Shamu kills trainer at Seaworld

[iluvcarats]

This is sad and tragic from every angle.
They are called killer whales for a reason.

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Yeah...I mean, controversy of "animal shows" in general aside, there are some animals that are better (and safer) than others for live shows with humans. Walruses and sea lions to be honest are pretty good about it. Tigers, Lions, Alligators and Orcas...that''s mostly just tempting fate.

I would be angry if they killed the whale for doing what it naturally does. I feel the same way when I see people hurting their dogs for barking...it''s a dog, they bark. Sure, you try to train them to behave, but sometimes dogs will just be dogs. If you didn''t want barking then maybe you shouldn''t have gotten a dog... And if you don''t want to be injured..maybe you shouldn''t hang around large, moody predators that can break you in half.

 

[Haven]

This is animal cruelty. You contribute to it if you go to parks like these that exploit animals for human entertainment.

That being said, what a horrible tragedy for all involved. My heart goes out to the trainer''s family, and to Tilly.

 

[partgypsy]

The news shocks and saddens me. I guess I have mixed feelings about the whole thing. The times I''ve gone to oceanariums or aquariums I am in awe of seeing these animals up close. But I also realize this is not a natural situation for them. When I was a kid I was the biggest animal lover. One time I was in a park and saw a chipmunk and without thinking quickly scooped it up to hold it - and it bit my finger really badly so it could escape. But because it looked like something out of a cartoon I was so surprised it bit me. Sometimes we think we know what animals want, or are thinking, when we really don''t. I have no doubt this woman loved animals, and in particular the orcas she worked with, so it is sad. My daughter really loves animals. What if when she was grown up she wanted to work with animals such as in a zoo or in the wild. Would I say no, if that was her dream? But they are still wild animals, worse yet wild animals in unnatural to them environments.

 

[hlmr]

Date: 2/24/2010 9:49:01 PM
Author: Haven
This is animal cruelty. You contribute to it if you go to parks like these that exploit animals for human entertainment.

That being said, what a horrible tragedy for all involved. My heart goes out to the trainer''s family, and to Tilly.

Exactly!!! Honestly, what do people expect????????

 

[Laila619]

How sad for the woman and her family.

Also, sad for these whales who have to live in captivity. Zoos are no better. It is animal cruelty. These captive animals are stressed and that is why they attack.

 

[dragonfly411]

I did some further research last night. Tilly was actually being used at the end of the shows, though trainers were not in the water with him. He did the large splashes at the end.

The incident happened at the end of a dine with Shamu event... which takes place next to a holding tank. Tilly and the trainer were familiar with each other and from what one family (who was videoing right before she was pulled in) said it seems the woman''s hair got caught in Tilly''s mouth, and she went in as he rolled over. After that he grabbed her and started tossing her a bit and then pulled her under. The family''s son was celebrating his tenth birthday.... it was on Fox news... with their video from the event

I imagine Sea World will remove him to an off site facility. I''m sure they value him as a breeding animal to help replenish the number of orcas. I''ll be interested to see if they take further action in trying to make sure all animals are safe and happy for shows, and aren''t going to be further upset by having to perform. I hope they tone the shows down a bit. They do more shows now than they ever did, and it''s really not fair to the whales.


I also found it interesting that Tilly was captured in the same ocean ranges as Keiko... the whale from Free Willy

 

[Nomsdeplume]

What is up with humans and our arrogance??
You take a wild animal from it''s natural environment, put it in a cramped enclosure and force it to perform tricks for the amusement of humans and still expect it not to lash out????
What ever made us think that we are entitled to own, control and exploit creatures more vulnerable than ourselves for our own sick amusement?
It''s disgusting and it should stop. Don''t we have enough sport, movies and music to keep us entertained?