6:56 Minute Video Before Whale Kill. Trainer was IN THE WATER with Whale [SeaWorld]

WESH TV ^ | 02/25/10

[kcvl]

US Humane Society - legislative advocacy group

animal welfare and animal rights: “Animal ‘rights’ philosophy says that even if you gave your dairy cows three meals a day, evening rubdowns, waterbeds to sleep on, iPods, and Nintendo Wii privileges, it would still wrong to milk them.”

[BunnySlippers]

LOL

[kcvl]

I suppose you would say the same thing about seven astronauts on the Challenger too because they didn’t understand ‘CHALLENGER’?!

[HiTech RedNeck]

One of the biggest “hidden scandals” of the country. I wonder how many veterinarians who casually display HSUS stuff on their counters know the HSUS really could not care less if their clientele vanished?

[kcvl]

I wouldn’t let one of those ‘animal rights’ people near my animals! They are as phony as Obama! It's about MONEY to them!

[BunnySlippers]

How about the SPCA?

[calex59]

It may be barbaric to treat animals that way(I happen to think they should be left in the wild myself)but it is even more barbaric to allow people to act as “trainers” and then try to justify it when one of them is killed. Killer Whales(actually dolphins)are named “Killer” for a reason.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Granted, the HSUS has not been documented as doing uglies quite like PETA. PETA has promised pet owners who must relinquish a pet to “take care” of the animal — which they do unbeknownst to the doting owner by killing it. HSUS at least would tell you if asked that they don’t do animal shelters.

[TomGuy]

The same sh*t with circuses especially elephants. Whales and elephants are giant creatures who roam or swim hundreds of miles. Keeping them in captivity is BS.

I agree.

I cringe every time one of those 'live' TV shows has the 'wild' animals on it. Yes, the animals are cute and cuddly, but they are also wild.

[HiTech RedNeck]

The water equivalent of cowboys. At least nobody has ever complained of them killing orcas.

[BunnySlippers]

http://www.wesh.com/video/22671481/index.html

[Mad Dawgg]

"I suppose you would say the same thing about seven astronauts on the Challenger too because they didn’t understand ‘CHALLENGER’?!"

Sorry but comparing what astronauts do and achieve to what performers do at a theme park is an exercise in supreme silliness.

If these folks want to jump into the water with large critters and tempt fate for applause so be it, but let us not pretend its some holy scientific pursuit.

And don't be surprised if people poke fun at such antics. Just like they poke fun at Bullfighters who get tagged.

[Ramius]

I found this video VERY interesting. It now becomes apparent that despite what SeaWorld says the trainer DID get into the water with the Orca. They have denied this happened. And they claim it is against policy. She is smiling widely.

That's nonsense. The trainers routinely get into the water with the orcas. SeaWorld wouldn't deny anything of the sort. I think you're getting bad information.

Last infomation I've seen though is that she wasn't in the water at this particular time, that Tilly grabbed her (some reports say grabbed her by her ponytail, some say grabbed her by her waist) and shook her, taking her underwater.

I don't know that it's immediately clear that the orca was actually trying to kill her, or was acting more playfully and just got over-enthusiastic. When a guy that weighs over six tons gets some enthusiasm... bad stuff can happen. Don't know.

[BunnySlippers]

SeaWorld plainly says that BO ONE gets into the tank with Tikikum, the whale that killed two ... and now three.

The trainers DO get into the water with the other whales ... all of them. Except Tilikum.

[BunnySlippers]

Clearly you did not view the video or the still of her from two independent sources who show her up to her neck in the water.

SeaWorld says NO ONE never goes into the water with Tilikum who had killed two. This was their policy as he was too dangerous.

Watch the video, she was up to her neck in the water in the last seconds of the video.

[kcvl]

I guess you have never seen their workout and how physically fit they have to be. It’s not just getting in water with a ‘fish’. They do research also in order to keep the animals thriving even in the wild.

[gargoyle]

...It was 60 degres, warm in KY Sunday, a fly got in. Been hanging out in the office for a week. I know that adult flys only live 5-6 days. If you hold out a finger, they will climb on, and not fly off. I’ve done this, lots of times, and, I could skish it with my thumb or big toe. The point is, human is the reasoning animal, Orca is certainly intelligent, highly intelligent, but not reasoning, in its environment, it acts in ways humans should not get in the way. I think Shamu, or whatever its name is Peta-Orca, better get it a good lawyer, murder charges are soon to come, or a civil suit...

[kcvl]

HSWRI is dedicated to promoting scientific interest and understanding among young people and the community to ensure that the next generation of research pioneers will be competitive in the world of science and industry.

http://www.hswri.org/

Celebrating 40 Years of Scientific Discovery

In 1963 Milton C. Shedd, one of the visionary founders of SeaWorld in San Diego, met with world-renowned marine biologist Dr. Carl L. Hubbs. They had a clear vision of a unique scientific research organization that would be independent, highly productive, creative, technology-driven and results-oriented.

Together with other business, scientific and community leaders, they founded a vital new institution for marine research, the Mission Bay Research Foundation, which was renamed Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute in 1977. The Institute has built upon that foundation for four decades.

Chartered “to return to the sea some measure of the benefits derived from it,” the Institute has conducted innovative scientific research throughout the world to protect our living ocean resources, ocean-based economy and quality of life.

[Mad Dawgg]

"That's nonsense. The trainers routinely get into the water with the orcas. SeaWorld wouldn't deny anything of the sort. I think you're getting bad information."

The last time I was at one of the parks it was in Ohio (Now closed. My daughter was fascinated with sea life when she was younger and always wanted to go see the fish and the penguins.)

Every time we saw the Shamu show the trainers would get into the tank and hang onto the dorsal and even do a maneuver where they kinda stood on the nose of the critter while it pushed them around the pool and even jumped into the air. Like this: Click here for pic! (Pic too big to post directly)

Here is another bit of trainers with Orcas:

[Mad Dawgg]

"It’s not just getting in water with a ‘fish’. They do research also in order to keep the animals thriving even in the wild."

What science is done by performing tricks in an enclosed tank away from its natural habitat?

SeaWorld is a Theme Park, with "shows"...