Free Willy?
I just read a few news reports about an orca (or killer whale as we like to call them) killing a trainer at SeaWorld in Orlando. This makes me mad for many reasons, not least because of the stupid comments about the fish being treated better than humans. Mostly, I just cannot understand why zoo parks and aquariums continue to keep these animals when it is so obvious that they are not meant to be kept in captivity – and made to perform silly tricks for food. No wonder they attack their trainers, I would too if I was subjected to that bull shit.
As someone who worked at an aquarium for a few years, both behind the scenes and with the seals, it’s easy to miss where the line starts to blur, but the Two Oceans Aquarium has always had a very strict no dolphin and no killer whale rule – the focus is on education and conservation rather than entertainment. Their seals were rescued as pups and have since gone on to a bigger home, and they even ‘recycle’ their ragged tooth sharks as part of their shark conservation efforts.
Other reasons why keeping killer whales in tanks is stupid:
1. The only incidents of orcas attacking and/or killing people is when they are kept in captivity.
2. They often develop pathologies, such as the dorsal fin collapse seen in 60–90% of captive males.
3. They have vastly reduced life expectancies, on average only living into their 20s.
4. Captive life is stressful due to small tanks, false social groupings and chemically altered water.
5. Their intelligence and social nature is messed up by the lack of proper hierarchy.
As you could probably guess, I bawled my eyes out in Free Willy, and in fact battle to watch this movie. I prefer to see these fish on National Geographic, chasing seals and looking beautiful.
But seeing them in tanks, jumping for fish? Not so cool.
I agree with you Rox. I have never seen a killer whale. I am still able to increase my education about them without having seen them. I would love to see one (or a few!), but not if that comes at the expense of the whale.
Meanwhile, the ironic thing around Kiko (sp?) from FREE WILLY was that the whale had been born in captivity, but after the movie people around the world campaigned to have him freed & raised money for it to happen. So finally he was released near Norway, where he hated life out of “the cage”, swam & stayed in Fjord area, caught a cold and died. He wasn’t street smart enough to survive out of his cage. Or so a Norwegian friend told me.
Oh wow, I knew about the campaign to ‘free Keiko’ and that he was a captive-born whale, but so sad he didn’t make it.
Human interference is something we just cannot seem to avoid though, just look at conservation and how people treat entire floral and fauna species as something to control. And all those misguided people at the aquarium who used to bring in seal pups or call us in hysteria to do something… ugh, bordering on rant mode now, hehe.
But ye, spot on about being able to learn about them without seeing them – same thing with pandas and so many other species!
So very sad, I hate any wild animals in captivity, I hate zoos, I hate aquariums, I hate circuses alot! it all makes me so sad, human beings are such selfish pigs.
Agreed – will never go to a zoo again, and have no desire to ever go to a circus! Aquariums are generally bad too, but the Two Oceans Aquarium is one of the few exceptions to this.
Mostly because they don’t keep big sea animals, and having worked there I got to see what good work they do – also they have a focus on exhibitions, with replicated tides and natural as possible environments, rather than tanks with creatures just there to be oggled at.
And they do that Msea shark thing, and work closely with the Save Our Seas and various other organisations, not to mention turtle rehab for rescued turtles, sun fish rehab and assorted other things.
I couldn’t agree more and the fact that it’s a “shock” that a killer whale would ummmm…. KILL, just makes the whole thing really silly. There are suppose to be in their natural habitat and not doing laps around a pool!
Exactly – it’s crazy when you really think about it!
Next thing they will want shark shows, now that would be a huge hit… great white’s breaching for seals, the crowds would go wild.
Human beings are funny creatures hey!
P.S. Really love your blog, going to add to my blogroll.