zhie | That whale ain't right

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100225/ap_on_re_us/us_seaworld_death

Okay... couple of points here...

First... Killer Whale. Was this not enough of a warning? (Yes, I know, they don't usually kill people, but how many experiments are there in allowing whales to try to kill people?)

Second... THIRD time this guy was involved in killing someone? THIRD time?

After the FIRST time, you free Willy, okay?

Totally feel bad for the family involved and for the people who had to witness this, but this certainly sounds like something that falls under the 'preventable' category.

When our cute lil betta Fingon decided to kill a pair of swordtails, and take bites out of other fish, we didn't give him a third chance or a second chance, we pulled his ass out of the tank and put him into solitary confinement, where he gnashes his teeth at me daily, and I'm certainly not going to shove my hand in to pet him, y'know? He's mean, yes, he kills stuff, yes, but I'm not saying kill the whale, I'm just saying, it might be time for either retirement to an aquarium or off to the big blue sea.

That's all.

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I feel sorry for Tilikum and have a real problem with these types of theme parks. Most people have no idea of they're history, etc. They want you to believe it's all humane... that their main motivation is educating the masses. It's not true though.

Reports say Tili was agitated... well then, yes by all means get close to the water and pet him. *sigh*

Possibly pissed off 6 ton whale with animal instincts which tell them that that lousy tank they're living in IS NOT NATURAL vs 100 some odd pound human in it's enviroment, which humans can't naturally navigate for very long without... err.. BREATHING... = potential disaster.

It's not that I don't sympathize... it's like you said though, could have been avoided.

These people (trainers) aren't experts... no one is... not really. The closest we have are people like Jane Goodall... People who spend their lives 'studying' animals in their natural habitat. And usually only one species. Even the real experts will tell you that animals 'always' remain unpredictable... because they are not 'humans'... they may have behaviors that we can 'associate' with... but we define them according to what we know. Hell, we don't even understand our own species very well... let alone a whole other types.

Unfortunately Tilikum, in the long run, is screwed, no matter what decisions the 'humans' make over his fate.

Exactly. And as 'cool' as it is to see big and sometimes scary animals do tricks (I'm thinking, too, of the tigers in Vegas, lions in the circus, bears, etc.), someone should really take a time out on this. Obviously, I'm not against all types of domestication of animals -- but there's a point where you go 'hmm, that thing could eat/kill/maim me really easily, because it's fourteen times my size... maybe I should rethink this...'

LOL.

But, what's even funnier is when humans get all surprised when it happens... "but s/he was so well behaved..."

:D

*knocks on noggin*
"Hello? Anyone home?"

I never did understand the concept of takeing a large wild animal, be it a Whale/Dolphin yadda, and large land animals, be it Lion/Tiger/Elephant...animals with large prey drives or large sochal herd mentalitys and stick them in limited spaces and such and not expect to have some problems. Like Zhie sayed, this is so avoidable.

I mean come on, lets pet the big moody Orca...yeah, thats a gooood idea!

They are not dogs or cats that have been domesticated for 15,000 and 7,000 years...and even dogs and cats can "turn" on people...

~Dark

Hell, humans turn on humans... and we're supposed to be 'higher' than the animal kingdom.

uh, huh.

Agreed...

~Dark

That's exactly the point... and yes, even dogs and cats can turn on owners, but you know what? I'd rather take my chance with a pissed off dog or cat (and I've been bitten before by both, and bitten by a rat once that thought my finger was a chew toy), than a happy KILLER WHALE.

They are surprised it happened again? Certainly, because after killing two people that whale certainly had its share and would never feel like doing it again... And those 10 other incidents from the same place involving attacks on humans totally didn't give any indication at all, either... Or claiming that the whale wasn't obeying that day and seemed agitated. There certainly seemed to be more than enough clues it might not be the smartest idea to go sit on the edge of the water and pet the huge, annoyed and carnivorous whale.

Precisely. The whole thing is a lack of common sense in so many areas.

I remember being at an aquarium (don't recall which; we try to hit all the major ones when we're traveling) where they had a little sea otter show. Nothing big, no huge jumped, just some jump through a hoop, play with a ball, here's some fish, everyone happy, and someone asked the trainer why they only had that and didn't have the dolphins or the whales they had there do anything. The guy laughed and was basically 'we really don't try to tell anything bigger than us what to do'.

LOL...
Smart tour guide. Funny answer.

When we went to the Atlanta aquarium.. you better believe the first thing I did before I stuck my hand in the stingray petting tank, was look for their barb. I was assured they were removed.

Weird thing was, a couple days later (you'll remember that), the news reported Steve Irwin's death.

Guess that stingray didn't know it was him. Otherwise it might have 'behaved' better. *rolls eyes*

I totally forgot about Steve! And there you go, perfect example of the pros not even knowing sometimes.

yep...
and good thing we don't have that kind of defense mechanism.

I've had enough 'startles' to probably be put away for being a
serial killer. :D

"WHA!"
"Whoops, sorry."

At leat the fish had lots of room...but yeah those Paranah were eyeballin you when you stood by them for the pic...

I could swear I could hear them saying "Come pet us come swiiiim with us"

~Dark

LOL

Actually, I didn't think the tank was big enough, especially for those sharks. I mean most sea creatures move great distances, not an area that isn't even as big as a city block.

Even those that are born and raised in captivity have migrational instincts... etc.

And yes, I went there, paid the admission, so in some respect, I'm guilty of 'feeding' the fenzy so to speak. But the older and hopefully wiser, I get... the more likely I won't do it anymore.

It's like when we owned our birds. After thinking more and more about how they're natural habitat is, how much freer they are and how most of these 'pets' are 'gotten' in the first place... I'm changing my mind.

Like you said earlier, dogs and cats have actually been bred for thousands of years to be what we keep them as today... 'pets'. Yet, at the same time, I even question that anymore, especially in my current situation.

*sigh*

LOL...
We are such an arrogant species.

Maybe he just wanted to play? 'cept his playground isn't exactly conducive to our survival... didn't they explain that to him in Humans in his orientation???

"but judge *burble, burble*, they no'z tell me hoomanz can't *burble, burble* breath underwater... whatz air tanks?...."

After the first killing they should have done something.

I agree with you. Totally avoidable . My condolences to the family...however.
To quote my hubby's fav saying ," One doesn't have to take lessons in stupidity, to some it comes natural."

I heard this morning that sea world will resume buisness as usual that means including the orca that killed three times in thier next show . Don't these folk ever learn!???? How many trainers must be killed before we free willie??*head desk*

That whale ain't right

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