Manby was an idiot to kill the orca breeding program. I know he thought that that was the only issue SeaWorld had at the time but all it did was alienate the park loyalists. At this point they might as well just go full marine zoological park with thrill rides because they’ve completely ruined the show side - which is why people came to the park in the first place. Yeah Yeah “animal rights and stuff” - give it a rest. Until you go completely vegan don’t even start.
Have to agree with you. I never understood why Sea World never took a bold loud stand on all of the inaccuracies and plain stupidity that was in Blackfish. instead they seemed to quietly roll over and just take it, which I always thought was a huge mistake. It could have been easily refuted, and it wasn't.
And under Manby the parks have lost focus on what they were, or are, or are becoming. They really seem almost adrift and lost, which is sad as they are wonderful parks.
There were a lot of mixed feelings about him at SDC as well. Some who knew him really liked him, but as far as company leadership there was a lot of disagreement with a number of things he did and/or oversaw.
In any case, I'm sure he'll land somewhere soon.