... And in related news, wild animals go wild...SHOCKING!!!!
By now, I'm sure that all of you have heard that a few days ago, a killer whale by the name of Tilikum, killed his trainer, Dawn Brancheau, soon after a midday show. Without provocation, this wild animal gained momentum by swimming to the far side of the tank, then swam back rapidly towards Ms. Brancheau, jumped in the air, grabbed her by the waist, pulled her into the water and whipped her around the tank. Sounds premeditated to me.
Am I surprised by any of this, certainly not. Actually, I'm surprised that this doesn't occur more often. What irks me about this situation is, there are many people calling for leniency for this killer whale. Even Dawn Brancheau's older sister, Diane Gross, is stating that this killer whale should be allowed to live. Ms. Gross believes that her sister would want it that way, saying that her sister "loves these animals like children".
Now, had this death seemed accidental in nature, I might be inclined to agree with Tilikum's apologists. However, considering the way this trainer was killed, and that this killer whale has killed two people before, I can't believe that there isn't a bigger outcry to put this wild animal down, once and for all. How many people must die due to Tilikum's aggressive behavior before the Fur-Nazis (aka PETA and their ilk) say enough is enough? It was well-known that due this orca's history of killing humans and his size, that no one was to go in the tank with him. And less than half of the trainers were even allowed to train with him. Now that he's killed for a third time, I guess only the Siegfried & Roy of aquatic animals can train this killer whale, right? ...SMH
If the Fur-Nazis had the same amount of compassion for their human counterparts as they do for animals great and small, I probably wouldn't be writing this. Unfortunately, not that long ago, an African-American boy was given a life sentence for accidentally killing a younger child while attempting a wrestling move he saw on TV. If this doesn't scream tragic accident, I don't know what does.
I don't recall any organization coming out in support of this child getting leniency (at least any that weren't African-American based). Maybe PETA can form a "human-wing" to their organization. They could call it People for the Ethical Treatment of Humans (PETH for short). Then maybe they could get people like me to join their organization or at least be empathetic to their cause. I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking that PETA goes extra hard for animals of most kinds. I just wish that they went this hard for people as well; especially those who are usually not represented well in our legal system. BTW, PETA, people are animals as well.
It's funny (in a sad way) how Tilikum (aka "Tilly") has been dealt with since his first kill. Instead of putting him back in the wild, or keep him from doing any more shows, or euthanizing him, they just moved him to a new city where (hopefully) those people won't be turned off by his previous behavior. Orlando was the second city he has been moved to. Now with his third kill, can anybody say, SAN DIEGO??? He's getting the Catholic Priest treatment for Pete's sake. Look at the similarities:
1) They're both recognized by their black/white colors.
2) They both perform in front of large paying audiences:
3) And if they do anything unlawful to either the parishioners/patrons or the altar boys/staff, they just get relocated and little else. Is this not crazy???!?!?
Just imagine for a sec, that OJ Simpson killed somebody (even by accident) , where there were hundreds of people who saw it. How would people react to that? There are large portions of the American populace that would be screaming for OJ's head to be cut off in some public square for all to see. Too bad OJ can't swim real fast or jump through large hoops for a crowd's entertainment...Oh, wait a minute, he did have ability to run real fast and jump over defenders while scoring touchdowns for a crowd's entertainment. Boy, they sure loved him back then. I guess Tilly better slow down all this killing when he gets too old to do any tricks for us. Maybe his days will be numbered by then. That is why a large part of the blame has to be put on SeaWorld, for taking in Tilly while fully aware of his previous killings. They are no better than Hollywood, the NFL, MLB, etc., who protect their stars as long as money can be made off of their talent.
Like I said before, I'm all for putting Tilly back out into the wild. And eventually, some Arctic Justice would probably be Tilly's demise. However, Bill Maher (a big-time Fur-Nazi) said on his show that he doesn't talk "animal" and can't tell if animals like being in a zoo/aquarium. It's quite possible that some animals may find life in the wild, too hard to deal with. If that's so, they should abide by some simple rules...no killing of any patrons, trainers or other animals. Not so hard, right? Because at the end of the day, whether it's OJ, a lone gunman, a drunk driver, or a wild animal that kills somebody, dead is dead, no matter how you slice it. And all those responsible should suffer the proper consequences. I'm not asking for too much, am I?
- Bru
The killer whale should not be in captivity and humans are to blame for putting it there in the first place. So to put the animal down would not be right. After all they are there and the show goes on because they are so intelligent, large and thought of as danderous.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, if it was a killer as you are describing, common sense would tell you that it could have bitten many heads off, many times and I am sure this whale would not try to drown someone as you have detailed. If it wanted to kill you, it would do what a great white shark would do and just bite into you.
Less of the crap talk please.
Regards Mark Hill
I've heard many stories and done a lot of research on orca's aka killer whales and they're not people killers. If they were so many more people would be dead. As far as Tilikum goes he was suppose to be at seaworld for breeding purposes only. The 1st accident involving Tilikum technically wasn't his fault nor the trainers. She fell into the tank with 3 whales, Tilikum being one of them. Another one of the whales was caring Tilikum's calf. No one had ever been in the pool with any of them. They tossed her around to eachother like a play toy. So you can't punish the whales for playing with a foreign object, atleast in their eyes. The second accident also not Tilikums fault. The autopsy showed that the guy died from hypothermia and alcohol. There were also traces of drugs in his system. And as for the 3rd accident it was an accident. Her ponytail was hanging down and he was doing what everyone's trained him to do which is play. He pulled her into the water. He doesn't understand humans can't hold their breath for long periods of time. Nor does he understand that he cant bump her or push her around like he can with everything else. Orca's are extremely intelligent and don't deserve to get put to sleep because of human mistakes..No animal should have to pay the price because of our mistakes.
ReplyDeleteYou're an idiot please watch blackfish. You're just like everyone else, you're believing what they want you to.
Delete1. Eye witnesses said that the "big male whale with the collapsed fin" was the one to drag the woman down and kill her- it was publicised as an "accident".
2. The man may or may not have died of hypothermia and may or may not have been under the influence bht what you're lacking here is the full autopsy. His genetaia were ripped off and Tilikum had basically chewed him- there were lacerations all over his body. In the morning they found Tilikum parading this dead, naked, mutilated body around the tank like a prize on his back. There was a trained night trainer there for safety purposes- how did they not hear this man screaming? How could the splashes not have been heard?
The mans clothes were found ripped up in the tank- Tilikum stripped him for gods sake. Orca's are known for playing with what they kill.
3. Last but not at all least, Tilikum brutally murdered that woman don't you DARE say it was her fault. Tilikum did not grab her ponytail, or her waist for that matter. He slid up onto the platform, grabbed her arm and dragged her under. He dismembered her whole arm and fucking ate it. He scalped her (as in cut off her scalp) and chewed her face, as well as crushing her chest and pulmerising her legs (they were shattered). Tilikum murdered all three of these people, and he did it knowingly as its been proven that they have emotional capabilities, and conscious awareness the same as humans. However he was not to blame- he had a horrific upbringing. He was atarved by trainers and every night tortured by older females (they would rake their teeth down his body and mutilate him because anything he did wrong they all payed for).
Orcas are known for exacting revenge- in the case of Dawn, the trainer with years of experience with Tilikum, he was butthurt because he wasnt being properly rewarded for the performance he was doing.
Learn your facts you clueless bastard.
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ReplyDeleteKiller whales and all whales are wild animals that should be never kept in captivity. The biology of these creatures is such that it's physically impossible to ever truly tame them.
ReplyDeleteIt's entirely one's own fault if he gets killed in making a beast like this do fancy tricks for the amusement of some idiots.
The only victim here is the whale. None of this would have happent if it were let to stay there where it belongs.
did shamoo ever kill anybody NO so why this whale cus its a rogue. it kills to solve its problems.
ReplyDeleteEverybody will blame the "humans" and I am a lover of whales, especially "killer whales, BUT I do NOT put them above the life of a human! Though the World does nowdays. It's all about money!! I feel sorrow for this whale and they way it was captured, suffered etc!! I also feel is is VERY well equipped to Fend for himself! Kill! make s way! People seem like "oh well, he killed a trainer, POOR whale! That's what's WRONG with this country! Would Rather say "poor whale" and not feel the "guilt" of what the whale has lived, and just "dismiss" the death of a HUMAN or 3!!! So, if I have a "choice" deciding if it's the whale or the next "victim" I say "let him GO!" Fend for himself! No more human life!! (Which now-days isn't imp) only the animal. If he is THAT dangerous, let him go and make it on his OWN! Don't let another human fall victim to him! Or, maybe the president or other HIGH ranking officials should deal with him and 'show" us how "safe" he is! How YOU can entertain with him! I want to see you with him!!!
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