The USA Today headline read: “Orca to be spared in trainer’s death.” Similar headlines have been making the news since a trainer at SeaWorld Orlando was killed by a 12,000-pound killer whale last week.
Really? Euthanization was actually an option?
As sad and tragic as it was to hear of the death of Dawn Brancheau, the trainer who was pulled underwater by the 30-year-old orca during a show at the park last week, certainly the 40-year-old woman knew what kind of an animal with which she was working. “Tilly,” as he was known, was a killer whale, after all.
What part of that name suggests he’s not capable of causing death to those around him? (In fact, he has two other times in his history of being held in captivity.)
Let’s face it. As skilled as SeaWorld may be at anthropomorphizing the creature in front of thousands of people each day, Tilly is still a wild animal and a killer whale at heart.
Euthanizing an animal for defaulting to his natural instinct is foolish.
Then again, continuing to use animals like Tilly at marine amusement parks is, too, even if it is under the guise of education. Research unequivocally shows that not only is there little to no educational benefit to the audiences who watch marine animal shows, but putting creatures, especially very large ones like orcas, in captivity, is cruel and physically and mentally unhealthy to the animal and a danger to those who work with them.
It should come as no surprise to anyone that Tilly did what he did.
In captivity:
• An orca’s life expectancy is about half as long as in the wild, where they can live up to 70 or 80 years. In captivity, not one has lived longer than 35 years.
• An orca is forced to swim in circles or surface-rest in what amounts to an oversized bathtub, waiting to perform tricks for human amusement. In the wild, an orca swims up to 30 mph and can travel at least 75 to 100 miles a day.
• An orca lives in isolation, unnatural for an animal who is known to be one of the most socially bonded animals on earth, traveling in close family units and whose offspring typically remain with their mothers for life.
Furthermore, separated by gates from the other dolphins, in the case of Tilly, the orca has lost most of his viable teeth from repeatedly grasping the metal bars with his mouth. An unfortunate by-product of living in captivity, having no teeth makes it nearly impossible for him to survive in a more natural environment away from the confines of SeaWorld.
The tragedy at SeaWorld was unfortunate, and the victims were many. But, sadly, it won’t be the last — for man or mammal — as long as people continue to buy tickets to see these marine animal shows, and the corporations and staff who perpetuate them refuse to learn their lesson from these tragedies.
The only thing that needs to be euthanized are the shows themselves.
Ashley Knecht Walker
Editor
sandman (anonymous) says...
Super write-up!!!! In any occupation there are dangers and usually the employee is very aware of those dangers. Blame the animal? Why??????
March 4, 2010 at 1:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
HenryVIII (anonymous) says...
If we humans imprison wild animals against their will when they've done nothing wrong, I think it should be the animal's right to lash-out at their captors. I know I'd lash-out if held against my will and forced to do tricks in front of an audience full of slack-jawed yokels.
The outcome of this particular event was very sad, but you cannot blame the animal. That's the difference between humans and animals; we humans know what is considered "wrong" and therefore we can (and should) be held responsible for our actions. Animals, on the other hand, are simply acting on their instincts without really understanding if those actions are considered acceptable in our human society. Do you really expect an animal to follow the rules of man?
'enry
March 4, 2010 at 1:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
madpoet (anonymous) says...
They should never have kept working with this orca after he killed someone. A dog attacks someone and it's put down or isolated to protect others. They claimed Tilly was important to their breeding program. He wouldn't need to do a show for that. As intelligent as orcas and dolphins are, it's a shame to keep them in captivity. Dolphins are one of the few species who recognize themselves in a mirror or on camera. They're self aware much like humans. I don't know if they enjoy being in these shows or not. If not, it's not right to force them to perform.
March 4, 2010 at 3:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wirewatt (Ken Bazil) says...
The term killer here is used in the the wrong pretense. Tilly is actually a whale killer, however people wouldn't pay to see a whale killer. The orca is a member of the dolphin family and isn't a killer whale.
March 4, 2010 at 5:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
thrashed (anonymous) says...
Also he wasn't being mean they said he thought he was being playful.
March 4, 2010 at 6:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
Very good write-up Ms Walker......showed great compassion and sensitivity. People that work with wild animals always know the risk and it is good to see human understanding of the animals side. Unfortunately, though this poor creatures life has been spared....he will never be able to be set free....Very sad!
March 4, 2010 at 6:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
noel_stanton (anonymous) says...
Excellent journalism and editorial reasoning! In the finest tradition of WAW.
Far superior to yesterday's inane editorial, "No Change," mouthing Moran's selfserving spin on the Washington mess.
Noel Stanton, Moerlenbach, Germany
March 4, 2010 at 6:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
Why was OSHA sent in to investigate?
March 5, 2010 at 12:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
OutsiderJ (anonymous) says...
Didn't you know it was God's will and liberalism that caused this tragedy.
http://action.afa.net/Blogs/BlogPost....
March 5, 2010 at 7:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
OutsiderJ (anonymous) says...
Not so much liberalism I guess, but since liberals are the only ones that ignore God completely, I just assumed they helped cause the death of the trainer. LOL
March 5, 2010 at 7:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
madpoet (anonymous) says...
OSHA has to look into the safety measures they had in place to see if they could have prevented the accident. Sea World is a workplace just like anywhere else.
March 5, 2010 at 8:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Why all this blubbering over okra?
March 5, 2010 at 9:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
OSHA was only there to collect fines. They are only about generating revenue and creating jobs while disguising creative taxation as regulation violations and penalties. Employee knowingly putting life on the line in high risk work, no-one forced her to work there, deep cold water tank full of natural predators. What's to investigate? SeaWorld will get a huge fine from OSHA, and the show will go on with no changes.
Of course the death could have been prevented, the Orca could have been left in the Ocean where it belongs.
March 5, 2010 at 11:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lancemountain (anonymous) says...
But whale meat is delicious!
March 6, 2010 at 5:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
koalemos (anonymous) says...
An employer is required to report a death to OSHA within eight hours of the occurrence.
March 6, 2010 at 7:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
spectator (anonymous) says...
Steve, the article didn't mention the fact that the Eskimos rely on whale blubber as a food staple. Must make for an interesting diet; okra, staples and blubber. Cooked okra is sort of slimy, isn't it? How do you suppose they keep it on the staples?
March 8, 2010 at 7:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
koalemos (anonymous) says...
Maybe they pickle it. Pickled okra isn't so slimy. Wonder how pickled whale blubber tastes.
March 8, 2010 at 7:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )