| «¤~Mrš. BÃD GÛŸ~¤» 26.02.2010 10:31 |
A killer whale that killed its trainer in front of horrified onlookers will stay in its marine park, officials said, amid a raging debate on keeping such animals in captivity. Tilikum- the five-tonne orca already linked to two other human deaths since 1991 - grabbed its veteran trainer by her ponytail and dragged her down into its tank at the end of Wednesday's show in SeaWorld Orlando,Florida. The male whale was so aggressive rescuers could not immediately jump in and assist the experienced trainer Dawn Brancheau, officials said. Instead, trainers guided the massive black-and-white whale toward a smaller pool and lifted him out of the water by a large scale or platform to free Brancheau's dead body from its jaws. Witness Sue Nichols, 67, said the crowd had had no warning that anything was brewing as the show was already ending with most of the 50-strong audience having left their seats. The trainer would "pet him, and she would get very close to him. She'd throw fish in his mouth and throw buckets of water in his mouth, which he seemed to enjoy. There was nothing aggravating or anything about it," Nichols said. But then, "she was petting the whale and talking to him, and then all of a sudden he just reached up. He got her in the water, and he took her underwater, and he had her under for quite a while," she said. "He came up out of the water, and he had her in his mouth." Nichols said an alarm sounded while park employees scattered around the pool with a net as audience members were rushed away. Animal rights groups and activists pressed for Tilikum to be released in a controlled area, while some suggested putting him down. But both ideas were ruled out by SeaWorld staff. "He's still going to be part of this family group here in Seaworld," SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment corporate curator Chuck Tompkins said."He's got seven other killer whales that he lives with and we'll make sure he stays with his family ... We are going be very careful how the trainers interact with him. The number one focus is still the safety of the trainers," he added. |
| Freya is quietly judging you. 26.02.2010 10:55 |
OM NOM NOM MOAR TRAINERS PLZ. Said the whale. |
| Lady Nyx 26.02.2010 11:26 |
how do you explain that to a family? "my cousin was eaten by a killer whale" O.o what a way to go. its not like its called a 'fluffy friendly sparkle whale'. i'll stop. |
| The Real Wizard 26.02.2010 12:19 |
As tragic as this is, it was completely avoidable. Maybe it's about time we realize that it's not a good idea to remove these large mammals from their natural habitat to train them to amuse audiences. Eventually they will crack after enough whistles blown and jumps made. |
| «¤~Mrš. BÃD GÛŸ~¤» 26.02.2010 12:30 |
Sir GH wrote: As tragic as this is, it was completely avoidable. Maybe it's about time we realize that it's not a good idea to remove these large mammals from their natural habitat to train them to amuse audiences. Eventually they will crack after enough whistles blown and jumps made. Couldn't agree more with you. I don't blame the poor animal that's trapped and trying to be raised and controlled in a human world. I blame the human's who capture, imprison and then train any animal against its will, all for a blessed buck! |
| JoxerTheDeityPirate 26.02.2010 13:34 |
yes,if only she chose to piss around with the 'fluffy wuffy cuddly whale' instead of the 'ooh,you look like a seal and you are getting on my tits with your 'lets make a twat' of me attitude and i'm gonna kill you whale'. shame Spock wasn't there though,he could of done the vulcan mindmeld thingy on the whale like he did in Star Trek IV and saved the day |
| Mr Mercury 26.02.2010 14:23 |
As someone who has been to Seaworld, I can say that the part where that trainer died is not as big as you think it would be. Seaworld should not have this sort of "attraction" going on tbh....... |
| JoxerTheDeityPirate 26.02.2010 17:07 |
Mr Mercury wrote: As someone who has been to Seaworld, I can say that the part where that trainer died is not as big as you think it would be. Seaworld should not have this sort of "attraction" going on tbh.......i'm old enough to remember when Legoland was Windsor Safari Park and i visited it when i was about 11. I was allowed to get 'up close and personal' with the killer whale they had there and i thought,even back then,that these creatures were too big for such an enclosure.I get teasy as a bag of wasps when i'm stuck in my little flat for a few days,i hate to think how 'teasy' a 2 tonne predator would get stuck in its tiny 'pool' when it's natural habitat is a 15,000 mile ocean. |
| beautifulsoup 26.02.2010 17:50 |
Does Brian know about this? [img=/images/smiley/msn/wink_smile.gif][/img] |
| Micrówave 27.02.2010 02:44 |
I had two Filet O'Fish sandwiches yesterday. Nobody's writing a story about me. |
| YourValentine 27.02.2010 04:52 |
I totally agree with Sir GH. If you do not respect the nature of a big animal, do not be surprised if the animal fights back. It's heartbreaking to see how whales and dolphins are kept in much too small pools, often in chlorinated water. I wish people would boycott such "attractions" - it would end pretty soon if there were no money in it. |
| john bodega 27.02.2010 06:16 |
beautifulsoup wrote: Does Brian know about this? [img=/images/smiley/msn/wink_smile.gif][/img]HAAAAAAA! |
| Mr.Jingles 27.02.2010 12:12 |
Isn't it ironic that the attack happened during the show "Dining with Shamu"? I guess Shamu got tired of watching visitors eat, and decided to have a meal of his own. |
| GratefulFan 27.02.2010 18:38 |
Micrówave wrote: I had two Filet O'Fish sandwiches yesterday. Nobody's writing a story about me. [img=link |
| Unblinking Eye 27.02.2010 18:48 |
GratefulFan wrote:Micrówave wrote: I had two Filet O'Fish sandwiches yesterday. Nobody's writing a story about me.[img=link Oh LOL!!! On the killer whale: It is cruel to take animals of that danger out of their natural habitat. They should just release it back into the wild. I've heard of people swimming in the ocean with these maginificent animals, just because they are quite happy cause they are in the wild. It is atrocious. Wheres poodle hair when you need him? *cough* I mean *cough* Brian of course!!! *cough* |
| Micrówave 27.02.2010 19:43 |
Genius, GratefulFan. Got my story and the whale shows are back on at Sea World!!! Happy Saturday, everybody!!! |
| Crazy LittleThing 27.02.2010 23:57 |
GratefulFan wrote:Micrówave wrote: I had two Filet O'Fish sandwiches yesterday. Nobody's writing a story about me.[img=link Greatest. News. Story. Ever. Well done Grateful Fan! |
| The Real Wizard 28.02.2010 01:49 |
Crazy LittleThing wrote:GratefulFan wrote:Greatest. News. Story. Ever. Well done Grateful Fan!Micrówave wrote: I had two Filet O'Fish sandwiches yesterday. Nobody's writing a story about me.[img=link HAHAHA! Incredible. This is a great article, where they liken a these whales' lives to a human being spending their life in a bathtub. Well worth the read: link |
| john bodega 28.02.2010 02:12 |
I guess the poor girl was having a whale of a good time? |
| -fatty- 2850 28.02.2010 08:52 |
Of course this is a tragedy but the death of a trainer is a small price to pay for the hours of amusement these animals provide. The only way I see to prevent this from happening again is for the trainers at Seaworld to assert their authority. All the other aquatic creatures at Seaworld need to be assembled (in a variety of tanks and/or bowls to witness the execution of the killer whale. Only then will the human race be able to redress the balance of power and show fish like killer whales, dolphins and manatees that we are the dominant species. fatty. Telling it like it is since 1999. |
| JoxerTheDeityPirate 28.02.2010 19:10 |
-fatty- wrote: Of course this is a tragedy but the death of a trainer is a small price to pay for the hours of amusement these animals provide. The only way I see to prevent this from happening again is for the trainers at Seaworld to assert their authority. All the other aquatic creatures at Seaworld need to be assembled (in a variety of tanks and/or bowls to witness the execution of the killer whale. Only then will the human race be able to redress the balance of power and show fish like killer whales, dolphins and manatees that we are the dominant species. fatty. Telling it like it is since 1999.*cough* not fish,mammals*cough* |
| «¤~Mrš. BÃD GÛŸ~¤» 01.03.2010 12:40 |
Free Willy!! link |
| Dan C. 04.03.2010 03:40 |
GratefulFan wrote:Micrówave wrote: I had two Filet O'Fish sandwiches yesterday. Nobody's writing a story about me.[img=link This thread is done; Close it. |
| john bodega 04.03.2010 09:17 |
Bet she wishes she'd done something different with her hair that day... |
| Lady Nyx 04.03.2010 20:46 |
Zebonka12 wrote: Bet she wishes she'd done something different with her hair that day... and this is why girls are fickle- it may save a life! XD |
