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Keeping Orcas in captivity - Is it wrong?

Darren B

Darren B

Giga Poster
The trainers death is an awkward argument, although SeaWorld were wrong to come and say it was Dawn's fault and nobody else's. She did contribute to her own death however, She put herself in a position of danger, SeaWorld didn't ask her to lay on the slide out and make herself available to Tilikum. She knew the risks but I suppose became complacent. She's probably spent years and years doing the same routine with him and felt safe around him. It was no more than a tragic accident, involving an animal we just don't understand.

One thing that Blackfish didn't speak about was Dawn's husband. He was advised to sue SeaWorld and never did, he apparently spoke out saying that Dawn was aware of the risk her job entailed but was happy to put herself in that position.
 
M

marc

CF Legend
Yes it was an accident simple as that and Sea World should have just said that rather than make up a story that was not true.

Laying on the side was part of the normal show.
 
Robbie

Robbie

Hyper Poster
marc said:
Was looking for attendance figures and found a report saying that attendance has not been affected by any of the reports. That's according to Sea World anyway.
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Attendance dropped 9% y-o-y in the quarter following the release of Blackfish, and 3.6% in the next quarter. Sea World are blaming increased ticket prices and bad Florida weather, but neither of those factors have affected Disney and Universal, and you'd think the new Penguin attraction would offset some decline.
 
Robbie

Robbie

Hyper Poster
The fact is attendance is down, and they're dropping the Shamu shows for a few months. Something's up and however they spin it, it must be because of the documentary.
 
M

marc

CF Legend
Yep you would have to agree with that after all none of the other parks have seen a drop.

Tbh though Sea World has always seemed to be quietest park when we have been.

How are the other Sea World parks doing?
 
Darren B

Darren B

Giga Poster
Robbie said:
The fact is attendance is down, and they're dropping the Shamu shows for a few months. Something's up and however they spin it, it must be because of the documentary.
Click to expand...

I believe the shows have stopped to install the rising floor, so they can get back in the water with the Orca's. More to do with the OSHA court hearing rather than Blackfish.
 
M

marc

CF Legend
The shows are stopping for work on the stadium and it was announced months ago apparently.

I still think it's stupid to allow the trainers back in. Does not matter what they install, if a whale grabs the trainer they are still not getting out.

The shows are nothing without the trainers though. Again though putting lives at risk for entertainment not really the right thing.
 
Darren B

Darren B

Giga Poster
^I've just had a look at progress, the fast rising floor is in place in G Pool (Tilikums pool) and they are now back in the water training with the Orcas in readiness for the courts to rule in their favour.

And get this, they ARE doing water work with Tilikum, which has never been done before. The floor is raised to 10ft, and lowers depending on behaviours. This is great news for Tilikum as he's now getting used to having trainers in the water with him. which could avoid any future deaths.

Source, Tim Zimmerman as always.
 
M

marc

CF Legend
So are they saying if the whale grabs them they can raise the floor to raise the whale out of water?

Just read about it they have been working on it since 2011 and it will lift the whale out the water.

Sorry how does this improve the life of the whale? It might mean the trainers can get in but does not make the pools bigger or anything.
 
Darren B

Darren B

Giga Poster
Yes.

The floor can be raised in less than a minute which will rule out drowning. And with the whale being stranded they can easily remove the trainer from the whale. We'll never know if this works until it happens again sadly.
 
M

marc

CF Legend
Darren I know we are both looking at this from different angles.

How is this right for the whale? Stranding it for the sake of a show? It's wrong it's totally immoral.
 
Darren B

Darren B

Giga Poster
^The cause of death for Tilikums 3 victims and Keto's sole victim was drowning. The other injuries occurred as part of the incident. The raising of the floor has ruled out drowning and will make it a lot easier to seperate the whale and trainer, especially as the whale will be immobile. But like I said, we won't know if this works until something happens.
 
M

marc

CF Legend
The last trainer did not drown though he ripped her apart the same with the person that broke in.

Remember Sea World are meant to have covered that up.

But it will stop that other incident where the trainer was crabbed by his foot.

It's still not right to beach a whale, plus the whale could still trash around.

But how will the floors stop them ramming each other?
 
Darren B

Darren B

Giga Poster
It won't stop them ramming/raking each other. That's why the bull orca's are seperated from the females. It also happens in the wild, but obviously there is more room to escape in the ocean.

Tilikum drowned Dawn, her body was thrashed about after she would have died. Some say he was trying to awaken her when she became lifeless, some say he was just playing with her, and the anti-captivist's will tell you he murdered and tortured her because he wants to return to the wild.
 
M

marc

CF Legend
Depends what report you believe though.

Yes she had water in her lungs, but internal injuries and broken bones.

The guy that was killed was the same even though Sea World say different.

As said these changes don't improve the life of the whales which is the problem for me.
 
gavin

gavin

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Social Media Team
^Nobody is trying to claim that the pool changes are in any way beneficial to the animals. They're a safety measure for the trainers. That's it.
 
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