Death re-opens killer whale debate

[o_rourke]

"The gruesome death of a trainer in Orlando, the latest in a string of attacks by captive orcas, seemed certain to rekindle discussion over using them at theme parks....."


Three years ago, Russ Rector, a Fort Lauderdale dolphin trainer turned marine mammal activist, said he wrote SeaWorld a letter warning it was pushing its show mammals too hard to wow audiences, thereby inviting attacks on trainers.
On Wednesday, a killer whale named Tilikum implicated in two previous fatalities attacked a trainer during a show at the Orlando theme park, dragging her around like a toy and drowning her in front of horrified visitors.
``I warned them this was going to happen,'' Rector said. ``Happy animals don't kill their trainers.''

Read more here:

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/02/24/1498900/death-reopens-killer-whale-debate.html

I've often wondered how they really train these beautiful intelligent creatures. On one site that I read, they say it's built out of trust and love, but surely that is contradictory if Russ Lector has warned that these whales are being pushed too far. How are they being pushed? What is their method of training? My fear is that they are being electro-shocked or other torture to perform these tricks.

This is the other link saying how they build trust with the whales:

http://www.family-vacation-getaways-at-los-angeles-theme-parks.com/Shamu-the-Killer-Whale-Pictures.html

It just seems very contradictory to me that these animals will turn killers if they are truly happy in their captivity. :(

[spiritual melody]

I wish humans would leave our sea species alone and stop imprisoning them to make a quick buck. :mad:

It is awful that these majestic creatures are kept in a small tank rather than roaming the seas freely with their pods.

I found out last year that a killer whale is actually a member of the dolphin family and it makes me so sad to see them performing tricks in captivity :( I am lucky enough to have 130 dolphins as neighbours and to see them daily in their natural environment is awesome, how they all interact and play after their feeds.

Animals should not be held captive for the entertainment and money making schemes of humans its a discrace!

[beldazar]

I wish humans would leave our sea species alone and stop imprisoning them to make a quick buck. :mad:

It is awful that these majestic creatures are kept in a small tank rather than roaming the seas freely with their pods.

I found out last year that a killer whale is actually a member of the dolphin family and it makes me so sad to see them performing tricks in captivity :( I am lucky enough to have 130 dolphins as neighbours and to see them daily in their natural environment is awesome, how they all interact and play after their feeds.

Animals should not be held captive for the entertainment and money making schemes of humans its a discrace!

Absolutely!
Altough I go through stages of guilt for keeping birds in an aviary and having a fishtank, I wish I had never started down that road :(

I only found out today that the killer whale was a member of the dolphin species :o

I have never seen dolpins in the wild although they are seen often where I am, somehow I miss them

[drhemp]

These creatures should never be kept in captivity like this.

Awful humans that keep the whales or dolphins in these tanks and awful humans that keep them going by paying money to go and see them.

[dangermouse]

These creatures should never be kept in captivity like this.

Awful humans that keep the whales or dolphins in these tanks and awful humans that keep them going by paying money to go and see them.

corner a rat see how he likes it ;)

These intelligent creatures shouldn't be held captive like this.

[sylviasilver]

I wish humans would leave our sea species alone and stop imprisoning them to make a quick buck. :mad:

It is awful that these majestic creatures are kept in a small tank rather than roaming the seas freely with their pods.

I found out last year that a killer whale is actually a member of the dolphin family and it makes me so sad to see them performing tricks in captivity :( I am lucky enough to have 130 dolphins as neighbours and to see them daily in their natural environment is awesome, how they all interact and play after their feeds.

Animals should not be held captive for the entertainment and money making schemes of humans its a discrace!

Here, here ! VERY WELL SAID !

Back in the early 90's, before I really started questioning alot of animal cruelty from humans I actually went to one of the Seaworld shows and found them truly AMAZING, but often wondered how they trained them, I think we were told they actually "enjoyed" performing these shows ! The are doing shows 7 days a week and are kept in a tank...truly shocking and disgraceful, no wonder they are fighting back...who can blame them...:(

[purelibra]

Our news said this was the 3rd person dispatched by this particular whale. I really think this whale had been fairly clear about it's unhappiness yet they still pushed the poor thing and will probably continue to do so.

[wolfhead]

Ban all Zoos, Animal Parks, Circuses and for that matter any pet that has to be kept in a cage.

All I see in pet shops is little furry future torture victims.

Keeping captive animals and turning them into trick ponies is all about 'mans domination of nature'.

2nd time that killer whale has killed to - theres a clue in the name!

[troubled]

These creatures should never be kept in captivity like this.

Awful humans that keep the whales or dolphins in these tanks and awful humans that keep them going by paying money to go and see them.
agreed

[purelibra]

2nd time that killer whale has killed to - theres a clue in the name!

Yep they aren't called snuggle whales.:0

[eustacekidd]

theres a clue in the name!

Exactly what I was going to write when I saw this thread!

[decim]

That poor Woman...R.I.P Whale lady.

[o_rourke]

I've read that whales or dolphins that are held in captivity show their dorphin fins slanting downwards.

From what I've seen myself and also on video clips, then I haven't seen one of these creatures happy about it's slavery and captivity.

As much as I have sympathy for the trainer who died, I think her selfishness in wanting to love this creature in captivity took over her and if she truly loved it, she should have sought to set it free.

[cosmo1]

Ban all Zoos, Animal Parks, Circuses and for that matter any pet that has to be kept in a cage.

All I see in pet shops is little furry future torture victims.

Keeping captive animals and turning them into trick ponies is all about 'mans domination of nature'.

2nd time that killer whale has killed to - theres a clue in the name!

Hear bloody hear!! Well said!