The whale is neither. The whale serves no purpose in the world of humans except as a show piece. His/Her fate is closer to that of a mink raised on a mink ranch, a wild animal kept by humans only so that it can be butchered and its pelt removed to adorn the back of somebody with a certain sort of coat.

The orca in this case is not really a domesticated animal, tamed by people to work with us in a symbiotic relationship that enhances both species’ chances of survival. The orca is being exploited for entertainment. Same for animals in circuses. Of course, I have no way of knowing whether all (or any) of these animals are being mistreated but, after a fashion, it doesn’t matter.

If you stop and think about the way these animals are being used, it’s cruel. Just imagine how you’d feel if you were removed from your natural habitat where everything was comfortable and familiar, caged and kept, and forced to perform before crowds in rituals that you didn’t understand …

Even if they are treated well, it’s still cruel.

But seriously, I wonder what was going on between the trainer and the whale? That whale performance has been around a long time at Sea World, for what 20+ years now? Even I’ve been to Sea World and seen Shamu the killer whale perform. They really aren’t any different than say a young teenager.

Killer whales don’t kill for fun and Dolphins aren’t the nice and obedient creature one might think they are. Like everything they do what they have to to survive. So instead of condemning the trainers or public for this tragedy how about looking at the history between the whale and the trainers. What set it off? Te trigger so to speak… what caused the whale to be so stressed out that it felt it had to kill it trainer?

Does Sea World commit acts of brutality? Sea Wold itself, like any Zoo or training facility is not above the acts of an individual. Ever seen an obedience school for dogs? or a horse breaker work the beginnings of a training for the saddle? But are you to let the acts of one jeopardize the whole? There are a lot of trainers that are stern but sympathetic to the animals they work with, not all of them are brutal.

To condemn them for making money off the fish, whales and dolphins is about the same as condemning someone for having a trained dog that goes to shows or a horse trainer. But its acceptable in these peoples minds for the dog show or horse show but not the sea world show? They go to the circus and watch trained bears….

The sympathy for the whale is in the right place, But for the wrong reasons!

I’m glad you’re hanging out with Derek a bit. All that walking is good exercise and if you keep picking up all those cans and bottles, you’ll be able to buy yourself a car by the time you’re 17.