Summer of 78 while home from college, I worked at Marineland of the Pacific (which has long since closed) as a sandwich maker. Had to get there by 5AM to start preparing the food before the park opened. Once we had made the initial quantity of sandwiches, we'd take our first a break. It was still early, so I'd walk around to the different exhibits, including the Orca tank. I forgot name of the fish... mammal... whatever (Orky or Corky, I think), but he would always come to the window and would follow you around if you went up on the deck. I'd walk over to the dolphin arena and play catch with one or two of the dolphins. They kept after you to throw the ball to the point it would wear you out - like a dog I once had. It was such a neat place to work. It was in Palos Verdes, a beautiful location, on the cliffs right above the Pacific Ocean. I believe Donald Trump has a golf resort there now.
warning! very disturbing. I watched it once. [video=youtube;8OEjYquyjcg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OEjYquyjcg[/video]
I'm surprised it hasn't happened more often. Messin' with Mother Nature. Although it was neat working at Marineland, I couldn't help feeling sorry for the dolphins and whales (Orcas and Pilots) kept in those tanks for the purposes of profit and our entertainment .
I never really thought about it when I was a kid and went to Seaworld, but now I can see how this is wrong. Actually, unless the animal can't make it in the wild for whatever reason, they shouldn't be kept in captivity in any zoo or theme park for our amusement. Just take a look at the Lion at the local zoo, that's not a real lion anymore, he's a shell of himself, and it's disgusting to see. Like I said, if they are being kept because they have something wrong w/them and wouldn't make it in the real wild life, then that's one thing, but if they are fully capable of surviving, then let them be free... just as we are, and the rest of the animals on this planet
