woman killed at seaworld

[texasgal]

I won't get into the whole "set Shamu free" debate .. and I'm very very sad and sorry for her family, BUT ....

Animals are unpredictable .. period.

People get bit by dogs every single day .. as a former vet tech, I'd rather deal with a pit bull than a whole lot of smaller dogs that are more likely to bite. We don't hear about all the chihuahua bites, because they don't do the damage .. but bigger dogs will.

Domestic cats bite, scratch, claw people every day. We don't hear about them, but a large cat (ie., Roy's tiger) is able to do the damage ..

Domestic birds bite people everyday .. I got bit by my rooster yesterday .. I've had plenty of blood drawn by parrots.

People are hurt by horses everyday .. not being just bucked off, but kicked and bit.

Animals are unpredictable.

I'm only suprised that there aren't more whale, tiger, elephant incidences. This whale has been in captivity for dang near 30 years and this is only the 3rd time that he's acted on his natural instincts (you know, the one that says "Grab it, shake it, throw it in the air, kill it" ... like any ol' seal) ..

Unfortunately, when a whale acts upon his natural instinct, someone is going to be hurt or dead.

Animals are unpredictable .. it's a risk that those of us who chose to own or work with them take. The bigger the critter, the more risk of serious injury or death.

She knew the risks .. I pray for her family .. very sad ..

 

[Goose and Fig]

I agree that we need to have a few species in captivity- but for science rather than show. So we can understand diseases and such.

But the reasons that so many great creatures are on the brink are mostly man made. We should be working to protect them & their habitats.

The Planet Earth series (and many others) are great ways to learn about how they really live, without doing harm.

 

[texasgal]

SeaWorld Trainer 'Loved Her Job,' Says Her Mother
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20346810,00.html


"It was her dream to do it," Loverde said. "She loved her job."


But Brancheau, who was married to husband Scott Brancheau for about 13 years after they met at SeaWorld, was aware of her job's inherent dangers. "You can't put yourself in the water unless you trust them and they trust you," she told the Sentinel in 2006.

 

[froggie71]

Quote:
I total agree. Heck even humans bite at times. I still am having a problem with how this is being reported though. Sea World President first said this did not happen during a show and that the trainer fell in and no aggression was shown by the whale before the incident. After an eyewitness told other news sources that she was pulled in by the waist as she was talking to people about a demonstration and was shaking wildly under water. Then I heard the president of Sea World did agree that she was pulled in. Last thing I just saw was that she was pulled in by her ponytail.

 

[Prettiest Frog]

Sounds like a case of several eye-witnesses that don't agree and no camera to verify who is correct.

 

[texasgal]

I take very little stock in details in initial news reports .. people will sensationalize .. corporations will cover up .. the truth is usually somewhere in between ...

 

[chickerdoodle]

Quote:
Certain pods are--especially in the Pacific Northwest it is critical. Ironically they are also the most protected whales in the world (in the PNW) and are one of the most likely to die off due to insidious pollutants that collect in their fat. Male orcas are nearly gone now in these pods and babies are dying off as well--the females are surviving due to the fact they nurse the calves which removes some pollutants from their body--right into their babies. The problem is soon they will not be able to procreate and then they are all gone. I still do not condone the "circus" in Seaworld but wish we could fix the pollution we have created--that's the issue.