Hey I have an idea!! Call it short term brilliance, call it Jesus talking, call it what you will, but last night it happened. My brilliant idea.
How about if we stop allowing human beings to get into giant tanks with creatures that weigh over TWELVE THOUSAND POUNDS!!
Tilikum’s DORSAL fin is taller and weighs more than most grown men. Why are we getting into tanks with these creatures? To put on a show? I *kind of* understand the concept of learning about wild animals in order to keep them alive:
“The SeaWorld in-vitro planted, they can now take sperm and eggs and have a baby killer whale. Let’s say 20, 30 years from now, there’s 200 killer whales left in the wild. Let me tell you where we’re going to go: We’re going to go to SeaWorld and see what to do to save this magnificent creature. That’s how valuable it is for what we’re doing with research. I hear all these other people commenting with killer whales. Give me a break. Seaworld are the ones that know more about killer whales, and the millions of dollars they spend this rescuing whales is unbelievable. And we put them back out in the wild. So no one hears about this.”
(CBS News with Jack Hanna)
I understand that keeping whales captive and training them to put on shows attracts people like US who then pay money to see the show and a portion of that money goes back into whale research and rescue. Researchers have already figured out how to artificially inseminate female whales which means we can start doing that instead of plucking more whales from the oceans. Which is nice. I guess. But apparently the captive born whales do not live as long as the wild born ones. I wonder if that’s because they’re NOT SUPPOSED TO BE CAPTIVE. I don’t know. I’m not super smart. That thought just came to me.
Apparently we’ve been plucking whales from the ocean since the 60’s. Can you just imagine what we did to those animals knowing as little we did back then?
Read this:
Ted Griffin, owner of the Seattle Public Aquarium, had dreamed for many years of befriending a killer whale. Killer whales are the largest of the dolphin family, and he was convinced that such a relationship was possible. When Griffin heard of the captured killer whale, he jumped at the opportunity and bought the whale for 8,000 dollars, the cost of replacing the net. He named the whale Namu, after the town if its capture.
The main problem was how to transport Namu 450 miles from Namu B.C. to Seattle, Washington. He solved this problem by building a 60 foot by 40 foot by 16 foot deep floating pen that could be towed by boat to Seattle. The journey southward started in July 1965. When Namu was being towed southward he emitted various scream-like sounds and on the 4th day of the trip, 30-40 killer whales overtook the floating pen and seemingly tried to help Namu. They repeatedly charged the cage, but warned by their built-in sonar they stopped just short of hitting it. After several hours, most of the killer whales disappeared, all except a female and two calves. These three whales were probably Namu’s mother and siblings, and they stayed with Namu for 150 miles.
(Rock Island)
The idea of upsetting thousands of Orcas over the years by killing them, capturing them, “training” them, transporting them, and breaking up their happy families all for the sake of research so that IF they need our help surviving one day we’ll be able to save them strikes me as a little counteractive. In fact these whales tend to live much longer in the ocean: “The lifespan of wild females averages 50 years, with a maximum of 80–90 years.[37] Males become sexually mature at the age of 15 but do not typically reproduce until age 21. Wild males live around 29 years on average, with a maximum of 50–60 years.” (Wikipedia). Wanna know how long captive whales live? “Captive killer whale lifespans are typically significantly shorter, usually less than 25 years, however there are numerous individuals in their thirties, and a couple in their 40s. In many instances, the lifespans of killer whales depend on the will of the animal.” (Wikipedia).
I don’t know about you, but I think the Orcas were doing JUST fine before we started poking our noses in their business.
I was shocked to learn that most of the 42 whales in captivity today were taken from the ocean at 2+ years of age. I guess I just thought they were all having babies in their tanks and we were no longer doing that. I don’t know what the laws are regarding whale capture these days, but Tilikum was two when he was taken and after three human deaths he’s clearly not happy about his new ‘life plan’.
I don’t have all the answers kids. I don’t think we can just toss 42 captive orcas back in the ocean….but maybe we can stop taking them out?? And maybe we should stop treating the ones that ARE captive like giant puppy dogs.
I feel awful for the trainer who was recently killed. I don’t think any of this was her fault. It’s not like she leaped into a tank with that massive creature. I’m sure the trainers love and respect the Orcas they care for, but something went terribly wrong. Warning signs and previous instances of aggressive behavior were ignored so that Sea World could put on a show. Horrible accidents happen, the trainers probably had established trust with Tilikum over the years, possibly justified his previous attacks, whatever the reason…something needs to change.
Karen & Gerard Zemek says
I agree, the whales should be free. I read an interesting fiction book about whales not too long ago called “Stranded” by Ben Mikaelsen, a young adult fiction writer. It was about a girl who befriended a whale.
Angel says
I think what makes me even angrier was they KNEW the whale was agitated that morning.. So tell me what on God’;s green earth made them think Oh gee he will be fine put him on out there?? UMMM find me agitated and ask me to perform, I would be whooping someone’s tail too. Especially if I KNEW I could take them. Sheer stupidity. It just saddens me for the whale being viewed as this HUGE monster HELLO KILLER WHALE what part of that screams awww make me an adorable pet..
Mama Kat says
I read that the trainer who worked with Tilicum in Canada was shocked that Florida Sea World was still using him in shows. I guess there was some kind of understanding that they would retire him from doing shows like that anymore when the move to Florida was made. I don’t know, I can’t find the source to quote on that, but I read it somewhere.
Lindsay @ Kids Are Teachers says
I am absolutely on the same page with you on this. How would those researchers feel if someone decided they needed to come take their 2 year old child for “research” so that future generations could be helped if they maybe needed it. It’s cruel and wrong to just assume that we can stick our noses into their business for our own selfish wants.
Mama Kat says
The difference is that animals are animals and we see ourselves and our babies far more superior. I guess capturing whales is supposed to be no different than taming wild horses. If we free the whales do we free the horses? The elephants? The white tigers? Where does it end?
Dawn says
This truly just breaks my heart. I have no problem with them taking animals that are injured and would not survive if released…but this is crazy. These are wild animals, and yes, we all get googly when we hear of people befrending them, and the bods that they create…
My heart goes out to the people that have been killed…and to the animals that are just being what they were meant to be…We need these people to think less of $$ and use more compassion.
Mama Kat says
I agree, rescue efforts I am all for, but snatching a perfectly healthy whale from it’s normal habitat where it’s accustomed to traveling hundreds of miles a day and sticking him in a TANK? Hmmm….wonder why he’s agitated…
Amanda says
I wasn’t sure what to think at first when I heard about this, but now I think I agree. I like what Jack Hannah had to say (he’s quite the celebrity here in Ohio and helped create our wonderful zoo in Columbus) – he is all about the conservation of animals, which I am as well. Its fine if we want to study them and learn about them, but if its getting to the point that we are keeping them in such captivity that they are literally biting the hand that feeds them and killing their trainers, then we need to stop!
No matter how much we think that these animals are “tame” they aren’t. I’ve heard that even your normal housecat after being in the wild for a week will turn feral again…..hmmm bet the same goes for any other animal!
Mama Kat says
That’s crazy! I’ve never heard that about housecats before!! Mine is such a baby I can’t even imagine it. :)
Amanda says
My boyfriends mom told me that and I didn’t really believe it at first either, but there natural instincts just kick in so they can survive!
Shanna says
This is so sad. I didn’t know we were still taking them out of the ocean either. That’s what I get for assuming humans have a heart. :(
Mama Kat says
I was trying to find what year was the last year humans took a whale from the ocean, but I gave up. There are laws in place now that limit that in the US, but then we just go and buy them from countries that don’t have laws on it. It would be interesting to find out exactly what the limits are world wide and how often it’s still done.
Melissa Austin says
I have to agree. The trainer that was killed was from around here somewhere and it is extremely sad that this happened. But this whale had a history of killing people. They knew that, the morning of the show, Tili was agitated. I get rescuing whales that are injured. I get that. i think that is admirable. But I don’t get snatching them from the ocean for purposes that may or may not ever come to fruition. It is a sad situation all the way around. This whale will more then likely spend whatever time it has left alone in captivity. For acting like a Killer Whale does..I mean, how do you think they got that name>
My heart does go out to the trainers family.
Los says
I bet there is a way to return those Orcas back to the wild … I’m sure it wouldn’t be cheap, and it would take a lot of time.
I’m hoping that this latest incident and the bad publicity will convince people to stop going to Sea World … that would be the first step. I remember my parents taking me to Sea World when I was like 3 … I’m thinking this was “tradition” for when people vacationed in Florida … along with visiting Disney.
Mama Kat says
Remember when they “Freed Willy”? I think that was semi successful. They had him netted in some type of marina and slowly transitioned him out. I guess he would go for daily swims and on one swim the trainer lost track of him. They found him days later over 800 miles away. :) After that I think he only lived for maybe a year more. I’m not sure how he died.
Anne says
There’s some debate about the ability to release them back into the wild. A lot of it has to do with how long they’ve been in captivity – the longer they’ve been captive, the harder it is for them to be free. One of the biggest issues is the complex social structures that wild orcas have – a released whale would have a hard time finding a pod to join, he would be “shunned” by the other whales as an outsider.
Of course, another issue, as Kat pointed out, is that it takes a lot of money and time to successfully release a captive animal. Sadly, SeaWorld isn’t willing to invest either of those.
Mama Kat says
Hmmm…too bad they can just release all the captive orcas together. They could make their own bad ass pod. ;)
Anne says
Now THAT would be freakin’ sweet.
Brandi says
I think keeping any animals in captivity is cruel. Maybe that’s why I don’t really enjoy going to the zoo.
I think future Orca Trainers might want to avoid wearing pony tails too.
Stephanie says
I so agree with everything you said. Research to protect those animals that are struggling to exist ok, research for entertainment value because if you follow the money trail I would guess more ends up in a personal account than it does in the “animals benefit” account.
Mama Kat says
Oh for sure! I mean just look at that gigantic set/stage where the whales perform. I wonder how much that cost.
Lauren says
I agree to a certain extent. Whales do not thrive in captivity and should not be plucked from the oceans arbitrarily. This was a senseless loss of life that could have been avoided. But, and this is a big but, when it comes down to the value of a human life over an animal life, in my book the human life is always more valuable. Now I am NOT saying that animal abuse is ever acceptible. Don’t misunderstand me. I am saying that we need to remember that a woman is DEAD here! A woman with a family that is not doubt in agony right now. Could we please stop wagging our fingers at her and saying “well she should have known better. It’s called a killer whale for reason” and just mourn the loss of her life for a moment or two!
On a side note, Mama Kat this rant is not directed at you personally but the media in general.
Mama Kat says
No actually I absolutely agree!! If a pitbull attacked my child I would hunt it down and skin it. I don’t care WHAT my kid was doing to aggravate it. The fact that this woman’s family is insisting they not hurt this whale I think is admirable even though he was acting out as animals often do. I think the trainers there adore those whales and take as good of care of them as they are able and I absolutely do not blame the trainer. I do blame the SeaWorld for deciding to continue showing Tilicum as a performer after he acted aggressively in the past. I think they should have retired him.
emilyq says
(side note: i love your blog!)
I did, however, read that Tilicum was not performing at the time of the attack. It was during a “Dine with Shamu” event. As far as I understand it, he was only used in the shows for splashing the audience (which is, I suppose, still in the show), but not ever in the tank with a trainer.
I actually don’t think these awesome creatures should be in captivity, but I just wanted to put in what I had read! Also, Orcas were first called “whale killers”, because they are large dolphins, not whales; but someone (marketing!) didn’t think that was an attractive name so they were re-dubbed “killer whales”, though, not sure how that has a better ring!
Heather says
I’m with you on this one! We can stop the madness, stop stealing them from their families to make companies money and do the best we can for the ones still in captivity. We owe them that!
Jen @ buried with children says
Wow, I wanted to my kids to Sea World to see all the animals but now I don’t know. I am conflicted and emotional.
Why do you have to do that? Why do you have to make me think?
AmyD says
“killer” in Killer Whale should have been a clue!!!! LOL
very sad all the way around for sure!!!
Erin says
I am surprised that SeaWorld was open the next day, business as usual except that the Shamu show was closed.
That must have been really hard for the employees of SeaWorld.
We won’t be visiting anytime soon I think.
Mama Kat says
Yeah I’m rethinking any future SeaWorld plans as well…it’s never been at the top of my list, but to be honest I just kind of shrugged my shoulders at the whole practice at first. Looking at it a little differently now.
Erin says
PS- you page loaded super quick for me today!
Alex aka Ma What's For Dinner says
It is sad that the woman lost her life. Though I’m sure she knew and appreciated the risks. More frightening that it happened in front of some on lookers. Can you imagine standing there with your children trying to explain what happened???? UGH! Not to mention the fact that this particular whale was responsible for 2 other deaths, another trainer, and some other guy. Definitely time to rethink the whole keeping wild animals as a stage show!
Alex aka Ma What’s For Dinner
http://www.mawhats4dinner.com
S Club Mama says
Yeah, if they can breed in captivity, stop taking free ones. And stop trusting them as if they don’t have wild animal instincts.
Chrissy MacCEO says
This whole story made me so sad. It’s a shame what people do to these animals for the sake of entertainment. Thanks for posting this and bringing attention to the story in this way.
Stephanie says
I wrote about this on my blog today too! I like your perspective, I have a few of my own on my blog. :)
Rachel says
I really am torn on this subject. I do think they don’t need to take happy whales out of the ocean for our enjoyment. But, whales who are hurt and can’t survive in the wild/conservation, I do happen to agree with it. Do I think these huge animals should be trained to do show after show every day? Not really. However, that didn’t stop me from taking my kids to see them last summer and that show convinced my son he wanted to be a Marine Biologist so he can work with animals like Shamu. He was truly fascinated by the whales and helping them. And if you listen to the words of the trainers during the Believe show, which is the current show at Sea World, they tell you all about each whale and it’s history. Tells all about the work they are trying to do for these “killer” whales and other animals around the park. Yes, they are there for our amusment but it’s also an educational tool as well. Do I agree with it? Not fully but I understand it. But I will never agree with just randomly taking animals from their homes.
On another note, my dearest friend was at Sea World with her Family the day this happened. Her, her husband and Daughter attended the 12:30 show of Believe featuring Tilicum. The show was cut short because Tilicum would not cooperate. He was swimming around very fast and would not do what the trainers were asking of him. The head trainer kept telling the audience to cross their fingers that he would decide to cooperate but that sometimes things like this happen. That really should have been their first clue that something was wrong with Tilicum and he should have been put in the back tank by himself until they figured it out. It was shortly after this show that Dawn was killed.
And like a previous poster said, weather you agree with what’s going on at Sea World or not, a human life was lost and that’s the real tragedy here. She was doing was she loved and this was her passion. These whales were her life and in the end, it’s what took that life away from her. Those saying she should have known better or that this was some how her fault. Remember, she didn’t go out and catch these whales in nets and bring them to Sea World. We have grown up in a world where this type of thing is normal and she knew this is what she wanted to do and had a real passion for it. I could see that same spark in my son as he watched these whales swim by. You can’t blame her for doing what she loved.
Mama Kat says
Nope, she started off with a passion when she was a young child too! You’re right there definitely is so much to learn that we might not pick up on our own without visiting a place like that. I don’t think any of the trainers want to hurt the animals and my heart breaks for Dawn’s family. I think it’s just frustrating to learn that this animal had a past and was still allowed to perform.
Rachel says
I agree 100%, Tilicum should have been retired after his first attack. Why he was still performing will be up to Sea World to justify and I hope they give more than just a generic answer as to why they put so many lives in danger by having him there in the tanks with trainers.
Caren says
It’s so terrible and it’s been bothering me a lot for the whale and of course for the trainer he killed. I find it strange when they wonder what happened and why the animal turned on his trainer…. uh, maybe because it’s a WILD animal? It made me think of Sigfried and Roy and how shocked people were when the tiger attacked Roy.
So sad any way you look at it. Good post Kat.
B says
I’ve always had mixed feelings about zoos and things. My husband hates them. He has always made the argument that wild animals are not meant to live in cages and interact with humans.
Animals have animal instincts and just because they have “behaved” and cooperated for many years doesn’t mean those instincts are gone. Everyone is surprised when they “turn” on their trainers. They are animals!!!!
Elle @ A for Effort says
(Imagine that you gave this as a speech on a stage. I’m standing up, starting the slow crap that crescendos into an explosion of clapping and whistling.) I absolutely agree with you. I do not go to zoos or aquariums for this very reasons–animals are not meant to be our captives. Most of the animals I’ve ever seen in zoos look so incredibly sad. It’s heartbreaking.
And while I think it is absolutely awful and horrible that a human has died, I don’t think it had to happen. The Sea World workers knew of the previous problems with this whale, and they knew it was aggitated that morning. They chose to ignore the information they had in the name of making a dollar instead, and as a result, a precious life was lost and a beautiful animal has been tagged as a monster. It’s disgusting.
3 Men and a Lady says
FREE WILLY! I totally agree! I think it’s great to study them and stuff, but I think it’s just asking for it to swim with them.
Allison Zapata says
In the words of Chris Rock (on the s & R tiger attack) –
“that tiger didn’t go crazy. that tiger went tiger!”
I feel so sorry for the whales. SET THEM FREE!
Jennifer says
I think I’ll just second Allison’s comment.
Just Add Walter says
that Namu story is so sad! I am sort of a hypocrite since I love going to SeaWorld to see that show but I always feel sad about it!
Anne says
First of all, I think this is, hands down, the best post you have ever written. :)
This whole situation has me all up in arms. I am a very passionate animal rights advocate, and my primary interest is whales and dolphins, so this obviously struck a few chords with me. I believe that whales and dolphins belong in the ocean. Period. End of story. There have been some great scientific breakthroughs as a result of keeping these animals in captivity, but now that we know so much more about them, we should know better than to continue taking them out of their natural environment. Sure, everyone loves a good “injured animal rescued” story, but that’s not what SeaWorld is doing. Did you know that they get their show dolphins from Taiji and places like it that use the money from the sale of the dolphins to fund “fishing”? When the show dolphins have been selected and are taken away, the remaining dolphins are brutally slaughtered.
I don’t want this comment to get too long and preachy, but if you’re interested in more of the science explaining why these animals shouldn’t be kept captive, I wrote a post on my blog a few days ago.
Thanks again for bringing this up, and I’m doing a little happy dance to see so many of your readers agreeing that these animals don’t belong in tanks for our amusement. :)
Gail says
I’m with Rachel. Two days before the attack, my husband and I were talking about road-tripping to FL, and he wants to go to Disney and I want to go to Sea World. And honestly, I still want to go to Sea World. It’s so educational and eye-opening. There is just no way that you can see all those fabulous creatures without seeing them in captivity. I do, however, believe in responsible captivity. Make the habitiat as large and as close to home for the animals as possible. Obviously, you can’t recreate an ocean, but education is so important. The reason Dawn chose her profession is because of a trip to Sea World with her family when she was 9.
I saw an interview this morning on NBC’s Today Show with Tilicum’s old trainer from Canada. He spoke with Sea World trainers at the time of the sale, and was not in on the negotiating. The Sea World trainers assumed that Tilicum would not be used in shows, because at that point, he hadn’t had much experience with trainers in the water. He spoke very highly of Sea World trainers, and was just sad that the whole thing happened. (obviously)
It is just SO frustrating and sad that for whatever reason, they decided to use him in shows. And even more frustrating and sad that they decided to keep using him that day in shows. Hopefully, they will learn, and figure out how to strike as even a balance as possible, between captivity and education.
PS…I also heard that they outlawed capturing killer whales back in the 70s. I wonder what would have happened to Tilicum had Sea World not bought him. Would the old owners have released him, or sold him to a much smaller and less capable park? Woudl they have killed him? Guess we’ll never know…maybe Sea World was the best option at the time. (I guarantee it was money-wise)
Loni @ From Two to Three says
I so almost tweeted you about this. This might take some getting used to! I think this is the first time your blog has made me sad. Unfortunately it is all too true.
I am sure the repercussions of freeing all these whales which are captive would not have a great outcome as they are no longer accustomed to the wild but I do agree, as much as I loved Seaworld as a kid, it is very sad that these animals are living like this. (And for our entertainment, are we sick or what!)
Thank you for the insight. I didn’t really think we were “plucking” new animals out, I thought the current captive ones were having babies!
e says
Thanks for getting the theme from Free Willy in my head.
RIP MJ
Did you know that I wanted to be a dolphin trainer ever since I was a wee-bitty kid? Yeah, it’s true. I went to Marine Science camp every summer, I wrote Disney begging them for backstage tours, and I called the Baltimore Aquarium religiously asking them about internship programs for fourth graders.
When I couldn’t pass chemistry in college, I realized “Underpaid dolphin trainer required to look good in a wet suit” was not my calling.
And really? I hadn’t given it much thought until recently.
See, we love zoos… free zoos… the kind that rescue animals hurt in the wild, nurse them back to health and keep them, for fear they cannot return to the wild.
Sure, looking at ducks, deer and bears can get old, but really, it beats seeing giraffes in cement pens, and polar bears in glass cages pacing back and forth.
Where am I going with this? I am not sure. But I do know that there is a way to educate kids and inspire them to learn without doing a “show” whose main character was snatched from the wild for our viewing pleasure.
It’s horrible that girl died, and I feel for her family.
Jennifer@Musings of a BLonde Mom says
My husband and I talked about this the other night when we saw it on the news. I don’t know what people expect from these animals. They are 1) wild, 2) carnivores and 3) natural hunters. Come on….even their name should be a big, giant RED FLAG….killer whale…..DUH!!! I totally agree with rescuing injured animals, but taking healthy animals from the wild for entertainment and “research” is absurd. Why not rescue the ones that need it and “research” them and leave the healthy, thriving animals in the wild? Wonder if they’ll let Tilicum go now that he’s killed a third person or if they’ll just ship him somewhere new and have him performing more?
Becca says
Since he’s killed 3 people now…is he a Serial Killer Whale?
Lucky Mrs. T says
I wish I could have taken a picture of my Indians’ faces when they heard the news break yesterday morning. They were eating their breakfast… and then stopped mid-bite…. (no pun intended)
They were speechless.
Candice says
Great post Kat.
I’m also torn on this subject and all of the comments have definitely been food for thought.
Such a tragedy.
Shelley says
Namu’s story made me so sad!! Ugh. I completely agree that they should stop keeping these animals in tanks for our entertainment. They say that keeping a whale in a tank is like keeping a human in a bath tub it’s whole life. That’s the space they have compared to the whole ocean. But what can we do about it?
Mama Kat says
I haven’t heard that comparison before! Shoot even if it’s like keeping a human trapped in their house for the duration of a lifetime…equally miserable!
I'm Just Sayin'... - Kerri says
OH MY GOSH. Do you NOT remember my huge post about the fear of whales I have? I mean terrorfied over them. This story has been freaking me out all week but that last picture of the baby touching the whale – SCARY. I agree stop taking them from the wild but the ones being held captive are going to continue fighting back. Just sayin’… my kids won’t be going anywhere NEAR SeaWorld.
Pamela @ 2 much testosterone says
I am not an animal person. Like at all. I live in Florida and am so over hearing this story and all the what if’s. You hit it hard here Kat. Stop taking the effing fish outta the sea and let them be. Animals weren’t meant to be bred for the purpose of entertainment nor were they meant to be taken out of the wild and placed in a big fish bowl so we could pay $50 to view! Every time I see the photo above with the trainer on the tip of the whale’s nose/mouth area, I want that whale to open wide. Oops. Did I just “say” that, out loud {almost}?
Mama Kat says
It just makes humans look like these great big experimental bullies. You know those kids on the playground with the magnifying glasses and the sun and the ants? We just cannot resist controlling everything around us. It’s ridiculous.
Andrea @ Run, Eat, Date, Sleep says
Great post! I applaud you!
You said everything I’ve wanted to say but didn’t have the right words.
Kathy says
They’re called KILLER whales for a reason. Great post Kat!
Jen says
Oh man, I couldn’t agree with you more! Amen sister! Great blog post, Kathy. I hope Seaworld finds and reads this!
Shelley says
I just referenced your blog in mine because I liked what you said so much.
Jen says
Good post and can’t help but agree to some extent. I think that research is a good thing but I somehow had the idea that the whales in captivity were there because they had been rescued in some way. To know they’ve been taken for that life when there was no need though isn’t so noble a thought! Another thing I cannot understand, why are the trainers dressed in wetsuits that are the same colour as seals? Isn’t that just a natural instincts accident waiting to happen?
Mama Kat says
This comment gave me goosebumps!
cinderella says
i’ve honestly never even thought about it that way. this post is an eye opener.
That One Mom says
Amen, Kat! I have been saying that FOR YEARS!!! Orcas are familial animals. They live in pods, WITH THEIR FAMILIES!! If someone comes into your home and takes your 2 year-old, it’s a crime! But for some reason, people condone going into the homes of these creatures (brilliant, creatures that have communication capability and family bonds) and taking their 2 year-olds!?!? WTH! I am far from a PETA advocate, but I still know wrong when I see it!
Kimmy says
I agree!! They do need to free them. Poor things!
Kristi {at} Live and Love...Out Loud says
While I don’t know all the intricacies of the incident, I do feel strongly about animals not being used for the entertainment of humans. I personally don’t care that a specific percentage of the proceeds from admission went toward research, conservation efforts, etc. I feel that no matter how well-intentioned the capture of an animal may have been, we’ve upset a critical balance in the life of the species. We’ve traumatized an animal – a complex being that has emotions, familial ties, etc. for our personal enjoyment.
Aquariums that display and make a spectacle out of animals make me ill. I don’t think it’s right to pepper a 35 minute show with 5 minutes of facts and call it “educational”.
Animals are not people, no matter how intelligent they may be. Case in point: Tyke the elephant. Your husband may remember hearing about Tyke or seeing it on the news. Tyke was an elephant who killed his trainer while performing in a circus in Hawaii. He escaped the arena, ran out into the streets, attacked a police officer and was shot to death in the end much to the horror of onlookers – men, women and children. I’ll never forget the day my cousin called me from the horrific scene, having pulled children onto a balcony in the arena as Tyke went on a rampage through the crowd. Tyke was a wild animal. Bottom line. He did not belong in a circus, prancing around with a glittery red hat on his head.We’ve done this to animals. When is enough going to be enough?
Thanks for the great post Kat. The dialogue that it’s generated is awesome!
Kristi, Live and Love…Out Loud
@TweetingMama
Mama Kat says
That’s awful! I hadn’t heard that one before. From what I’ve read elephants are very similar to Orcas in the way they stay with and connect to their families. There’s just no predicting when one is going to lash out like that after being torn from it’s natural environment. The elephants especially look so sad to me.
Glossolaliac says
Hi, Seattle native here, we love our Orca but they belong in the ocean. Here’s the deal, when you capture some with “killer” in it’s name and force it to do tricks in a tiny pool, it may actually kill someone. I hope that they stop this awful practice and let people come see the Orcas jumping in their natural habitat – because that truly is a wonder to behold.
Mama Kat says
Yeah whatever happened to just going on whale watching boat rides? That’s harmless right? Maybe there’s money to be made right there.
michelle says
okay, the Ted Griffin Seattle Aquarium story brought tears to my eyes. how awful. i feel so horrible for these creatures…and all creatures in captivity for that matter. how sad :(
but what would we do without zoos? to see animals (if not kissing them) that we wouldn’t normally see and to learn from these animals. when does the cost of education become too high of a price? maybe when it turns into death, like tilicum’s trainer? i dunno. thinking out loud.
awful turn of events. absolutley awful. and they say the trainer’s pony-tail is what caused the attack…really? a pony-tail? like the things on the heads of the millions of liltle girls that kiss these LARGE animals everyday at sea world…really? free tilicum – he’s NOT happy! but can we keep the poo throwing monkeys? just ask’n.
Mama Kat says
It’s hard, I was going through that same train of thought as I wrote the post. Is taming horses okay? Should we not put mice in cages anymore? I mean if you’re going to stand up for one animal shouldn’t you stand up for them all? I don’t know where the madness should stop.
MIK says
FREE TILICUM!!! Free all Orca’s in captivity. They do NOT belong in glorified swimming pools doing tricks .
They are extremely intelligent, social and emotional. Orca’s who swim 100,s of miles a day are unhappy in these inhumane animal parks.
Now Tilicum is in isolation. For what? for being unhappy? With his 12,000 lbs and length, he hardly fits in the SeaWorld holding tank.
Take a look at his Pics today.
He was trying to tell us that he is unhappy and frustrated with the death of his trainer.
Please do not let Dawn’s death be in vain. She of all people would be grateful if Tilicum would be free to Live in his Oceans from whence he came. Iceland where he was taken from his home.
Free Tilicum!
Mama Kat says
I feel awful for the mothers in the audience that now need to explain what happened to their kids.
Justine says
I don’t even know how to respond to this because I have so many conflicting thoughts on the issue. I guess like most people, I appreciate the education from Sea World and all that, but I’d certainly prefer it if they were left to their own environment.
Justine :o )
MrsW says
To be brutally honest the first thing that crossed my mind when I heard this was “Orcas 1 – Humans 0”. As a UK Florida tourist of many years I’ve never and never will fund Sea World. It’s a bloody circus and no amount of “conservation” or “breeding” crap can disguise that.
Via says
You’d think they’d start breeding in captivity instead of pulling from the ocean, true. And I definitely get your point. And you are definitely right. And…honestly the other two instances this whale had weren’t even really something I would blame on him: one was a guy who snuck into the park at night and jumped in the damn whale tank in the dark all but naked. All I know is if some guy in his underwear that I didn’t know jumped into my bed at night, I’d kill him too. That was just stupid. Plus, 50 degree water doesn’t exactly fair well for humans so his main cause of death listed was hypothermia. They have small tanks and huge bodies. They have small trainers and huge bodies. They aren’t pets. They are wild animals. It’s stupid for us to think that things like this will never happen under those kinds of circumstances.
But I really like the shows. I know, hypocrite.
angie says
I just read about this today…….still shaking head.
kisatrtle says
the story of the whale family following him as he was being towed into captivity was heartbreaking. I agree with you. Something needs to be done.
jackie says
i totally agree,how horrific tilicum’s capture would have been..for tilicum and for he’s family :( breaks my heart!!
Kathee says
I agree. Very well written!
Cranky Sarah says
Hear! Hear!
m says
leave Orcas alone !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stephanie @ Geezees says
Totally agree Kat!
Kimberly says
Yeah, I don’t know how they stop it now, but something should change.
Sarah Ruth says
This is so sad. Thank you for writing this. I learned something and will share this with others!!
Lourie says
I couldn’t even begin to imagine how horrifying that must have been. It’s like I told my daughter–who is a passionate animal lover–they are animals/mammals and we don’t know what they are thinking or what they will do. And I think this guy is thinking, ‘hey, you know what. I don’t like this gig. I want to retire.” I feel badly for the trainer, her family, and co-workers. But it really makes you think…just like you said.
Peg says
Hey Sunshine! I have an award for you on my blog!
OHN says
Years ago, long before The Discovery Channel and National Geographic, I could understand interest in all these mysterious creatures and understand why scientists felt compelled to capture and study.
At this point in time though, with all the learning tools available to us, I really think the days of us needing to capture and “domesticate” wild animals has past.
I can’t quit thinking (because all the scientists tell us how smart these creature are) that they HAVE to be miserable, living in what to us, would be the equivalent of a bathtub.
Crista says
Yeah, it doesn’t make sense that if this killer whale had been known to kill other humans then why the hell would you allow this whale to still be at seaworld? He needs to be let free into the wild!
Sara says
AMEN. There is actually a sanctuary in the ocean off Brazil and Chile. So while these whales could maybe never be totally “free” again because of their learned dependence on humans, they COULD retire from doing stupid tricks for profit.
Sea World is and always has been pretty disgusting.
Cousteau said it best (Even though he was referring to dolphins)
“No aquarium, no tank in a marine land, however spacious it may be, can begin to duplicate the conditions of the sea. And no dolphin who inhabits one of those aquariums or one of those marine lands can be considered normal. “
Wendi says
I completely agree. If we want to do research on the whales it should be done in the wild were we will get to see how they truly act… instead of trained Orca’s putting on a show.
Jenny says
I am so heart broken about this. I always thought these shows were so amazing, but you just never think of the dangers when your watching them. My son was torn up when he heard about it.
I don’t think they are allowed to capture killer whales anymore, they have to be born in captivity now. But really how many killer whales are we going to have if we keep breading them????
Minka says
There are so many crazy things that we do to nature and some are just no better than ancient training of bears to dance. The more civilised we are the nore hypocrisy there is about it and what we want gets hidde behind brilliant ideas. But not as brilliant as yours, I’m afraid.
jackie says
leave all the whales alone(be it orcas,dolphins ect.)they r not on this earth for human entertainment!!!!
Marilyn @ A Lot of Loves says
This is an issue that I care so passionately about. I REALLY don’t like whales in captivity. That includes the poor Beluga Whales in my own hometown Vancouver Aquarium that don’t do tricks but still are stuffed into oversize bathtubs to spend the rest of their days. It’s depressing and makes me angry. I don’t blame Tilicum for being pissed off. I would be too.
Obviously I don’t wish death on the trainer but still, I get the whale’s point of view.
Jack says
FWIW, It is not clear that the whale intended to kill his trainer. At least I haven’t read any reports that made it obvious that he was trying to. They may be intelligent, but they don’t understand how long we can hold our breath.
When you look at the size difference it wouldn’t be hard for a whale to accidentally cause serious trauma to a person. Watch a small child try to play with a baby and you can see something similar. That is why as parents we teach them to be gentle and careful with others.
I wouldn’t get caught up in the name, “Killer” either, that is not really material here.
I am not justifying or saying that keeping whales in captivity is right, but the number of deaths/accidents is pretty low which is part of why something like this is so shocking.
Mama Kat says
I really don’t think he was trying to kill the trainer either. And I think the fact that the whales (dolphins) are so big and DON’T know how easily they can kill one of their trainers is precisely why they should not be getting in the tank with them. If SeaWorld is going to continue “showing” the orcas than they need to seriously re-evaluate the kind of interaction that goes on. We can’t expect a 12,000 pound Orca to learn to be gentle.
I know they are smart creatures and for the most part ARE gentle, but they’re still animals and accidents like this will always occur as long as we insist on “training” them…which to me, is just making a mockery of them. Watching them balance humans on their noses teaches us nothing about what these animals are about in the wild.
…even if it IS kind of cool to see.
Sandra says
No, I don’t agree that they are gentle… they are called ‘KILLER WHALES’ for a reason… they are just being who they are… animals…
We need to stop poaching from the waters… how many Killer whales are needed for a show anyway?
Same goes for dolphins, seals, monkeys, giraffes, elephants… etc…
Let them be… I agree
Mama Kat says
I think the term “killer whale” came from the fact that they are just so big. I don’t think it had anything to do with them being brutal….in fact I’m not sure I’ve ever heard of an orca attack in the ocean…to my knowledge the captive whales are the ones that lash out most often.
An earlier commenter said we no longer take whales from the ocean and that we’re only allowed to breed the ones we have…I hope that’s true. Although I kind of wish they’d stop the whole charade altogether.
dale k waldo says
They were called whale killers because whale hunters had observed them hunting and killing whales. The name got turned around to killer whales, probably because it is catchy. They technically are not whales at all, closely related to dolphins. Another common name is blackfish and ya know they aren’t a fish either. Just the way it goes. The somewhat more acurate name would be orca.
Tricia says
I could not agree with you more. HELLLOOO???? These are animals that have never and will never understand why they’re being treated the way they are. They do the tricks because they’re given food to do them. How would you feel if someone took you from your home to go perform for people everyday in an environment that is not indigenous to you? It’s crazy man, just crazy. THANK YOU FOR WRITING THIS POST!!
Sandra says
It totally makes sense those poor creatures lash out… I didn’t intend to lead anyone in thinking I didn’t feel for them… they need to be in the ocean where they belong… and they are killer whales because they eat their food whole… and they eat seals and other large sea life…
I’ve seen then in the open water before… magnificent creatures…
My heart goes out to the trainer… I just read that apparently they believe her ponytail was the cause of the death, the whale thought it was a toy?
So sad that these lovely creatures have been reduced to toy totting poodles, and not the massive, necessity of the seas
dale k waldo says
There seems to be agreement on the keeping of orcas as being inhumane and just plain wrong. And yet, the show goes on. I would urge people to watch “The Cove” a documentary about dolphins but also pertinent to this discussion. The movie is up for an Oscar but whether it wins or not, it is still a good movie, although a bit graphic. Sea World also has a swim with the dolphins program at Discovery Cove. Remember that when you watch the movie! I live in Orlando. Years ago, when Sea World was owned by HBJ we had season tickets. It was a fun day and it was educational. When HBJ sold it to Busch we still had season tickets. It went from a fun educational park to one that sold mechandise and beer in the stands of the shows. I understand the hawking aspect but as a parent with young kids it was hard to have to say “no” all the time. We did not get season tickets after that. Since then they have added roller coaster rides, a huge playground and other theme park aspects, including the beer and the Budweiser horses. We did go a couple of times and the educational aspect was not as strong as the theme park “Adventure Park” aspect. Face it, parents have a hard time selling a family trip if it is supposed to be “educational”. Busch has sold the park to Blackstone Group. They are investors and as such may be more willing to listen if people say that their investment will take a dive because of the inhumane treatment of both the animals and the employees. I would encourage people to write to the Blackstone Group and make their feelings known.
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