Elephant Seal gets very friendly with woman

[kenny]

I think this video is controversial. Link

One one hand this seems wonderful, but I also think it is a very bad idea, both what the woman did and posting it on the Internet.
I'm sure it was thrilling and even a meaningful experience for this woman (plus it's cool the world gets to share it via the Internet) but she could have gotten hurt by this animal or others, particularly if it was a female "belonging" to a nearby protective male.

Also socializing a wild animal to human contact may result in it loosing its healthy fear of humans.
The next human may be a hunter.

Next, can you imagine all the well-intentioned tourists with camcorders who are going to seek out these animals to try this?

 

[lyra]

I agree Kenny. It''s kind of horrifying to me all in all. Cute seal, but dangerous situation.

 

[yssie]

Ditto every word, Kenny. They're not in a petting zoo.

 

[redfaerythinker]

I''m wondering if this particular animal was raised by humans and released into the wild, just too trusting to be truly wild kwim? But the whole time I was watching this video I was waiting for it to rear back and bite her face off!

 

[somethingshiny]

I''m actually really surprised that she didn''t get bitten. I agree, Kenny. I''m sure it was a meaningful experience but will end up encouraging others to look for the same experience with any wild animal they come across.

 

[kenny]

It really is a touching video though.
I'm jealous of her.

Oh, that we lived in an ideal world.

 

[Karl_K]

Date: 4/28/2010 9:50:03 PM
Author:kenny
I think this video is controversial. Link


One one hand this seems wonderful, but I also think it is a very bad idea, both what the woman did and posting it on the Internet.

I''m sure it was thrilling and even a meaningful experience for this woman (plus it''s cool the world gets to share it via the Internet) but she could have gotten hurt by this animal or others, particularly if it was a female ''belonging'' to a nearby protective male.

no real danger from the males


Also socializing a wild animal to human contact may result in it loosing its healthy fear of humans.
yes it is a very bad idea, I rather suspect that one is a rescue they knew what was going to happen and she was expecting it
The next human may be a hunter.


Next, can you imagine all the well-intentioned tourists with camcorders who are going to seek out these animals to try this?
happens all the time, buffalo at Yellowstone kill dozens a year of id10ts that want to pet the cute buffalo. every year one or 2 get killed by bears for the same reason.

 

[Hera]

That''s just not sweet to me. I''m so angry at the thought of that beautiful animal losing it''s fear towards people

 

[brazen_irish_hussy]

I would really rather have this experience:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvCjyWp3rEk&feature=related

 

[yssie]

Date: 4/28/2010 11:26:19 PM
Author: Karl_K

Date: 4/28/2010 9:50:03 PM
Author:kenny
I think this video is controversial. Link


One one hand this seems wonderful, but I also think it is a very bad idea, both what the woman did and posting it on the Internet.

I''m sure it was thrilling and even a meaningful experience for this woman (plus it''s cool the world gets to share it via the Internet) but she could have gotten hurt by this animal or others, particularly if it was a female ''belonging'' to a nearby protective male.

no real danger from the males


Also socializing a wild animal to human contact may result in it loosing its healthy fear of humans.
yes it is a very bad idea, I rather suspect that one is a rescue they knew what was going to happen and she was expecting it
The next human may be a hunter.


Next, can you imagine all the well-intentioned tourists with camcorders who are going to seek out these animals to try this?
happens all the time, buffalo at Yellowstone kill dozens a year of id10ts that want to pet the cute buffalo. every year one or 2 get killed by bears for the same reason.

Pet the cute buffalo?

Who in the world finds a buffalo cute??

 

[Hera]

Date: 4/29/2010 2:17:21 AM
Author: yssie

Date: 4/28/2010 11:26:19 PM

Author: Karl_K

Date: 4/28/2010 9:50:03 PM

Author:kenny

I think this video is controversial. Link



One one hand this seems wonderful, but I also think it is a very bad idea, both what the woman did and posting it on the Internet.


I''m sure it was thrilling and even a meaningful experience for this woman (plus it''s cool the world gets to share it via the Internet) but she could have gotten hurt by this animal or others, particularly if it was a female ''belonging'' to a nearby protective male.


no real danger from the males



Also socializing a wild animal to human contact may result in it loosing its healthy fear of humans.

yes it is a very bad idea, I rather suspect that one is a rescue they knew what was going to happen and she was expecting it

The next human may be a hunter.



Next, can you imagine all the well-intentioned tourists with camcorders who are going to seek out these animals to try this?

happens all the time, buffalo at Yellowstone kill dozens a year of id10ts that want to pet the cute buffalo. every year one or 2 get killed by bears for the same reason.

Pet the cute buffalo?


Who in the world finds a buffalo cute??

I do

 

[yssie]

Date: 4/29/2010 2:19:22 AM
Author: heraanderson

Date: 4/29/2010 2:17:21 AM
Author: yssie

Date: 4/28/2010 11:26:19 PM

Author: Karl_K

Date: 4/28/2010 9:50:03 PM

Author:kenny

I think this video is controversial. Link



One one hand this seems wonderful, but I also think it is a very bad idea, both what the woman did and posting it on the Internet.


I'm sure it was thrilling and even a meaningful experience for this woman (plus it's cool the world gets to share it via the Internet) but she could have gotten hurt by this animal or others, particularly if it was a female 'belonging' to a nearby protective male.


no real danger from the males



Also socializing a wild animal to human contact may result in it loosing its healthy fear of humans.

yes it is a very bad idea, I rather suspect that one is a rescue they knew what was going to happen and she was expecting it

The next human may be a hunter.



Next, can you imagine all the well-intentioned tourists with camcorders who are going to seek out these animals to try this?

happens all the time, buffalo at Yellowstone kill dozens a year of id10ts that want to pet the cute buffalo. every year one or 2 get killed by bears for the same reason.

Pet the cute buffalo?


Who in the world finds a buffalo cute??

I do

haha do you really?


When I was a kid my grandfather kept water buffalo in his front yard - literally. Three of them. I was terrified of them - they were superprotective of the big dustbin in the corner.

 

[Tuckins1]

I think that is one of the stupidest moves that woman could have done. What if it bit her face off?!? They have very sharp teeth... It also (as Kenny said) is doing a great disservice to that animal. Humans should leave wildlife alone and observe them from afar. Just my $.02....

 

[PumpkinPie]

Very dangerous behaviour by the woman. I''m sure it was an amazing experience, but it was also very dumb

 

[geckodani]

The clip has been removed.

 

[kenny]

Cool.

I''m curious who contacted her (if the woman was the owner) and what they said

 

[Hera]

Date: 4/29/2010 2:51:09 AM
Author: yssie

Date: 4/29/2010 2:19:22 AM
Author: heraanderson

Date: 4/29/2010 2:17:21 AM
Author: yssie

Date: 4/28/2010 11:26:19 PM

Author: Karl_K

Date: 4/28/2010 9:50:03 PM

Author:kenny

I think this video is controversial. Link



One one hand this seems wonderful, but I also think it is a very bad idea, both what the woman did and posting it on the Internet.


I''m sure it was thrilling and even a meaningful experience for this woman (plus it''s cool the world gets to share it via the Internet) but she could have gotten hurt by this animal or others, particularly if it was a female ''belonging'' to a nearby protective male.


no real danger from the males



Also socializing a wild animal to human contact may result in it loosing its healthy fear of humans.

yes it is a very bad idea, I rather suspect that one is a rescue they knew what was going to happen and she was expecting it

The next human may be a hunter.



Next, can you imagine all the well-intentioned tourists with camcorders who are going to seek out these animals to try this?

happens all the time, buffalo at Yellowstone kill dozens a year of id10ts that want to pet the cute buffalo. every year one or 2 get killed by bears for the same reason.

Pet the cute buffalo?


Who in the world finds a buffalo cute??

I do

haha do you really?


When I was a kid my grandfather kept water buffalo in his front yard - literally. Three of them. I was terrified of them - they were superprotective of the big dustbin in the corner.

Yes, really. I''m from L.A so we don''t have that many animals here. I LOVE animals and the uglier they are, the cuter they are. My husband''s in the Navy and he hates camels from experience in the Gulf, yet I think they are super cute.

 

[kenny]

Click

 

[Selkie]

Egads. That video is kind of horrifying for a bunch of different reasons. For one thing, elephant seals REEK, so I'm amazed she nuzzled it like that without passing out from the stench. My husband used to work for Fish and Game doing wildlife surveys, and got to explore some of the more remote colonies on the Channel Islands ("sifting through seal sh** by the seashore" is how he refers to it). He kept his distance from them, as they can be extremely unpredictable and fast. There are periods when they're really torpid and sluggish like the one in the video, plus it looks like a fairly young one which wouldn't be concerned with either protecting its mates or young, but still! It looks to be in the southern hemisphere, maybe Argentina, because of the penguins, so I'm guessing the laws about harassing marine mammals are less stringent or something, but in the US you could actually be fined for touching them (not to mention bitten, mauled, and maimed.)

ETA: I bet people at Seaworld thought that the orca interacting with its trainer was really cute and cuddly too, just before it killed her.

 

[MonkeyPie]

Date: 4/29/2010 7:30:23 PM
Author: Selkie
There are periods when they''re really torpid and sluggish like the one in the video, plus it looks like a fairly young one which wouldn''t be concerned with either protecting its mates or young, but still!

Methinks that is the key here - a fairly young seal, and one either hand-raised and released into the wild by this woman herself, or she sat out there for months inching closer and closer while the seals became acclimated to her presence.

It''s cute, and sweet, but I wouldn''t do it.

 

[geckodani]

My first though was holy moly that is so dangerous!

 

[Italiahaircolor]

When I clicked the link the video was removed...but I saw the baby moose one in the sprinkle...and I cried like a baby.

 

[kenny]

Another problem, if another sea lion gets amorous with the woman she may be . . . Torn Between Two Blubbers.

 

[lightningbug]

Date: 4/30/2010 1:06:08 PM
Author: kenny
Another problem, if another sea lion gets amorous with the woman she may be . . . Torn Between Two Blubbers.