From KCRW in Santa Monica and PRI, Public Radio International, this is To the Point.

Is animal liberation going mainstream?

Hello again, I'm Orinalny, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International.

A daily look at the issues Americans care about most.

SeaWorld is still reeling from the documentary Blackfish. It now faces three lawsuits alleging mistreatment

of killer whales. Baylor, the Baptist University, has canceled its annual visit out of respect for

God's creatures. Meantime, Ringling Brothers, is retiring elephants from the circus. But while there

may be a mood shift against keeping

wild animals in captivity, zoos and aquariums are still more popular than sporting events. Are there

better ways to introduce kids to the animal kingdom, keep species from going extinct, and make

discoveries about animal intelligence and emotion? Today's talking point, can Alaska's water ease California's drought?

First, here's the news.

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Hello again, Warren. I'll be back with To the Point.

Americans are becoming aware that animals

have intelligence, personalities, and rich emotional lives. Accusations of mistreating killer whales

and elephants have SeaWorld and Ringling Brothers changing their business plans. What about

captive wild animals at zoos and aquariums? Today's talking point, as Africa's, as California's drought

continues, some customers may get relief from a source that has long been ridiculed. A company

in Alaska says it's ready to ship water south as soon as July. First, this news update,

...