It's a REAL killer whale
- Thread starter alr2903
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danemodsandy
Well-known member
This Is the Fallacy....
....Of such "wild animal" shows. You are putting a predatory animal into an unnatural enviroment, and training/coercing/encouraging/whatever it to do things it doesn't normally do, for the entertainment of humans. Since the animal is doing things it would not normally do, there will be "accidents" and problems from time to time. Once an incident has occurred, it is not humane or just to kill the animal (though that sometimes happens), but the animal is left with the knowledge that its captors are vulnerable. It's also not feasible to return the animal to the wild in most instances, because its captivity has deprived it of some of its coping skills and blunted its instincts.
The solution, of course, is to leave wild animals in the wild, and to conserve their wilderness so that they'll be able to fend for themselves. This seems never to occur to opportunistic humans wanting to make a buck.
One of the very few people who understands the problem is actress Tippi Hedren, who starred in Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds. She operates a nature preserve called Shambala, which is dedicated to protecting big cats who have been discarded from circuses, badly run "nature" attractions, and even by pet owners. Hedren aims to give them as natural an environment as possible, while still recognising that these animals would no longer fare well in the wild. There are no shows at Shambala, no performances, and tours are very limited; you cannot get close to the animals. Basically, Shambala is set up so the big cats can be big cats again, instead of performers or pets.
I have long refused to patronise zoos, circuses and other "attractions" that enslave animals who would be much happier in their own, natural environments. A certain, very few, species of animal have become thoroughly domesticated (like cats and dogs), and those are the ones to have as friends. You will never truly make friends with a tiger or an ocelot or a killer whale; they are not cut out for it, no matter how much you "train" them. Sooner or later, their instincts and wild nature will re-surface. Even Roy Horn of Siegfried & Roy learned that one the hard way.
....Of such "wild animal" shows. You are putting a predatory animal into an unnatural enviroment, and training/coercing/encouraging/whatever it to do things it doesn't normally do, for the entertainment of humans. Since the animal is doing things it would not normally do, there will be "accidents" and problems from time to time. Once an incident has occurred, it is not humane or just to kill the animal (though that sometimes happens), but the animal is left with the knowledge that its captors are vulnerable. It's also not feasible to return the animal to the wild in most instances, because its captivity has deprived it of some of its coping skills and blunted its instincts.
The solution, of course, is to leave wild animals in the wild, and to conserve their wilderness so that they'll be able to fend for themselves. This seems never to occur to opportunistic humans wanting to make a buck.
One of the very few people who understands the problem is actress Tippi Hedren, who starred in Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds. She operates a nature preserve called Shambala, which is dedicated to protecting big cats who have been discarded from circuses, badly run "nature" attractions, and even by pet owners. Hedren aims to give them as natural an environment as possible, while still recognising that these animals would no longer fare well in the wild. There are no shows at Shambala, no performances, and tours are very limited; you cannot get close to the animals. Basically, Shambala is set up so the big cats can be big cats again, instead of performers or pets.
I have long refused to patronise zoos, circuses and other "attractions" that enslave animals who would be much happier in their own, natural environments. A certain, very few, species of animal have become thoroughly domesticated (like cats and dogs), and those are the ones to have as friends. You will never truly make friends with a tiger or an ocelot or a killer whale; they are not cut out for it, no matter how much you "train" them. Sooner or later, their instincts and wild nature will re-surface. Even Roy Horn of Siegfried & Roy learned that one the hard way.
spankomatic
Well-known member
My thoughts...
How else is that whale supose to say LET ME OUTTA HERE! PUT ME BACK IN MY OCEAN WHERE I BELONG! I'm sadden by the loss of life of the trainer. Also sadden by the captivity of the whale.
Jim
How else is that whale supose to say LET ME OUTTA HERE! PUT ME BACK IN MY OCEAN WHERE I BELONG! I'm sadden by the loss of life of the trainer. Also sadden by the captivity of the whale.
Jim
Not Killer Whales, but Dolphins
About six years ago we went through a "Dolphin Encounter" over in Hawaii, it was something I really didn't want to do (because I'm also opposed to keeping magnificent sea creatures in captivity).
And then our guide walked in to meet us.
The funny thing was, clearly the dolphins were even more in love with this guy than we were..
Anyways we had a blast, two of the dolphins gave me rides around the pool by pushing my feet along with their snouts; they pushed my other half up and clear out of the water!
About six years ago we went through a "Dolphin Encounter" over in Hawaii, it was something I really didn't want to do (because I'm also opposed to keeping magnificent sea creatures in captivity).
And then our guide walked in to meet us.
The funny thing was, clearly the dolphins were even more in love with this guy than we were..
Anyways we had a blast, two of the dolphins gave me rides around the pool by pushing my feet along with their snouts; they pushed my other half up and clear out of the water!
spankomatic
Well-known member
Those lucky dolphins.....
I can see why they liked him! I think that whale needs a cool change...
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I can see why they liked him! I think that whale needs a cool change...
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sudsmaster
Well-known member
I've read several different accounts of the whale's history.
But I agree that killer whales are perhaps not the best animals to keep in captivity and trained to do silly tricks. I've seen video of them tossing seals and sea lions around in the air like they were toys.
I also have never really like zoos all that much. The animals always seemed to me to be rather miserable to be caged, even in the best of conditions. I can see it in cases where a species will go extinct unless kept in a zoo, but seems like most zoo animals are there purely for human entertainment purposes.
And I've been into nature things since childhood. I prefer to view the inhabitants of the wild in their wild state. And in the case of predators that are capable and willing to kill humans, I'd rather not encounter them at all!
But I agree that killer whales are perhaps not the best animals to keep in captivity and trained to do silly tricks. I've seen video of them tossing seals and sea lions around in the air like they were toys.
I also have never really like zoos all that much. The animals always seemed to me to be rather miserable to be caged, even in the best of conditions. I can see it in cases where a species will go extinct unless kept in a zoo, but seems like most zoo animals are there purely for human entertainment purposes.
And I've been into nature things since childhood. I prefer to view the inhabitants of the wild in their wild state. And in the case of predators that are capable and willing to kill humans, I'd rather not encounter them at all!
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