Trainer drowned by killer whale at SeaWorld

[Public'sTwin]

I wonder if this discussion will be usurped by the inevitable Animal Cruelty/containment-for-entertainment debate that is sure to arise from this incident?

 

[Omnis]

A killer whale.... killed? Wow, who'd 'a thunk?

 

[Speedy Samurai]

I wonder if this discussion will be usurped by the inevitable Animal Cruelty/containment-for-entertainment debate that is sure to arise from this incident?

This isn't even the first time it happened.

And it was the same whale!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/wor...rable-ton-killer-whales-natural-instinct.html

 

[Touring Mars]

I've moved this topic to its own thread, since it's not relevant to the original thread, but worthy of discussion nonetheless. I am relieved to hear that Tillikum will be "spared" as some people are putting it, and not destroyed or punished after drowning his 'trainer' Dawn Brancheau.

 

[Dave A]

At the end of the day it's a Killer whale, they're not meant as pets even if they can be trained to a degree like so many other wild animals. To criticise the whale for soing something that's probably very natural to it would be stupid and narrow minded. I'm not saying it's wrong to have him in captivity because I know that there are reasons beyond them simply wanting a Killer whale, and it's good to try and preserve species that are losing numbers every years. But what you can't do is complain when one of these captive animlas especially one that happens to be at the top of it's natural food chain, kills or harms someone. Every now and then you hear of a zoo keep who's been mauled by a big cat or attacked by an elephant or something, it's a risk that goes with working with wild animals.

 

[ExigeEvan]

If you asked any big cat keeper, a large percentage would say they would never step in the enclosure with a conscious animal.

If you asked any large mamal keepers, elephants/rhinos/hippos, most would say they would never step in the enclosure with a concious animal.

Yet somehow, someone thought playing with Killer Whales was a good idea.

Mind = Blown.

 

[LongbowX]

If you asked any big cat keeper, a large percentage would say they would never step in the enclosure with a conscious animal.

If you asked any large mamal keepers, elephants/rhinos/hippos, most would say they would never step in the enclosure with a concious animal.

Yet somehow, someone thought playing with Killer Whales was a good idea.

Mind = Blown.

Well, I good thing to note is that with the whale in question: they don't go into the water with it (the trainer was dragged in from the side, it seems). It's unclear the exact reason, though they gave the size (12 000 pounds versus 6 000 pounds for their other whales. Though I'm not sure why that is such a huge difference). Perhaps they just don't trust this one.

Also, out of those animals, Elephants might be the only one with intelligence comparable to killer whales.

I am not really defending Sea World however (even if an event like this is extraordinarily unlikely to occur: it did), I don't believe we should hold animals in captivity, except perhaps if they are endangered.

 

[boiltheocean]

Dragged to her death?

I heard from the Interview with the Seaworld director that she fell in and was then attacked by the whale.

 

[Touring Mars]

She was apparently lying on a "submerged ledge" at the time, so she was effectively in the water with the whale. She must have known the risks, or atleast one would hope she did.

 

[LongbowX]

Dragged to her death?

She was apparently lying on a "submerged ledge" at the time, so she was effectively in the water with the whale. She must have known the risks, or atleast one would hope she did.

Well, the information coming out have been...confusing. A lot of different versions. Not to mention that eyewitness testimony is somewhat unreliable (grabbed versus fell in. I also heard something like...her hair tickled the nose of the whale, or something to that effect). The "submerged ledge", which is a sort of a very shallow area that the whales can't get up on...easily at least. I also read that the whale in question does not have any teeth, really. So...I don't know.

I'm sure she knew the risks, she was one of the most experienced trainers. They don't simply train the animals, they usually have a background in animal science or something to that effect, and are trained for years.

 

[Mrs. Famine]

Well, animals are by their very nature unpredictable and obviously we'll never truly know the reasons behind it.

It kind of reminds me of a story I once heard of a usually placid Labrador which turned the small child it lived in the same house with and bit them badly, seemingly for no reason at all. Except it transpires the child had shoved a pencil into the dogs ear, and into its brain.

 

[ExigeEvan]

Well, I good thing to note is that with the whale in question: they don't go into the water with it (the trainer was dragged in from the side, it seems). It's unclear the exact reason, though they gave the size (12 000 pounds versus 6 000 pounds for their other whales. Though I'm not sure why that is such a huge difference). Perhaps they just don't trust this one.

Also, out of those animals, Elephants might be the only one with intelligence comparable to killer whales.

I am not really defending Sea World however (even if an event like this is extraordinarily unlikely to occur: it did), I don't believe we should hold animals in captivity, except perhaps if they are endangered.

Have you ever seen Orcas beaching before? They're very effective at getting out the water and back in when they need to. Sure they don't go far out the water but they can do it.

And to say an elephant is the only one with intelligence comparable to an orca is abit short sighted. Yes they are proven to be more capable of actions that don't come naturally, but each is more than intelligent enough to trap and kill an unwitting human.

 

[Keef]

She was apparently lying on a "submerged ledge" at the time, so she was effectively in the water with the whale. She must have known the risks, or atleast one would hope she did.

It's odd how a human in a wetsuit looks almost just like a seal. It's more amazing that they don't get eaten every single day rather than just occasionally.

 

[niky]

It's odd how a human in a wetsuit looks almost just like a seal. It's more amazing that they don't get eaten every single day rather than just occasionally.

The whales know what the trainers are. In the wild, Killer whales hardly ever attack humans.

Killer Whale attacks are much like Elephant attacks... probably partly due to stress, rage issues from being cooped up in an artificial habitat.

 

[Keef]

In the wild killer whales hardly ever encounter humans, but I bet if you mixed some with the seals swimming offshore they wouldn't bother to tell the difference and would eat what they could get. Eventually they would probably learn the difference, like eventually they learned that the trainers are the ones who provide the food. Momentary lapse in judgment, then. Oops.

It's kind of like a prisoner raging out on the guards walking him through the hall. There are risks involved when dealing with dangerous animals.