Posted on 02/24/2010 4:18:50 PM PST by JoeProBono
The most relevant fact of all is that there is virtually no record (other than theme park incidents like today) of killer whales actually killing humans.
We still go to the zoo, but I get what you are saying. They’ve had some snow leopards at the Denver Zoo in tiny cages for ages. All they do is pace back and forth. After all the time this zoo has been operation they can’t build them a big enclosure?! Same with a black panther.
These whales especially can’t be happy. Look at his fin. Free Willy had the same deal. I think that’s something that happens when they are kept in captivity. I’ve heard that whales and dolphins don’t live long in captivity. Let the whale go.
And when the animals are near death they are humanely slaughtered and dressed. The meat is given to charities.
A couple of people reported that he was in a bad mood beforehand. I don’t know how you tell that, but that’s what I read.
They live in rather inhospitable regions too, and that keeps the score of kills way down.
I read that this same whale, Tilikum, has killed twice before.
You heard correct. This is the 3rd person killed by this particular whale.
Tillikum? Sounds like they should change his name to Tillikumeatyou...
Save the whales, collect the whole set.
.....Bob
Apparently it was agitated before the incident. Given it’s history, perhaps it has some type of “mental illness”?
“Ah, it’s a common fact there Normy....’ I don’t want to sound like “Cliff Klaven’’ here but it should be noted that ‘killer whales’’ aren’t whales. They’re dolphins, the largest of their kind and they kill, or rather they hunt. And I’ve always felt any animal, especially such large, powerful and intelligent creatures such as these, who’s home is the open ocean, don’t belong cooped up in a glorified fish-tank performing tricks. I’m sorry the trainer was killed.
We anthropomorphize our relationship with animals. We can’t help it. But the animal relates to us as the animal, whether it’s a dog, cat, or killer whale.
Who can imagine how a whale views us. We may see its reactions as trust or affection, or anger, but It could be operating purely on conditioning.
Sea World saves hundreds of animals (mostly sea life) each and every year through their programs.
“At least she died doing what she loved.”
I’ve seen her and this whale in the performances. The trainers are very dedicated.
I saw a black panther. in a zoo once. He was trying to keep the polar bears from voting...
A magnificent beast to be sure. And one that could snap a human being in half as easy as anyone one of us could eat a ‘’Cheese Doodle’’.
They can be militant like that.
Third death but the circumstances are all different. In two cases the dead person was found after hours in the tank. They apparently snuck in after hours and wanted to go swimming in 54 degree water.
“I saw a black panther. in a zoo once. He was trying to keep the polar bears from voting...”
Eric Holder hates polar bears.
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