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Should wild animals be held in captivity for human entertainment?
examiner ^ | February 26

Posted on 02/27/2010 9:14:01 AM PST by JoeProBono

This was a question asked of the CNN audience by Wolf Blitzer Thursday afternoon--the day after an experienced trainer, 40 year old Dawn Brancheau, was killed in a tragic accident by an orca whale at the Orlando SeaWorld Park.

The response to the polling question, “should animals be used for human entertainment”--was answered predominately “no.”

One person wrote of how he was mesmerized by a show at the aquarium, when he was a small boy. Then later, as an adult, he saw a similar show, with dolphins and whales and he felt physically ill for the animals and the life they were forced to live.

Another e-mail respondent told his account of a homeless man, who managed to get into the polar bear enclosure in his home town zoo. The bear mauled him to death. Afterward, the police shot the bear, who was innocently minding his own business and did not ask for a strange man to inter his domain.

One lady said SeaWorld was all about money and greed. The aquarium owners were trying to say that having whales in captivity was all about research. She once saw a trainer surfboarding on a whale’s back and said it didn’t look like research to her. She felt sorry for the family of the trainer, but felt sorrier for the whale.

The fact is SeaWorld and other aquariums and theme parks build their entire brand around the performance of whales, dolphins, and other aquatic life. If they lose their performers, they lose their revenue.

Similarly, the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas built their entire brand around the magicians, Siegfried and Roy, and their Royal white tigers. Unfortunately, in the fall of 2003, in one of the most widely publicized performing animal attacks, a white tiger bit Roy Horn during their show.

Evidently, the tiger named Montecore, had been distracted by a woman in the front row of the audience and bit Roy’s arm, when he moved between the two. Roy shouted “release, release” and hit the tiger on the nose with his microphone. But when Roy was released, he tripped over the cat’s paw and fell. Stage hands further confused the cat, when they rushed the stage to intervene. Suddenly, Montecore picked Roy up by the neck, much like a cat would pick up its kitten, and hauled him back stage. Fire extinguishers had to be used to separate the two.

Horn was rushed to the hospital, where he underwent surgery on his head. Later, he spent many months recuperating from his injuries and a stroke he had suffered during the ordeal.....


TOPICS: Music/Entertainment; Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: captivity; dawnbrancheau; seaworld; shamu
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To: JoeProBono
Then later, as an adult, he saw a similar show, with dolphins and whales and he felt physically ill for the animals and the life they were forced to live.

To a liberal, only people should be owned by the collective powers and be forced to live as slaves - animals should roam free. To confuse these two makes them ill.

41 posted on 02/27/2010 9:54:12 AM PST by Talisker (When you find a turtle on top of a fence post, you can be damn sure it didn't get there on it's own.)
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To: MrEdd

You’re just one more internet blowhard with aome kind of delusion of authority. I never had any intention of debating you or anyone else. I stated my opinion and really don’t care what yours is.

Now go lay down till you find someone who thinks you’re as important as you do and maybe “I’ll let you off”. LOL


42 posted on 02/27/2010 9:54:42 AM PST by cripplecreek (Remember the River Raisin!)
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To: JoeProBono

What is lost on those that make this claim is that these animals wouldn’t even be alive if not for inclusion in a zoo.

Life is ruff in the wild. At least these animals get a place to sleep and 3 meals a day (g).


43 posted on 02/27/2010 9:56:42 AM PST by Diggity
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To: 1raider1

44 posted on 02/27/2010 9:58:07 AM PST by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)
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To: cubreporter
The whale that killed the trainer to me is innocent. If he saw her pony tail and it was moving...perhaps he was just acting on instinct and reached up for it. How does a whale know a human cannot breathe under water without drowning?

I think this was clearly an accident. Orca teeth are 5-7 inches long, and sharp. No way the water wouldn't be red if the whale had used his mouth. Trainer probably got her pony tail tangled in something, the whale would hardly have noticed.

Of course, the first postings on here claimed the whale had eaten the trainer...

45 posted on 02/27/2010 9:58:14 AM PST by Hardraade
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To: cripplecreek

Authority?

No.

But this is a consevative site, and I will oppose anyone trying to peddle environmentalist/green ideology here. Especially if they can’t even defend the tripe they post intellectually.

If you don’t want to be challenged by conservatives, it is incumbant on you to not post touchy feely liberal pap on a conservative forum.

You got busted.


46 posted on 02/27/2010 10:05:26 AM PST by MrEdd (Heck? Geewhiz Cripes, thats the place where people who don't believe in Gosh think they aint going.)
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To: Hardraade

I think it was an accident as well. I know the Trainer would not want to punish the whale in any way, shape or form. We must always remember first and foremost that animals/mammals etc..are still WILD. I think they can turn on a dime if something sparks them in some way. They can also be playful to the point of dangerous but...THEY DON’T REALIZE THAT. That’s the thing people need to keep in mind. Look at the lion tamers in Las Vegas. My heart goes out to the family of the Trainer. She was one of the best from what we understand. My heart also goes out to the whale but...his oblivion to what actually happened is proof he has no clue what he did was tragic.


47 posted on 02/27/2010 10:06:26 AM PST by cubreporter (Scott Brown turned it all around. The people CAN and DID make a difference!!!)
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To: JoeProBono
Should animals be held for human entertainment? Only if they are Democrats.
48 posted on 02/27/2010 10:13:53 AM PST by mountainlion (concerned conservative.)
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To: JoeProBono

Just whales.


49 posted on 02/27/2010 10:20:18 AM PST by xone
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To: aumrl

Dogs are companion animals. I don’t think whales are good lap fish. The woman’s family seemed to set the tone for sympathy toward her by saying that she would not have wanted the whale killed.


50 posted on 02/27/2010 10:31:01 AM PST by Bronzy
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To: cripplecreek

No...let the ones in captivity die froom ntuaral causes and stop after that. I know it will never happen but that’s what I wish we’d do.


51 posted on 02/27/2010 10:45:19 AM PST by toddausauras
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To: JoeProBono

“Should wild animals be kept for human entertainment?”

Yes. Wild animals are dangerous, “tame” animals big enough to kill or maim are still dangersous. Good object lesson here.

My question: Should whales (Killer) which feed on wild salmon be thinned out?

My answer: Yes

My second question: Should whales (Humpback) which feed on tons of baitfish be thinned out so the competing species (wild salmon) have more of their natural food source available?

My answer: Yes

Are we here to serve the animals or are they here to serve us? (Bonus question)

Second bonus question: Should we stop drilling, farming, mining, logging etc... because a of spotted owl or toad?

Hell no! Do you get my drift?....

Great thread. Thanks.


52 posted on 02/27/2010 11:02:37 AM PST by gettinolder (Smashed lips save ships.)
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To: JoeProBono

Anyone can see the problem right there! The cat is looking at those outfits and wondering if they used to be on a relative. Plus the bad tailoring.


53 posted on 02/27/2010 12:28:38 PM PST by count-your-change (You don't have be brilliant, not being stupid is enough.)
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