Hot Topic (2/28) Should Animals be kept in Captivity?

[Cafe GroupAdmin]

Dawn Brancheau was killed when the park's largest orca, Tillikum, dragged her underwater on Wednesday (Reuters)

 

By Angela Beswick

Calls for an end to the captivity of whales have been reignited following the death of an orca trainer at a SeaWorld water park in Florida Wednesday.

A spokesman for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has labelled the death of a whale-trainer at Shamu Stadium a "tragedy that didn't have to happen".

Dawn Brancheau, 40, was playing with the park's largest male orca Tillikum, in knee-deep water, when he grabbed her by her ponytail and pulled her underwater around 2pm yesterday.

Trainers had to coax the 29-year-old orca, understood to have an "aggressive nature", into a smaller pool and use a platform to lift him out of the water before they could free Ms Brancheau from his jaws.

An autopsy today determined the probable cause of Ms Brancheau's death was multiple traumatic injuries and drowning.

The incident has raised questions regarding the confinement of oceangoing mammals, and sparked outrage amongst those who label their captivity "unethical".

PETA spokesman Jaime Zalac said the tragic accident was one that could have so easily been avoided.

The organisation had called on SeaWorld to stop confining whales to an area that, to them, "is like the size of a bathtub", she said.

"Plus we have been asking the park to stop forcing the animals to perform silly tricks over and over again."

The organization has launched a campaign 'Help Animals Imprisoned by SeaWorld', asking supporters to write to the park's owners and urge them to release the mammals to sancturies that can provide them an environment that is more natural to them.

Should Orcas (Killer Whales) be kept in captivity?

What about other animals kept in zoo's, for our pleasure?

Or Circus animals? What are your thoughts?

[home-sweet-home]

I was always under the impression that Sea World got injured animals and tried to release them back into the wild, but if that was not possible they kept them. I know when they do their shows they speak about trying to educate the public so they will try and protect them.

 

[EireLass]

I think keeping animals in captivity for learning/science reasons are good. Entertainment? Well....where do you draw the line? How do you say not the whales, but let's keep the ones in the petting zoo? What about people that purposely breed hybrid wolves to create pets? Then where do you draw the line? 

My thought on the recent "serial killer whale" is that they should just set him free. If he assimilates back to the wild, great, if he dies, he'll feed the other species for months.....just as in normal nature. If it were your dog that bit/maimed someone, wouldn't the authorities come and demand euthanisia? Well, as long as they can make money off him, the show must go on. This is like a legal M. Vick story. Sad and sick. 

[margroc]

Should Orcas (Killer Whales) be kept in captivity? NO

What about other animals kept in zoo's, for our pleasure? NO

Or Circus animals? What are your thoughts? NO

I don't agree with wild animals being used as entertainment.  If you want to see a whale - take your vacation in a place where you can see them in their natural habitat.  If you can't afford to do so then too bad. I used to get criticism from others when my son was small because I refused to take him to marineland.  He's seen whales in their natural environment since then and he's seen wild animals in their natural habitat in Africa - he gets what I trying to teach him all those years ago.  IMO animals were not put on earth for our amusement. 

[freckled-Sandy]

I know a lot of ppl have a major soft spot for animals.  I love animals and believe in good "stewardship" but I don't have a problem with captivity.  As long as they have enough room to move about and are given some activity so they are given mental stimulation... I think they allow us to learn about the different creatures that live on earth with us.  If the Shamu's and the Flippers hadn't  been in captivity, then ppl wouldn't have grown a fondness for them and all those dolphins caught in tuna nets wouldn't have had any sympathetic hearts willing to stand up to the big tuna companies.  We have a responsibility to properly care for these orcas but I don't think there is any doubt about that.  I've been to SeaWorld and learned about all the stuff they do with the Killer Whales and dolphins and such.  They take very good care of them.  They have to.  They are constantly in the public eye.  The Killer whale has an aggression issue.  It's not a domesticated animal.  It hasn't had aggression bred out of it.  So they either put it down and learn to be more careful...or make sure no one is directly in contact with the animal, difficult if you need to treat it medically.  

[PrdMilWife]

I have been to the zoo, and Sea World. I love animals. I think that Sea world is becoming an abomination. They charge 200 dollars an hour to let you swim with the dolphins. I did some research two years ago for a trip we were going to take to SanDiego. I think it's sick that they use these animals to make money like this .