Sea World Controversy

[Sapphire]

[b]ORLANDO, Fla. (CBS/WKMG)[/b] The Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited SeaWorld Orlando for three safety violation in the death of killer whale trainer Dawn Brancheau. SeaWorld was fined $75,000 for the violations, one of which was classified as "willful."

[url="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20014463-504083.html"]http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20014463-504083.html[/url]


GRRRrrrr..... I actually just got back from a visit to Sea world. They are not allowing the WHALE trainers to be in the water with the Whales right now. The show was short....and not very eventfull, but more than that.... I felt bad that the Whales do not get to have much human interaction.
You would not keep a DOG in a kennel all the time without loving, playing, and touching him ..... it's cruel.
Whales are much smarter and more emotional than a dog. I feel bad for them.
What happened to the trainer is SAD... but she knew the risks and loved them so much, she took them anyway.
Hence the( WILLFUL ) - Fine.

Anyway... I was wondering what all your opinions on this were...

[Chreees]

It's sad, but it can happen to ANY animal trainer... These people understand the risks when they go into the water with them. It's their job, and they love it. Any animal can go wild at any time and kill them; that's true with any animal- even a dog. I say let them get into the water with the whales- AFTER they sign consent forms saying they understand the risks, which I'm sure they have already been doing anyway...

[mustafabey]

Whales belong in the ocean, not in oversized swimming pool.This whole thing is a travesty. The whale should be free, but I'm sure Sea World thinks of it as an asset and half, a real killer whale that really kills! You can charge more for that! If am sad for Dawn Brancheau,yes she loved them, but if she could speak today, she'd want the whale to back to the waters of Ice land where this majestic creature belongs.
I had read an article somewhere, when the event first happened, that the whales we communicating with each other ina unique way that day. Perhaps Tillikum(?) was leading a jail break!

[Chreees]

You're right, I agree, I also believe whales belong out in the wild, not in captivity... But you know humans will not allow that.

[mustafabey]

@$#%&*?! humans

[Rani]

There's a catch 22 going on though. We can't learn about them if we can't observe and study them which is almost impossible to do in the open ocean. Close observation, feedling, specialized care, etc. are all expensive. The shows bring in the financial resources to continue the study and knowledge about the species. And may one day serve to bring us closer to them. Pets were once wild that we domesticated to the point where they have become a daily part of or lives and truly beloved family members. While obviously I don't think a whale or dolphin is ever going to be a family pet, and while I do regret the loss of freedom that those few in captivity experience, in the long run, it does more good than harm. We respect them in a way we never did before. The global outcry about dolphins being hunted to the point of wiping out of entire pods and bloodlines, happened because we have become more familiar and loving of these animals. Knowing them leads us to protect them, and that the shows do for us. Sea World has a huge rescue program for marine mammals and sea birds, and those shows fund those rescue efforts.


I used to get into this huge argument with a vegetarian co-worker of mine I once had. He thought zoos were an abomination and that freedom was the only life for any animal. I tried to remind him that freedom is a very human concept. And nobody was asking the animals. Given the opportunity to regain "freedom" at the cost of starvation, poor health and injury, and dying often years before they need to in the wild, a great many "sane" animals would likely willingly choose the zoo. Proof of that truth is that quite a number of animals once released return to their caretakers, often bound by affection. So while it's all well and good to assume Sea World is some kind of money hunger evil against the marine world, it's just not the case.

'Rani

[Victim026]

The

[Sapphire]

[quote name='Rani' timestamp='1282942760' post='480521']
There's a catch 22 going on though. We can't learn about them if we can't observe and study them which is almost impossible to do in the open ocean. Close observation, feedling, specialized care, etc. are all expensive. The shows bring in the financial resources to continue the study and knowledge about the species. And may one day serve to bring us closer to them. Pets were once wild that we domesticated to the point where they have become a daily part of or lives and truly beloved family members. While obviously I don't think a whale or dolphin is ever going to be a family pet, and while I do regret the loss of freedom that those few in captivity experience, in the long run, it does more good than harm. We respect them in a way we never did before. The global outcry about dolphins being hunted to the point of wiping out of entire pods and bloodlines, happened because we have become more familiar and loving of these animals. Knowing them leads us to protect them, and that the shows do for us. Sea World has a huge rescue program for marine mammals and sea birds, and those shows fund those rescue efforts.


I used to get into this huge argument with a vegetarian co-worker of mine I once had. He thought zoos were an abomination and that freedom was the only life for any animal. I tried to remind him that freedom is a very human concept. And nobody was asking the animals. Given the opportunity to regain "freedom" at the cost of starvation, poor health and injury, and dying often years before they need to in the wild, a great many "sane" animals would likely willingly choose the zoo. Proof of that truth is that quite a number of animals once released return to their caretakers, often bound by affection. So while it's all well and good to assume Sea World is some kind of money hunger evil against the marine world, it's just not the case.

'Rani
[/quote]

Yea, I have to agree here. And MOST of the animals Sea world HAS... it has because they were Rescued and can no longer function in the natural world. If you ever visit..you will notice a lot of the signs about each animal they have say they why they were rescued and also WHEN and how Sea world plans to try to get them back into the wild once they are rehabilitated.
Some of them are far to injured to ever be able to go back, and those are the ones Sea World takes care of and keep.
I noticed a LOT of injuries on the Manatees when I visited. Most of them had been hit by boats and the propellers had cut them open all over.
The same with some of the Whales and Sea lions. They all had very visable scars from major injurys. So I am happy to know that they are safe and able to live.

I think in the BIG picture.... Sea World does more good than bad. JMO.

[mustafabey]

I consider myself more educated on Sea World. Thank you for dispelling some pessimism that I oft times have for corporate entities. It is comforting to know that Sea World cares and it makes the death of Ms. Brancheau even that more tragic