The Sandspur

Issue date: 3/5/10 Section: Opinions

Melanie's ramblings about local and campus happenings

Unless you have not gone near a television, computer or radio in the past week, you have probably heard about Tilikum, the 12,300-pound killer whale who is nearly the size of a school bus and lives in our backyard at Orlando's SeaWorld. You have probably also heard about his most recent incident involving the death of a trainer.

During a Dine with Shamu performance on Feb. 24, park visitors were witnesses to a gruesome scene that has occurred over a dozen times since the 1970s: a captive killer whale turned on its trainer, resulting in death. People's first reactions upon hearing about the incident were probably something along the lines of, "How could this happen?" I say, "How could this NOT happen?"

Here is a quick and basic breakdown on killer whales: they are the largest of the dolphins, they are one of the world's most powerful predators, and they are highly dependent on social interactions amongst their pods - think of them as cliques - and on their migratory patterns. Knowing all of this about killer whales, how could it possibly make sense to keep one captive in a tank that is basically the size of a fish bowl for these massive creatures?

Holding these impressive animals in these conditions is not only cruel, but disastrous for their well-being. According to the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS), killer whales held in captivity often develop several pathologies, such as dorsal fin collapse, which can be seen in 60 to 90 percent of captive males. Killer whales in captivity also have a vastly reduced life span, shrinking to a mere 20 years rather than their natural 60 to 80 years. Critics claim that captive life is stressful due to the small tanks the killer whales are placed in, the false social groupings the parks create, and the chemically altered water in their tanks. As a result, killer whales are prone to act aggressively towards their tank mates and human handlers, as was clearly shown in the Feb. 24 attack.

Richard Ellis, an American Museum of Natural History marine conservationist, was interviewed by the Associated Press to explain the reasons for Tilikum's attack and discuss whether or not his actions were accidental.

"Killer whales, because they're supposed to be so intelligent, don't do things accidently," Ellis said. "This was not an insane, uncontrollable act. I don't believe for a moment that this whale was trying to eat the trainer, but whatever prompted the whale to do this, it behaved in killer whale fashion."

Violent acts towards humans by wild killer whales have never been recorded. This has only happened with those in captivity. Clearly, it was not in Tilikum's nature to kill humans; he was only reacting to the stress his environment has created for him.

I understand the educational aspects and breeding programs SeaWorld parks are using in order to defend their captivity of killer whales, but the parks must also consider the quality of life for these animals. Making entertainment out of creatures that should be swimming freely in the ocean rather than performing flips for tourists is not consistent with the conservationist image SeaWorld passes off.

Tilikum is not to blame. His captors are.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools