So, I am against the captivity of pretty much all animals, much less large Ocean Predetors... But once again, "Shamu" killed one of it's trainers. This time it looks completely premeditated... I feel terrible for the trainers, but when are we going to cut the sh** and stop pretending that "KILLER" whales are safe to play with.... This article just hits me close to home because the SD sea world is like 1/2 mile from my home. I hear the seals and other sea life making crazy loud noises all night long... I love all those animals, but at the same time... come one people.... come on.... here is a link http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/feb/24/seaworld-san-diego-suspends-shamu-show-after/
agreed "killer" whales. Not "Fluffy, Freindly" whales. feel bad for the families too. Did they watch the movie "ORCA?"-great flick These animals are just too big and too smart for captivity ( most animals fall into this category ). I saw the show while I was in SD.-been there done that. I wish I didnt support it though. again "Killer" whales. Do not act so suprised when it happens. Freind of mine said- "Just take a Great White, add about 10-20 feet , a larger more complex brain and lungs instead of gills."
anyone who thinks that these animals aren't intelligent & self-aware (ie: sentient) is either a moron or has never come into contact w/ them. one of the most humbling things that has ever happened to me happened while i was lifeguarding on long beach island, nj...i was out on a paddleboard, maybe 75 yards out, when i was suddenly surrounded by a pod of dolphins. it was cool as $#!t....there were babies, young dolphins, older ones, all checking me out, & i them. it began to go south when one baby got *too* curious & came too near to me for his mother's taste...she moved so fast! before i could even change direction, she was between her kid & the board, so close i could smell the fishiness of her breath & see the warning look in her eye. it clearly said, "do NOT f###k w/ baby or something horrible will happen to you." while all this was happening, mr. alpha male, or daddy, or both, made his way over. now, mama was a full grown critter...6-7ft of sleek, grey, hydrodynamic muscle. papa, on the other hand, made mama look like a midget. he was HUGE!! nearly as long as the 10'6" rescue board i was on, & weighed easily 4x as much. if he'd gotten pissed, i wouldn't have had a snowball's chance in hell of surviving. so yea...no reason for these guys to be in captivity. it's a full-time job just keeping my parrot entertained, & she's no where near the size of a killer whale, & prob. not as smart (tho her intelligence & problem-solving skills stun me daily).
These animals shouldn't be in captivity, period. I'm sorry for the trainer's family, but **** happens when you cage very wild creatures. This should serve as a reminder that undomesticated animals should be left the f*ck alone.
