Watched a fascinating documentary today at the above link, which is free, about Tilikum, an orca who has killed 3 people.
SeaWorld says the movie is propaganda but it's hard to argue with what's presented. It's horrifying and heartbreaking at times and a little hard to watch, but I couldn't take my eyes off it.
I saw that a few weeks ago and was quite dismayed by the conditions and cover-ups by Sea World. I'll never visit one of those places.
Apparently they are still using the story that the last victim's braid was somehow tangled. A friend came back from Sea World for X-Mas vacation and she tried to sell me that story until I told her the back story of Tilikum.
One thing I never considered was the inherent danger to the whales because they are not of the same pod or family. Whales is whales..... apparently not. Put them in confined spaces and you create many kinds of dominance and social problems.
I saw that and I never been to Sea World and never will.
I had 2 opportunities in the past 20 years to go to the one in San Antonio and the one in San Diego.
They need to let those whales go free.
I also hold animosity against zoos.
How would you like to be the one kept in an enclosure or cage day in and day out for the rest of your life while 1000s of people stream by everyday to take a look at you?
Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 2,896bogusheadbox
Opinionated Aussie Bloke
bogusheadbox
Opinionated Aussie Bloke
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,896
Originally Posted By: peppergomez
Hopefully zoos will be viewed with the same attitude as slavery in the eyes of future generations
That's a big statement.
A lot of zoos are responsible for the continuation of endangered species that breed in captivity. Though some of these animals will never be free, their species is still here.
Also even though captivity lifestyle is harsh for animals, a lot of zoos are responsible for bringing to the general public the awareness for cultural and physical protection of habitats and ecosystems which has helped the protection of many animals for the "imprisonment" of only a few.
Some zoos are just not zoos and are just down right cruel.
Perhaps humans will truly figure out if we want to coexist on this planet or not.
Last edited by bogusheadbox; 03/02/1410:27 AM.
Fighterops...
The only TRUE Stealth crowd funded game.
Devs said there was stuff there, but you just couldn't see it.
I haven't watched Blackfish, yet. Found the above interview while looking into reviews and accuracy. I am not backing everything that Kyle says, but he does have some valid points.
With that said, I am along the same lines with everyone in that these animals should be roaming free amongst hundreds of square miles and not just a bowl of water. I spent a few weeks in the Kenya outback observing/photographing the native wildlife. Complete life changer for me.
Watched that documentary a little while back. These places should all be shutdown, grim business. Two killer whales died in the past 20 years in Hong Kong's own Ocean Park. They'll probably get a 3rd one to entertain the tourists.
Cheers, Slug
"Major Burns isn't saying much of anything, Sir. I think he's formulating the answer..." - Radar - M*A*S*H
Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 2,896bogusheadbox
Opinionated Aussie Bloke
bogusheadbox
Opinionated Aussie Bloke
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,896
Originally Posted By: Sluggish Controls
Watched that documentary a little while back. These places should all be shutdown, grim business. Two killer whales died in the past 20 years in Hong Kong's own Ocean Park. They'll probably get a 3rd one to entertain the tourists.
Cheers, Slug
If it promotes affinity to an animal or species then that is a small price to pay. It wasn't long ago that certain whales were almost extinct. By exposing people to an animal so we can observe it as a living entity rather than a commodity then we will educate ourselves about their involvement to the ecosystem and inevitably their impact on human lives.
Ohh, I would rather see animals in zoos rather than in museums
Last edited by bogusheadbox; 03/02/1401:14 PM.
Fighterops...
The only TRUE Stealth crowd funded game.
Devs said there was stuff there, but you just couldn't see it.
My problem is for me anything SeaWorld says is tainted, they have a vested interest in keeping killer whales so their argument can be skewed because of financial interest. So I can't entirely trust them but Blackfish does not portray both sides of the argument to let you make your own decision.
'Blackfish' director denies SeaWorld's allegations, says investigator didn't provide documents 03-03-2014 12:22 PM EST
ORLANDO, Fla. (Associated Press) -- The director of a documentary that explored a killer whale's involvement in the death of a SeaWorld trainer says a Labor Department investigator who probed the incident didn't provide filmmakers with any confidential documents.
In a statement to The Associated Press, "Blackfish" director Gabriela Cowperthwaite says that Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigator Lara Padgett wasn't part of its production and that she, "along with her OSHA colleagues, declined repeated requests to participate in Blackfish."
Cowperthwaite says she's "looking forward to a day when SeaWorld honestly and transparently addresses animal welfare and trainer safety."
SeaWorld filed a complaint last week alleging Padgett engaged in unethical conduct by providing filmmakers with government documents. The allegations were turned over to Office of the Inspector General.