SeaWorld prepares to put trainers back in water with killer whales

[Kalina]

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment is preparing to put trainers back in the water with its killer whales for the first time since a trainer was battered and drowned by the company's largest orca one year ago today.

SeaWorld told the Orlando Sentinel on Wednesday that trainers in its three U.S. marine parks will begin limited "water work" with whales within the next few months, with the interactions initially restricted to small medical pools equipped with false-bottom floors that can be lifted out of the water.

The company said it also will spend tens of millions of dollars in coming months on safety upgrades at its killer-whale facilities in Orlando, San Diego and San Antonio — from custom-designed, fast-rising pool floors in its larger show venues to underwater vehicles that could be used to distract an out-of-control killer whale with pulsing lights and whale vocalizations.

Company officials said they intend to proceed slowly and have not decided when — or even if— trainers might once again go back into the water with killer whales during public shows. SeaWorld trainers have not been permitted in the water with the whales since veteran SeaWorld Orlando trainer Dawn Brancheau was killed by a 6-ton orca named Tilikum on Feb. 24, 2010.
"We've never been in a situation where we've been out of the water a year with our whales. I would like to be able to tell you that I think our whales are going to be very comfortable doing this," Chuck Tompkins, corporate curator of zoological operations for SeaWorld Parks, said Wednesday. "But that's the reason we're taking our time. We're taking nothing for granted."

SeaWorld must strike a delicate balance as it moves forward. The company is battling federal regulators who have accused it of recklessly placing trainers in danger, and it faces a potential wrongful-death lawsuit from Brancheau's widowed husband. But it also wants to eventually resume the iconic, in-water performances that have helped build SeaWorld Parks into a $1.2 billion-a-year theme-park giant and are also, officials say, an important part of building relationships between whales and trainers.

"We do feel that that's the best way to not only showcase those animals but to care for the animals, as well," said Julie Scardina, also a corporate curator of zoological operations for SeaWorld Parks. "It's something that we've been successful doing throughout our history. We know it inspires people, and we know that it allows us the best access to the whales, as well."

Preparations to return to water work are already well under way. Trainers, for instance, have in recent weeks been going through seminars on topics such as whale aggression.

The killer whales themselves, meanwhile, are gradually being re-trained through a process SeaWorld calls "water desensitization training." The whales are taught to swim around the perimeters of their pools while ignoring progressively greater distractions — from unusual objects to noises being made in a neighboring tank.

That training will soon progress to desensitizing the animals to the presence of a trainer in the water. Tompkins said that will happen "within the next couple of months," though only in the medical pools.

"Water 'desense' is a very methodical process," Tompkins said. "You don't immediately jump in the water and go, 'What are you going to do with me?' You literally go to the other side of the pool and you put your foot in the water and you make sure the whale doesn't pay attention to the fact that there's a foot in the water."

SeaWorld said it has not decided when training might progress beyond the medical pools. The company says its timetable is not dependent on its ongoing legal battle with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration; hearings before an administrative law judge are scheduled to begin April 25.

SeaWorld said it eventually plans to put all of its killer whales through the desensitization training save one — Tilikum, the large whale that killed Brancheau. The adult male is considered especially dangerous because he has been involved in three deaths over 20 years and is by far the biggest orca in SeaWorld's collection.

Tilikum, whom Tompkins said had been put through "some very basic sessions of water desense" before Brancheau's death, will undergo some further limited work. But trainers will not get into the water with him at all, even in the medical pool.

Trainers have, however, begun working with Tilikum on behaviors to be used in a new killer-whale show that will debut in SeaWorld's marine parks this spring. That show, at least for the foreseeable future, will be conducted entirely by trainers working from the stage. SeaWorld has kept Tilikum out of performances since Brancheau's death.

Even as it moves forward with water work, SeaWorld said it is in the midst of making sweeping safety improvements at its orca complexes. The most ambitious project: Rising pool floors that can lift killer whales out of the water in perhaps less than a minute's time.

SeaWorld said it has designed the new floors in conjunction with Oceaneering International Inc., a Houston-based deep-sea engineering company that works primarily with offshore oil- and gas-drilling companies. The floors are designed to rise much faster than the cabled lift stations in SeaWorld's medical pools, which take approximately 60 seconds to rise from 8-foot-deep water.

"Upon initiation, it would immediately release and rise to the surface, lifting multiple killer whales, and then obviously could support multiple individuals," said John Linn, SeaWorld Parks' senior director of engineering services.

Linn said the first floor will be installed by June in the 28-foot-deep "Dine with Shamu" pool in Orlando — the same pool that Brancheau was in when she was killed. Once SeaWorld has tested the mechanism and ironed out any kinks, it intends to install similar floors in all of the company's orca pools, including the largest performance pools, which are nearly 40 foot deep.

Although SeaWorld would not discuss specific costs, it said it expects to spend "tens of millions" of dollars installing the floors — putting the project's price tag at least on par with, and potentially more expensive than, a major new theme-park ride.

SeaWorld said it has also worked with Oceaneering to develop what is essentially a remote-controlled underwater vehicle that could be deployed to distract a whale in an emergency. The device, which SeaWorld will begin testing in about a month, will be able to swim patterns, float to the surface, flash with a strobe light, vibrate and emit sounds, including, potentially, whale vocalizations.

In addition, SeaWorld said it intends to eventually outfit its trainers with emergency air supplies, initially designed for the U.S. military, that will feature automated breathing regulators and provide two-to-five minutes of air for a trainer trapped under water. And the company says designers are researching rapidly expanding mechanisms that trainers could use in an attempt to quickly pry open a whale's jaws in an emergency.

SeaWorld said it has also overhauled oversight of its animal-training department by assigning both Tompkins and Scardina to focus solely on training in its 10 theme parks and water parks. The company eliminated a similar corporate-level training position several years ago, opting instead to fold responsibility for animal training in with the rest of its zoological disciplines.

Those changes are on top of other safety improvements SeaWorld has made in recent months, including installing removable guardrails around stage ledges and "net boxes" that can more more quickly deploy in an emergency.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-seaworld-trainers-water-20110223,0,1956999.story

 

[ChiKat]

Another great idea from SeaWorld...

 

[Candy]

Kalina I can't believe it. I came on here today to update my Sea World thread with this news and here you already posted it. Now my comment is......HOW MANY TRAINERS HAVE TO DIE BEFORE SEA WORLD GETS IT? Do people really believe this is a good idea for Sea World to do? Boycott them please and these animals can live in the free ocean where they belong and you can go there to see them if you'd like. I actually have a website that sends me updates everyday with pictures and audio of the whales. It's much better to learn about them this way and to see how they actually live from day to day in the wild.

 

[Kalina]

One year after the horrific death of a SeaWorld trainer, the popular Orlando, Fla. theme park is getting set to launch a new killer whale show with revamped safety measures.

But critics say there isn't enough being done to prevent another tragedy.

CBS News correspondent Whit Johnson reports the park announced it plans to allow trainers back in the water - something that hasn't happened since the attack on Dawn Brancheau last year.

Brancheau, a 40-year-old trainer, was attacked and drowned by a 12-ton killer whale named Tillikum. Tillikum is still at SeaWorld, but is kept at a safe distance from the public and the trainers.

Since Brancheau's death, trainers have been subject to a new set of rules. Johnson reported the days are over of high flying "rocket hops," in which trainers are propelled into the sky by the whale. In fact, even though they'll be going back in the water, it will only be during training sessions. Workers will also have access to safety bars, and pony tails must be wrapped into a tight bun.

Chuck Tompkins, corporate curator of SeaWorld, said, "We've always said that we're gonna work to try and get back in the water. We're not there yet."

No date has been set for in-water training, but critics the safety precautions still ignore the heart of the problem.

John Jett, a former SeaWorld trainer, told CBS News, "They're certainly masking the issue that the whales are really bored. You deprive them of all the social stimulation, environmental stimulation and expect him to do well. You know, it seems to me to be a recipe for disaster."

In April, Johnson said, SeaWorld plans to fight a number of safety violations that could keep killer whale trainers out of the water for good.

SeaWorld and Brancheau's family, Johnson reported, are teaming up to create a foundation in her memory.

Dr. Jeffrey Ventre, who spent four years as a trainer with SeaWorld's killer whales and knew Brancheau, said this is a "predictable response" from the company.

"This is a multibillion dollar corporation that makes its money through the exploitation of orcas and trainers," he said on "The Early Show." "Trainers are grossly underpaid. And as Dr. Jett just mentioned in the previous segment, these animals are highly understimulated. Tillikum chose to pull Dawn into the water by her left arm, and it got ugly after that. So this is a predictable response. But I think the key point in history is going to start on April 25, when OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) takes a close look at the safety issues associated with swimming in the water with killer whales, and I think that's going to determine whether this will actually happen or not."

Co-anchor Chris Wragge noted Ventre is a key witness in government hearings about SeaWorld. What does he plan to say about the industry?

Ventre explained, "Well, first of all, Tillikum did a counterclockwise spin move using an arm bar and rolled Dawn into the water and killed her in probably just a couple of minutes. It really became a recovery operation soon after she got into the water. He broke her sternum; he bit off her left arm. She was scalped. She had a lot of internal bleeding. The posterior elements of three ribs were broken, and he simply wouldn't give her up. It took an additional 30 minutes just to pry his jaws open and get her out of him. And I think that these are the reasons why ... SeaWorld doesn't want to open these hearings up. Because the details are horrific."

Ventre added, "I just wrote a paper with Dr. Jett that describes the increased mortality and morbidity associated with the whales themselves. For example, we now know that killer whales in captivity typically don't live to even 10 years once they enter that environment. We also know that they break their teeth on the horizontal steel bars that separate them for training sessions. And if you take a look at their teeth, this might be the reason why they're dying at such an early age."
http://oceanicdefense.blogspot.com/2011/02/former-seaworld-trainers-speak-out.html

 

[Kalina]

In a well-orchestrated announcement, released just hours before the 1-year anniversary of the death of trainer Dawn Brancheau, SeaWorld says they are spending tens of millions of dollars to outfit their performance pools and trainers with “safety” devices intended to prevent loss of life should another attack occur.

The PR move, designed to divert attention away from this tragedy, was reported last week by the Orlando Sentinel and the CBS Early Show (see videos below) as SeaWorld plans to resume “waterwork” in their killer whale performances at all three of its U.S.-based theme parks. This announcement comes despite the unresolved conclusions of the upcoming OSHA vs. SeaWorld hearings where it is anticipated that SeaWorld will ask a judge to seal the details from the public as SeaWorld challenges OSHA’s citation for willfully placing their employees at risk.

On Saturday, February 26, 2011 author and journalist, David Kirby, appeared on Fox News to discuss these issues as well as the negative effects of orca captivity:
As the details of the tragic incident on February 24, 2010 continue to unfold, it increasingly appears that Dawn’s death was a calculated risk the marine park was willing to take in the preservation of their signature “Shamu” shows, which are at the core of the theme park’s multi-billion-dollar entertainment business. But former SeaWorld trainers continue to come forward and speak out about the safety deficiencies, the negative effects of killer whale (orca) captivity and the details surrounding the tragic, yet avoidable loss of Mrs. Brancheau.

While graphic and painful, these details need to be brought to light in order to avoid future tragedies and to expose the exploitation of killer whales and trainers alike. On a date that should have been reserved as a day of reflection and remembrance, SeaWorld instead chose to use this sad anniversary as another opportunity to promote themselves as a caring, responsible institution with the best interest of the orcas, trainers and the public in mind. With SeaWorld’s lack of discretion, it was necessary for the ugly truth to be made public, mindful of the grief and pain the family and friends of Dawn must feel. By revealing these disturbing facts, it is hoped that another unfortunate incident can be averted and is not intended to add to their sorrow. Our hearts truly go out to all who knew Dawn, especially her family, friends and coworkers during this upsetting and difficult time.

In the video below from the CBS Early Show, February 24, 2011, former SeaWorld trainer Dr Jeffrey Ventre explains why SeaWorld wants to keep the facts about orca captivity and Dawn’s death from public examination. Again, although graphic in nature, it is important that the public is aware of the truth:
Among the proposed “safety improvements” unveiled by SeaWorld, the marine park says it has designed rising pool floors that can lift killer whales out of the water in perhaps less than a minute’s time.

“Upon initiation, it would immediately release and rise to the surface, lifting multiple killer whales, and then obviously could support multiple individuals,” said John Linn, SeaWorld Parks’ senior director of engineering services.

In addition, SeaWorld said it intends to eventually outfit its trainers with emergency air supplies, initially designed for the U.S. military, that will feature automated breathing regulators and provide two-to-five minutes of air for a trainer trapped under water. The Orca Project reported on this false solution dubbed “Spare-Air” in August, 2010 and several former SeaWorld trainers offered their perspective:

~Dr. John Jett: “The scuba bottle solution… represents, in practical terms, nothing. In other words, this is a false solution”

~Samantha Berg: “I think spare air or any kind of SCUBA gear that a trainer has to be wearing would likely CAUSE more problems than it prevents.”

~Carol Ray: “This is NOT a solution, and would not have prevented Dawn’s recent death or the majority of injuries that have occurred as a result of the recent incidents we are aware of.

You can also read another report on Spare-Air here: SeaWorld Former Trainers Tell OSHA Spare Air Is No Solution

And the company says designers are researching rapidly expanding mechanisms that trainers could use in an attempt to quickly pry open a whale’s jaws in an emergency. Last year it was necessary to pry open Tilikum’s mouth during recovery operations.

The company also intends to employ underwater vehicles that could be used to distract an out-of-control killer whale with pulsing lights and whale vocalizations… essentially an “underwater robotic rodeo clown”.

These proposed changes are on top of other inadequate safety improvements SeaWorld has made in recent months, including installing removable guardrails around stage ledges (see photo below) and “net boxes” that reportedly deploy quickly in an emergency (read more about the new net device HERE). However, none of these proposed safety measures will sufficiently ensure the safety of its trainers. In fact, many are viewed as increased risks as more and more of these devices are introduced into the killer whales’ existing unnatural habitat.

Watch the full story below of SeaWorld’s safety announcement and interviews with former trainers Drs John Jett and Jeffrey Ventre on the CBS Early Show:
Due to limited space requirements, the Orlando Sentinel published SeaWorld’s proposed safety solution announcement on the evening of February 23, foregoing responses to questions asked of former SeaWorld trainer Dr. Jeffrey Ventre (and others). Therefore, the story was released without the opposing views of SeaWorld’s statements. The Orca Project has published the Q & A with Dr. Ventre below:

Orlando Sentinel (OS): SeaWorld maintains that it wouldn’t be proceeding with water work unless it was certain that its trainers’ jobs have been made as safe as possible. Do you believe that it is at all possible for a trainer to safely work with a killer whale in the water?

Dr. Jeff Ventre (JV): Yes, most of the time, but not all of the time. A year later, it’s clear that the 3 former trainers that died from captive orcas, Keltie Byrne, Alexis Martinez, and Dawn Brancheau were killed by free-thinking whales that broke from control and decided to hurt them. These facilities, SeaLand of the Pacific, Loro Parque, and SeaWorld, all have a vested interest in presenting these events as tragic accidents. That is why at the very first press conference, SeaWorld announced that Dawn had “slipped and fell and drowned.” What is concerning is that they came up with that fabrication after a closed-door session. Then they fed it to the Orange County Sheriff, who announced it to the world via press conference. The “pony tail” pull-in was likely another tall tale. The evidence suggests that Tilikum used a counterclockwise roll move and arm-barred Dawn over the top and into the water. The details of the ensuing struggle and the extent of the massive injuries sustained challenge the claims put forth that this was simply an accidental drowning caused by an overzealous whale.

OS: Do you believe there is any way SeaWorld can adequately prepare for situations where whales break control?
JV: Preparation, for anything, is important. However, in real situations, like with Dawn, Keltie, or Alexis, things break down rapidly. It’s like in medicine when a “code” is called. It’s nice to have a pre-determined instruction manual, but many times the manual gets tossed out the window when you’re trying to save a life. My understanding is that in all 3 trainer deaths, efforts to save these young people were “thwarted” by the whales, which out-maneuvered the teams of trainers trying to lend aid to their fallen colleagues. In all cases the trainers were either pulled back into the water, or prevented from leaving the pool. Additionally, life rings and hooks were avoided or pushed out of range. Call back slaps and underwater tones failed. These animals likely don’t feel guilt the way we do and made powerful statements.

OS: Do you believe that some of these safety solutions – particularly the lifting floor concept – will genuinely improve safety?

JV: No. These gestures are designed to be expensive gadgets that “prove” that SW is making things safer. There are no lifting floors or counter-measures available to kayakers, boaters and divers that interact with orcas in the wild, yet not one person in a kayak has ever been hurt. The obvious conclusion is that the stress associated with captivity makes them less predictable, and sometimes dangerous. These animals are not dogs. They have large brains and think for themselves. The irony here is that these counter-measures prove that the whales are not completely safe, and help demonstrate OSHA’s case.

———–

Meanwhile, the killer whales themselves are gradually being re-trained through a process SeaWorld calls “water desensitization training” where orcas will presumably be desensitized to the presence of a trainer in the water. They eventually plan to put all of their killer whales through this behavioral training except for one- Tilikum, the large whale that killed Brancheau. The adult male is considered especially dangerous because he has been involved in three deaths over 20 years and is by far the biggest orca in SeaWorld’s collection.

According to SeaWorld Animal Curator Chuck Tompkins, Tilikum had been put through “some very basic sessions of water desense” before Brancheau’s death and will undergo some further limited work… but trainers will not get into the water with him at all.
Reportedly, trainers have begun working with Tilikum on behaviors to be used in a new killer-whale show that will debut in SeaWorld’s marine parks this spring. That show, at least for the foreseeable future, will be conducted entirely by trainers working from the stage. Since Brancheau’s death, SeaWorld has kept Tilikum out of all performances and isolated him from the other 6 orcas in the pool complex, akin to a sentence of “solitary confinement” for his actions of last year. Recently, Tilikum’s living conditions and access have been further restricted due to the ongoing construction to incorporate the new “safety” measures. He is now confined to a shallow pool, not as deep as he is long. A rather cruel and unusual punishment for one of the world’s most complex, intelligent, social beings that are known to travel up to 100 miles a day in the wild. Therefore, Tilikum’s exact fate, and his future, remains quite uncertain.

Stay tuned to The Orca Project for continuing developments.
http://theorcaproject.wordpress.com/2011/02/28/seaworld-safety-gimmicks-dont-measure-up/

 

[Angi]

If a trainer is crazy enough to want to get in the water with a whale that has killer in it's name then getting killed is a chance they take. I do feel bad for the whales though. A pool is probably awful for somthing meant to live in the ocean. In all honesty I really don't know that much about killer whales. I guess my only point is that getting killed is chance these people take.

 

[Jacqui]

No matter what they do, nothing will be perfect. The trainers know what risks they are taking. Sorry Candy, but this is one person who will given the chance go to Sea World again ... just as I go to zoos.

 

[ChiKat]

In December my sister went on a trip to California with her high school. They had to go to Sea World and she just put the pictures on Facebook yesterday. I saw the pictures of the orcas performing and wanted to cry. They are such beautiful creatures that do NOT BELONG IN A BATH TUB!!! It is not fair to these poor animals and I don't understand why more people can't see how wrong this is.

 

[Jacqui]

A bath tub? She must have taken really poor pictures then huh?

Just wondering here folks, aren't we all being just a tad hypercritical when we all have wild animals (tortoises) and I don't think any of us keep our animals in enclosures any where near the amount of space they would have naturally utilize. Then add into it, how many of our tortoises never get to live outside even. Atleast those whales do get to feel sunshine.

I know these comments really belong in a debate thread and perhaps I am feeling a bit confrontational today, but I just find it a bit curious why you all feel why our tortoises do not deserve the same as the whales.

I will also point out, it's because of these posts about the whale issue, that have me really wanting to go see them.

 

[Angi]

I hate crowds, so Sea World doesn't excite me. I used to go when my kids were little, but last summer when we had free passes my son didn't even want to go back. I think there is good and bad to SeaWorld. I know when ever a seal or something is found hurt at the beach SeaWorld nurses it back to health. That always makes the local news.

 

[ChiKat]

My captive bred tortoise is THRIVING under my care. If you could say the same about orcas kept in captivity I might feel differently.

 

[Jacqui]

My captive bred tortoise is THRIVING under my care. If you could say the same about orcas kept in captivity I might feel differently.

Let's see their oldest CB lived to be 25 yrs old and produced young. I don't think you are to that point are you, so can we really compare levels of thriving?

Then just take a second and think back over just this last month... how many tortoises has this forum alone saw die under our care while being owned by folks for just a few months (or sadly, less)?

Just as with the whales, we are just barely touching the tip of learning what tortoises need. It is sad, but it seems we often learn the most thru our failures. Each loss should help us to learn more about how to save these animals before they are all gone. Do ones killed by sharks, other whales, whaling ships, and disease in the wild help us learn or do they just die?

Just as we can't return our now captive tortoises to the wild, those whales also can't go "home" again. So since they have to stay captive, shouldn't we allow folks to see them? See them and get a better understanding of them and learn to appreciate them more, to want to help try to save those few still living free. I think most of us, are more moved by viewing a live animal then just seeing a picture of one. I think those captive whales are helping create an awareness about whales that can't be done without the living animal.

 

[exoticsdr]

Jacqui...you go girl....love it when someone can actually see THROUGH the issue and not be blinded by the emotions of the subject.

 

[Jacqui]

My captive bred tortoise is THRIVING under my care. If you could say the same about orcas kept in captivity I might feel differently.

Let's see their oldest CB lived to be 25 yrs old and produced young. I don't think you are to that point are you, so can we really compare levels of thriving?

Just so you know, in no way am I putting you down for your lack of time with your tortoise. I am not. I am in fact proud of you and everybody else in here who have tortoises doing well for them. I sincerely hope 25 years from now, your record way passes Sea World's. I think you will find that just as you are working hard to learn more, to do more, to better not just your tortoise's life, but all tortoises wild and captive, so are the folks at Sea World.

I also give my thanks (and sympathy) to those who have lost their tortoises. The thanks is for being willing to share those losses with us, so we learn and hopefully can keep another tortoise from suffering the same fate.

 

[Tom]

Jacqui and Dr. Westin, Where were you two during the last go around with this topic? I gave up trying with this crowd. I kept arguing for a while, but I can't argue with people's emotions. They feel how they feel and I was unable to change it with facts or first hand personal experience. They aren't going to change my opinion either, so I sort of understand.

Jacqui, you made some excellent points and I agree whole-heartedly. As soon as it warms up, my family will also be making a trip to Sea World, where my daughter will learn first hand about the beautiful wonders of the sea. I can't make her sit through 30 seconds of the discovery channel, but she'll watch live animals right in front of her indefinitely. Then she'll repeat back to you everything she learned about them.

 

[ChiKat]

I wasn’t even going to TOUCH the orca/tortoise comparison, but I’ll go with it.

People here are always preaching about keeping tortoises in optimal conditions- as naturally as possible, while allowing them to grow and thrive.
Spacious enclosures, natural sunlight, allowing them to graze like they do in the wild, living outside as much as possible, given a diet that they might find in the wild, HOT and HUMID, etc.
The unnatural things that some of us do for our tortoises, such as feeding them generous portions every day, help them thrive, if anything.

What happens when tortoises are kept DRY in tiny enclosures, on the wrong substrate, fed an unnatural and unhealthy diet, played with and handled constantly, etc.
You get stressed-out, sickly tortoises with shortened lifespans.
But we know better!

What happens when orcas are confined to small, acoustically-dead, concrete enclosures; separated from their family; fed an unnatural diet of dead fish; forced to perform tricks?
You get stressed-out, sickly orcas with shortened lifespans.

I still would not agree with keeping orcas in captivity, even if they were kept in more natural conditions where they could thrive and act like NORMAL orcas, but I might not be as upset about it.

 

[exoticsdr]

Tom....apologies, didn't know how to express myself on this subject without seeming to compromise my Oath.....Jacqui...thanks for clarifying my own thoughts on the subject....more later. thanks again.

 

[Candy]

Here's a challenge to anyone up for it......Please post your facts on captivity of Killer Whales and how it is beneficial for them or anyone else. If you do post anything about education purposes please post facts and not opinions. I will be posting a thread on the facts against it since I've been studying these whales for the past several months.

 

[Jacqui]

Here's a challenge to anyone up for it......Please post your facts on captivity of Killer Whales and how it is beneficial for them or anyone else. If you do post anything about education purposes please post facts and not opinions. I will be posting a thread on the facts against it since I've been studying these whales for the past several months.

Candy, two things, let's move this into the debate section off topic section, because that is really where it belongs. Second, I won't be joining in, tho I do love a good debate I just don't have the time to spend on it. I have what I feel are better things to do with my limited time like the information/articles I am working on to help folks with tortoises and getting things done for the betterment for the ones under my own care. Such as getting my enclosures ready for warm weather. I do applaud you for having the time and energy to give to whales, I just don't have the same and believe I can make a bigger difference (plus an actual difference) by using the same on just my passion for tortoises.

 

[Kalina]

To Chikat: You are absolutely right, multiple killer whales living in SW tanks is just like living in a bath tub to them... Those tanks may appear huge to us, but then, we don't live in the ocean... It reminds me of a human having to live in a closet, having just enough room to move but unable to actually walk more than a couple of steps. Killer Whales travel hundreds of miles per day in the wild, there is physically no way this can happen in an aquarium. If you want to learn more about cetaceans, there's plenty of research websites and Whale watching tours that will give you a true look at Killer Whale behavior... I wouldn't recommend you go to an aquarium to learn about Whales or Dolphins, the staff there only tell you their opinions and not facts, I will message you a link from the HSUS complaining about SW educational material being innacurate, you would do much better doing your own research or asking a marine biologist, somebody who know's what they're talking about and can back it up, not a mere animal trainer.
Also, there are plenty of DVD's covering this subject that go into detail, also if you have the time, watch "The Cove"... I love this documentary as it covers a lot of the natural behaviors, which i found more interesting than watching an Orca break spin on a ledge... Chikat, it's a great thing that you hold so much compassion and care about what happens to these highly social, intelligent beings... Keep it real and disregard the caricature you can see in the tank.

---

To Chikat:

1. Both orcas (commonly known as killer whales) and dolphins are members of the dolphin family Delphinidae, of which orcas are the largest members. There are more than 500 orcas, dolphins and other members of the dolphin family held in captivity in the United States.
2. Before the passage of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) in 1972, roughly 1,133 dolphins had been captured in the U.S. waters. From 1964 to 1989, 138 orcas were captured worldwide for aquariums. While the MMPA makes it more difficult to capture marine mammals from the wild, aquariums still can apply for permits or import animals caught in other countries.
3. Despite their claim, marine parks do not help to conserve marine mammals through their breeding programs. The marine mammals most commonly bred in captivity are not considered threatened or endangered.
4. Aquariums have no intention of returning captive breed animals to the wild. In fact, they frequently argue that the success of such endeavors would be unlikely and vehemently oppose release efforts.
5. The results of studies conducted in captivity may not be adequately extrapolated to wild animals for several reasons. Captive marine mammals live in small, sterile enclosures and are deprived of their natural activity level, social groups and interactions with their natural environment, and many captive marine mammals develop stereotypic behavior and/or aggression not known to occur in the wild. What we have learned from captive research is that orcas and dolphins are more intelligent than previously imagined, providing more evidence that a life in captivity is inhumane.
6. Current research shows that there is no significant difference between the longevity of captive and wild orcas/dolphins. Despite the controlled environment, routine veterinary care and medications including anti-depressants, captive dolphins and orcas do not outlive their wild counterparts.
7. Forcing orcas and dolphins to live in groups dictated by humans disrupts the dynamics of the natural hierarchy, which in turn upsets their natural behavior.
8. Surveys show that most people prefer to see marine mammals displaying natural behaviors rather than performing “tricks and stunts.”
9. A public display of wild animals is not necessary to engage people. Many wild animals, including several whale species, enjoy a high degree of public interest and concern despite never being maintained in captivity for public display.
10. Keeping wild animals in captivity for human amusement is inherently cruel, as it deprives them of the ability to freely engage in instinctual behaviors in their natural environment.
http://www.bornfreeusa.org/facts.php?p=2688&more=1

Found this and found it quite interesting:

PRO-CAPS publicly defend the captive industry by stating the marine mammals are not suffering because they do not feel emotions.

Here is an actual conversation from a PRO-CAP sent to me:

“Applying human trauma to orca trauma is honestly not relevant. Applying any human emotions, feelings, or ideals….(anthropomorphism)….is something I will not do. Its easy for people to anthropomorphisize a situation because it makes it easier for THEM to relate to the animal or thing they are involved with. In the world of science any debates or arguments that involve feelings or human situations applied to orcas would not be taken seriously, therefore I honestly cannot either. I sympathize with your emotions, but I cannot share them, my field requires my brain to think differently.”

Well with regards to this statement “In the world of science any debates or arguments that involve feelings or human situations applied to orcas would not be taken seriously, therefore I honestly cannot either“

This is false information and it was trying to be fed to me as truth just as it is to so many other people. There is research regarding animal emotions in captive marine mammals and numerous other animals.

From psychology departments to scientists, there has been a whole side of research regarding animal emotions that is being ignored by these PRO-CAPS.
Some scientists who study animal emotions work in the field of cognitive ethology. The fusion of cognitive science and classical ethology into cognitive ethology “emphasizes observing animals under more-or-less natural conditions, with the objective of understanding the evolution, adaptation (function), causation, and development of the species-specific behavioral repertoire.

Many cognitive ethologists were originally white lab coat wearing scientists who inflicted terrible pain upon the animals they studied, where after some time they realized animals do have emotions and it would be better to study the animals in their own natural setting versus the controlled lab studies. Many documentaries we watch on the Animal Planet or science channels regarding wild marine mammals is information provided by cognitive ethologists.

Marc Bekoff, a leading scientist with more than 30 years of experience has written a few really good books on animal emotions. I could do a whole story on his books and findings alone. I highly suggest checking out some of his books as fascinating stories lie inside pages waiting to be heard.

Many PRO-CAPS have to see “scientific” proof to believe the negative sides to captivity exist, which out way the positive side for the marine animals in captivity. The type of “scientific” proof they want to see is from the white lab coat wearing scientist in a controlled environmental study. We all know what happens to animals in labs, I do not need to elaborate on this matter.

What I would to point out is Why would any individual who claims to love animals and be pro-life wish to see marine mammals being tortured, extensively till death offers them a relief? It comes back to Cognitive dissonance.
Basically it is easier for a PRO-CAP to feel better about one’s self through the justification that these marine mammals will always be in captivity so let us love them for who they are. A need is also being fulfilled for a PRO-CAP though, their own need. Many PRO-CAP’s are fanatics regarding captive cetaceans, they have extensive knowledge regarding captive orcas. Captive orcas are celebrities.

Also what we found was each PRO-CAP has their favorite captive orca. Another finding regarding PRO-CAPs was yes, they did know some information about wild orcas yet their real knowledge came down to captive orcas. PRO-CAPs also use the defense that SeaWorld does all kinds of conservation efforts, despite lack of conservation efforts for wild orcas. We, here at Withoutmethereisnou know just as much information regarding wild orcas as we do captive orcas. We also do not have a favorite orca….well I may be partial to Granny as she is living proof of the true life span of an orca.

Tilikum now has been forced to virtually live alone. He is locked in a small pool the majority of the day alone. He is no longer allowed to go do his big fluke splash he was so famous for in SeaWorld shows. This is Tilikum’s life now without Dawn.




I, personally do not label myself as an ANTI-CAP. I am a person who is aware of immoral acts occurring to captive marine mammals. I could have ignored what I was learning. I could have stated what I was learning was not the truth despite the evidence or I could have done my best to help bring about changes. I made the choice to not avoid/ignore the issues at hand and instead I have played a very important role into setting the changes I wish to see in motion. I carry no guilt, no shame. I am not mean or oppressive to PRO-CA’s. I protest, sign petitions, write blogs and make videos all in the hope of raising awareness. I am just asking for more love/respect to be shown towards captive marine mammals and one another.

The one year anniversary of Dawn Brancheau’s death is another reminder of what irreversible damage can come from living in a certain chronic state of cognitive dissonance. It is apparent Dawn felt Tilikum deserved better, thus the reason for Dawn’s extra work with Tilikum in the recent years. Dawn never publicly spoke out about the concerns for Tilikum, she felt compelled to remain a trainer and continue working in an unsafe work environment. Dawn died doing what she wanted to do, despite known consequences from the past. The deaths of Dawn Brancheau, Alexis Martinez, Daniel Dukes and Keltie Lee Byrne raises concerns that it can continue to happen in the future.

Ask yourself if you are a PRO-CAP or an ANTI-CAP? Are you living in a state of cognitive dissonance that is directly or indirectly negatively affecting captive marine mammals?
http://withoutmethereisnou.wordpres...ic-behind-support-of-marine-mammal-captivity/