy routines.
On the ground level of Davey Jones locker was a vending machine that created small blue wax porpoise souvenirs for a quarter, of which, I had many.
Ocean World was a huge part of my childhood during the mid 60's, spending 2 or 3 days a week there during the summers....and the other days at Pirates World (if anyone remembers that place).
It's a shame that my kids never had the opportunity to experience Ocean World's quaint, friendly environment and the excitement and happiness that I recall so fondly.
I gotta believe that there were alternative motives other than animal rights activism behind Ocean World's forced closing, perhaps something along the lines of greedy, manipulative commercial real estate developers.
Very sad.

Jan 28, 2011

Ocean World
by: Mike Miller

Greg:

I seem to remember seeing this attraction, but don't recall visiting it. Was it on the north side of the 17th Street Causeway west of the Intracoastal Waterway?

Pier 66 is on the east side of the waterway, with no room for an attraction of this side to be right next door.

I'm thinking Ocean World had to be very near where the Bimini Boatyard now sits, on that canal that runs west from the ICW just south of the 15th Street Fishery.

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OCEAN WORLD: Victim of Animal Rights Activism

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OCEAN WORLD: Victim of Animal Rights Activism