How do you feel about the Seaworld incident?

[OrlandoMike]

I've been thinking about this all day......

These are my thoughts, what are yours?

The Trainer - My heart goes out to her friends, co-workers, and her family. What a tragic accident. The only upside is she died doing what she loved doing.

The Whale - They are called "Killer Whales" for a reason! This whale is obviously unhappy! He was captured at sea at a young age, and has been stuck in a "swimming pool" for the past 20 years! Can you blame him for freaking out?

The Company - They screwed up big time already! The company and the county are telling one story, eyewitness reports are quite the opposite! Big time lawsuits ahead!

The Show - I guess I jumped on this bandwagon the last time I was at the circus and I looked in the elephants eyes. If ever I saw such a sad creature, it was that night! Do we really need to see whales jumping through hoops during a fireworks show, or elephants making a pymamid? Don't get me wrong, I think there are some wonderful zoological programs out there, including Seaworld's programs, but perhaps the "Shamu Show" needs to be re-addressed.......I'm still undecided on this one.....

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Of course I feel sadness for the lost life and the trainer's family and friends.

However, as much as Sea World touts doing studies (and I know they do good work in rescue areas) I have never been comfortable with the shows. Animals for our entertainment make me very uncomfortable.

Disney's Animal Kingdom keeps animals in a captive state as well. I know that much research and work to understand animals goes on behind the scenes (elephant language breakthrough). It's not the same thing as having trained animals do tricks, but in some ways makes me a little nervous too.

I'm absolutely not a zoo person. So, although I think Sea World is more problematic, DAK is there in some lesser ways too.

That so many versions of the story are coming from the company and eye witnesses is just stupid. Tell it the way it happened and deal with it.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

It is very sad for the trainer and her family.

BUT it is even MORE sad for the whale. I suspect they will euthanize him, which really isn't fair.

 

[itsmuggsie]

This is truly sad. My heart goes out to the trainers family.

 

[soulmates]

I've been thinking along the same lines as many many people. Yes, it was a sad sad loss. However, when are people going to WAKE UP and STOP exploiting animals for ENTERTAINMENT?? I haven't been to a circus or Sea World in years. Like Mike, the last time I was at a circus, after seeing the animals ALL looking so very sad, I decided to NEVER again support that kind of cruelty. I'm not surprised this happend. Their WILD animals.

My heart goes out the family on their loss & to those people who witnessed such a brutal death. I can't imagine myself or my children seeing that.

Sad times...

 

[rpmdfw]

I've been thinking about this all day......

These are my thoughts, what are yours?

The Trainer - My heart goes out to her friends, co-workers, and her family. What a tragic accident. The only upside is she died doing what she loved doing.

The Whale - They are called "Killer Whales" for a reason! This whale is obviously unhappy! He was captured at sea at a young age, and has been stuck in a "swimming pool" for the past 20 years! Can you blame him for freaking out?

The Company - They screwed up big time already! The company and the county are telling one story, eyewitness reports are quite the opposite! Big time lawsuits ahead!

The Show - I guess I jumped on this bandwagon the last time I was at the circus and I looked in the elephants eyes. If ever I saw such a sad creature, it was that night! Do we really need to see whales jumping through hoops during a fireworks show, or elephants making a pymamid? Don't get me wrong, I think there are some wonderful zoological programs out there, including Seaworld's programs, but perhaps the "Shamu Show" needs to be re-addressed.......I'm still undecided on this one.....

Actually, you've said pretty much exactly what I'm thinking.

I feel for the trainer and her family, but I hate that the poor whale will most likely be punished for essentially being what is is.

I've been thinking along the same lines as many many people. Yes, it was a sad sad loss. However, when are people going to WAKE UP and STOP exploiting animals for ENTERTAINMENT?? I haven't been to a circus or Sea World in years. Like Mike, the last time I was at a circus, after seeing the animals ALL looking so very sad, I decided to NEVER again support that kind of cruelty.

While I have to say, I really do love the circus and going to zoos, I think the DAK model of zoo park is superior, and I think that the Cirque du Soliel type of circus (which prides itself of being competely free of animal exploitation) is much better.

 

[wallyb]

... so when a small child - one old enough to know better -
has a temper tantrum / melt down at WDW -
are we allowed to euthanize it too?

 

[rpmdfw]

... so when a small child - one old enough to know better -
has a temper tantrum / melt down at WDW -
are we allowed to euthanize it too?

What about the adults who throw temper tantrums at WDW?

 

[wallyb]

What about the adults who throw temper tantrums at WDW?

I DID NOT!

 

[jenn&nelsonrego]

I've been thinking about this all day......

These are my thoughts, what are yours?

The Trainer - My heart goes out to her friends, co-workers, and her family. What a tragic accident. The only upside is she died doing what she loved doing.

The Whale - They are called "Killer Whales" for a reason! This whale is obviously unhappy! He was captured at sea at a young age, and has been stuck in a "swimming pool" for the past 20 years! Can you blame him for freaking out?

The Company - They screwed up big time already! The company and the county are telling one story, eyewitness reports are quite the opposite! Big time lawsuits ahead!

The Show - I guess I jumped on this bandwagon the last time I was at the circus and I looked in the elephants eyes. If ever I saw such a sad creature, it was that night! Do we really need to see whales jumping through hoops during a fireworks show, or elephants making a pymamid? Don't get me wrong, I think there are some wonderful zoological programs out there, including Seaworld's programs, but perhaps the "Shamu Show" needs to be re-addressed.......I'm still undecided on this one.....

I am with you 100% Mike!

I DID NOT!

That wasn't a tantrum, it was foreplay!

 

[soulmates]

Actually, you've said pretty much exactly what I'm thinking.

I feel for the trainer and her family, but I hate that the poor whale will most likely be punished for essentially being what is is.



While I have to say, I really do love the circus and going to zoos, I think the DAK model of zoo park is superior, and I think that the Cirque du Soliel type of circus (which prides itself of being competely free of animal exploitation) is much better.

Rob, I agree with you about DAK, though it's my least fav park, & I only go for the shows & rides. We LOVE Cirque du Soliel shows, amazing!

 

[rpmdfw]

Rob, I agree with you about DAK, though it's my least fav park, & I only go for the shows & rides. We LOVE Cirque du Soliel shows, amazing!

I think zoos and animal parks do a great service in exposing people to animals that they'd never have a chance to see up close. Having that experience with animals is likely to create people who won't be as complacent about extinction threats to endangered species.

I'm all for displaying animals in habitats close to what their natual habitat would be (especially in situations where they're trying to save a species from extinction by breeding them in captivity). What I don't understand is the need to make them jump through rings of fire.

 

[soulmates]

I think zoos and animal parks do a great service in exposing people to animals that they'd never have a chance to see up close. Having that experience with animals is likely to create people who won't be as complacent about extinction threats to endangered species.

I'm all for displaying animals in habitats close to what they're natual habitat would be (especially in situations where they're trying to save a species from extinction by breeding them in captivity). What I don't understand is the need to make them jump through rings of fire.

I 100% agree. That isn't exploitation, it's education. Well said.

 

[PeterPan09]

I think zoos and animal parks do a great service in exposing people to animals that they'd never have a chance to see up close. Having that experience with animals is likely to create people who won't be as complacent about extinction threats to endangered species.

I'm all for displaying animals in habitats close to what they're natual habitat would be (especially in situations where they're trying to save a species from extinction by breeding them in captivity). What I don't understand is the need to make them jump through rings of fire.

This is exactly how I feel. I don't even really mind the bird show at AK, because the birds are displaying natural behaviors, they're not riding bikes-they're doing what they do in the course of a regular day, we just get to watch them.

I would be just as happy to go to Sea World and view the Orcas and the Dolphins in GIANT aquariums, and not have them perform. They would still be just as amazing and beautiful to me.

 

[C&G'sMama]

... so when a small child - one old enough to know better -
has a temper tantrum / melt down at WDW -
are we allowed to euthanize it too?

Yes I believe there's a clause to cover that.

 

[Mathfailure]

I am so sad for the woman and her family and coworkers who loved her.

I am sad for the people who witnessed the death.

I am also so confused about the consequences for the whale, and in extension for the various shows.

My family loves zoos, we enjoy the animals, and read and listen to all the information. We go to any near us, and when on vacation see those too. The zoos that have space, Canada zoo near Toronto comes to mind!, are certainly best. Some are too small, and have cut back on certain types of displays because of lack of space - the Philly zoo has recently done this. So I cannot state truthfully that I object to wild animals in captivity; however, the training of wild animals seems contradictory.

I did see a show at seaworld years ago with rescued dogs and cats that was amazing. Those are domestic animals, and seemed to be enjoying the showing off. (not that I could actually talk to the animals or anything)

I wonder if a whale kept in captivity for so long could even fend for itself in the ocean?

Kathleen

 

[OrlandoMike]

Kathleen,

Have you had the chance to visit the Toledo zoo yet? One of the best!

One of my favorite things is the Carnovire Cafe! They took the old lion house, and converted it into a restaurant! You can actually eat in the old cages that used to house the animals! (Yes, they have been sanitized!)

 

[wallyb]

One of my favorite things is the Carnovire Cafe! They took the old lion house, and converted it into a restaurant! You can actually eat in the old cages that used to house the animals! (Yes, they have been sanitized!)

WOW
Cool!

 

[starann]

I don;t think they can 'put the whale down'. Aren't they an endangered species?

So far they have reported they will not put him down, and I hope this is true, I hope he will continiue to live out his years.

 

[f86sabjf]

This may come across way to cold but the trainer new the risks . Just like any other dangerous profession the rewards can be great but.......you are taking your own life into your own hands. She loved those orcas and for some reason i dont think she would hold it against him.


I dont think Sea World will punish the Orca. Even if they wanted to they wouldn't be able to survive the media firestorm that would follow. I predict he will slip into obscurity and go away.