"There are many opportunities in which enormous suffering by animals can be reduced at a small cost to humans."Stephen Pinker
The Better Angels of our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined
"Since the tragic death of Dawn Brancheau Tilikum has been kept isolated in a concrete tank far too small for his size. Does SeaWorld really provide him with the proper care he requires? The only purpose Tilikum serves SeaWorld today is as a living reproduction machine. This is no life for any animal, especially not for such an intelligent and social one. Let Tilikum go!"
Jessica Wysser
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| Photo Credit: Voice of the Blue |
When my daughters were toddlers we were lucky enough to live in Bermuda for four months. Among the many fun things we found to do was attending the dolphin show at a little marine park. I didn't give it much thought; it was just something entertaining for me and the kids.
When they were bigger we lived in San Diego. We went to SeaWorld a couple of times, and were awestruck by the Shamu show. The sea lion show was hilarious. The animals performed flawlessly. We were told that the tricks they did were based on natural behaviors and that all the animals enjoyed performing. I believed this, in spite of all my education in biology. (Or maybe because of it; in the 70's we were taught that animals were incapable of feeling the way humans do - 'don't be anthropomorphic!')
Click here to see a youtube video exposing other myths about marine mammals in captivity.
Last fall we had a long layover in Atlanta, and took the opportunity to visit the fabulous aquarium there. It was more incredible than I imagined. Long after our visit however I was haunted by watching the beluga whales swimming in endless circles in their cement swimming pool. One of them had scraped itself raw by ritually rubbing against the same spot on the viewing glass as it went around, and around, and around again, probably hundreds of times a day.
It didn't seem right for the 'canaries of the sea' to be imprisoned that way.
Two weeks ago, I watched a documentary called "Blackfish". I'd never heard of it. I was stunned by the callous mistreatment of the orcas and the greed of Sea World in exploiting them AND their human trainers.
Click here to watch the trailer for Blackfish. You can find Blackfish on Netflix streaming.
With the upcoming release of the new documentary Blackfish, I decided to finally read Death at Sea World. Simply put, it is an inspiring, heartbreaking, thriller, that provides significant insight into the lives of Killer Whales in captivity. Kirby takes you through a gripping investigation that is hard to put down. The book in the end, is an eye opener to Shamu and the Dark Side of Killer Whales in Captivity.
The Humane Society of the United States has this to say about marine mammals in captivity:
"Life for captive whales, dolphins, and other marine mammals
is nothing like a life in the ocean. It is almost impossible to maintain a family group in captivity, a tragedy for whales and dolphins. When you see marine mammals in tanks or pools, consider what they have lost in order to entertain us."
Orcas are highly intelligent and social. Scans of orca brains have revealed that they have an additional structure in the limbic area that humans lack. The limbic area is physiologically the seat of the emotions. Neurologists have concluded that the social bonds and communication between orca families (pods) is on a level we can only imagine. In the wild, orcas stay with their mothers for their entire lives.
The orcas used in shows are taken as babies (cheaper to transport). Literally, they are kidnapped from their families as calves. Blackfish shows the heartbreaking grief of the captive mother orcas when SeaWorld takes their babies away.
Orcas use language. We can't understand it of course, but marine scientists have concluded that some whale species have names! Upon greeting another whale, they repeat this sequence of sounds (their name) precisely. Dolphins are now known to call their friend's name when they are separated (click here for more). By the way, anatomically orcas are the largest dolphin species.
It's appalling to think of these sentient animals being held in swimming pools in what amounts to solitary confinement. Perhaps worse is when they are held together and don't get along - a bullied whale can't get away.
Be the Change for these animals. Watch Blackfish. Sign the petition to Free Tilly and end the practice of keeping marine mammals in captivity. Take the pledge to never buy a ticket to a dolphin show or swim with dolphins in captivity.
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