Kill Willy?
On Friday, February 26, The San Diego Times announced:
“SeaWorld San Diego will resume its killer whale-based Believe show Saturday, just three days after a fatal incident at a sister park in Orlando Florida.”
The “fatal incident,” was the brutal killing of 40-year-old Dawn Brancheau by the largest killer whale in captivity, Tilikum, who already drowned one trainer in 1991. The incident on Sunday confirms that killer whales, particularly this one, are…killers.
Orlando Sea World is hinting:
“Killer whale shows at the theme park where a trainer was this week savaged to death are to resume from today. Bosses at SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida, have also vowed the whale involved in the tragedy will retain a key role its controversial Shamu Believe show.”
If Tilikum was a dog, he would be subject to Florida laws:
31602: “Vicious dog” means any of the following:
(b) Any dog which, when unprovoked, in an aggressive manner, inflicts severe injury on or kills a human being.
(c) Any dog previously determined to be and currently listed as a potentially dangerous dog which, after its owner or keeper has been notified of this determination, continues the behavior described in Section 31602 or is maintained in violation of section 31641, 31642, or 31643.
The law normally requires that a “vicious” domestic animal involved in another incident resulting in “severe injury or death,” be sent to the happy hunting grounds.
Tilikum is vicious, but not a dog. Thanks to his status as the most valuable performer in captivity, the only hunting ground he is going to see any time soon is his tank at Sea World where PETA and the deep pockets at the park’s headquarters will give him a chance to hunt down and probably kill his third victim.
Another reason Sea World isn’t about to euthanize their main attraction, is because adrenalin-junkie visitors willing to climb the tank towers and lean over the water, are not the only ones Tilikum is kissing:
“Breeding is the best way to build a collection of killer whales to draw in visitors at up to $78.95 apiece to sit in the splash zone. ‘No one is better at breeding killer whales than SeaWorld. Of the 20 calves born at SeaWorld parks, Tilikum has fathered 13.’ SeaWorld has only one other breeding male at the moment.”
Tragically, responsibility for the trainer’s death was primarily her own. After all, jumping in the water with killer whales, even the cute little ones, comes with obvious risks. Spectators don’t line up for a show featuring, “Guaranteed Benign Whales.” Being “killers” is part of their marketable charm and the trainers are the first to insist, “Even though they live with us, they are still wild.”
Killing a Killer Whale for killing is simply not logical. The rarity of death-by-killer-whale at Sea World Parks indicates the necessity for distinction between animals posing a general, instinctive threat, and those having demonstrated a propensity to live up to their name at the expense of the staff. Beyond the politics evoked by any whale, the Sacred Cow of the anti-human, Environmentalist Faith, Tilikum’s future can be addressed by simple common sense.
Two human beings have been killed by this whale, in the absence of what appears to be provocation. Somewhere in the midst of churning options including “Kill Willy,” “That animal jailer deserved to die!” and “One human life isn’t worth giving up the 2 Billion a year we make from this whale,” is the kind and logical solution. It’s time for Tilikum to retire. If he is too old to be safely released into the wild like the real star of “Free Willy,” surely PETA will raise funds for a tank where he will be happy siring offspring, and no more precious human life will be sacrificed to the entertainment business.
Of course, there is always Dave Letterman’s option:
SeaWorld had issued contradictory reports on the Whale murder… muddy waters are benefiting the owners of the Sea World…divide opinions, put out inconsistent information, confuse and thrive…just another day at the office Im afraid.
I am sure that SeaWorld has put bottom line before the well being of the whale, humans, trainers and anyone else who stood in the way of making profits.
The root of the problem is deeper Im afraid. I’ve written about it on my blog if anyone cares to comment …
http://dogandogs.com/serial-killer-whale-strikes-again-the-sea-wor
My understanding is that this whale has been involved in the deaths of three persons, two trainers and a trespasser to the SeaWorld facility.
Although the Florida law for dogs does not apply to this whale, it should. The principle involved is that human life is worth more than animal life. Shockingly, many don't recognize this.
The Biblical teaching is found where it is stated that if an ox gores a person, the ox is to be put to death. If the ox is not put to death and gores again, the ox and its owner are to be put to death. In other words, the owner is made fully responsible.
Our culture has been so affected by the religious/philosophy of naturalism that it no longer recognizes in man, the image of God. In our society human life has been devalued.
I couldn't have put it better. If these victims had been my family or friends, I cannot imagine the anger I'd feel to know that these people are still going to be making money from this animal. Nor could I stand the fact that audiences would actually still want to pay to see this creature that killed my loved ones.
The entire thing is horrific.
If Tilikum kills a baby seal all bets are off!
I should think being in a tank of killer whales is immeasurably safer than walking around some neighbourhoods at night. And if you equate the impracticability of protection to that of the police handing in their guns and taken off to Hawaii , I know which natural born instinct I would rather be at the mercy of. And this is despite their lifetime of moral instruction calling upon all the intellectual and spiritual resources of the human mind; and along with a plethora of instinct quashing sanctions too.
The use of ‘vicious’ and ‘without any provocation’ (let’s euthanize ‘live up to their name’) is to extend the cutesy anthropomorphism of showpool into a presentiment of the quality
of an avoidable action. Like us? Well if they were then a pool would be no more safer for innocents at large than that police abandoned neighbourhood .
Killing a human baby is covered and guaranteed as a right by law. In some of the insane circles in this country it is considered admirable and a sign of a woman's progress. To isolate,remove or destroy a whale that has killed 2 (trainers) and was involved in a killing(a tresspasser) with other whales is not even a consideration today. It makes you reconsider the definition of life and value. The intense anti-human, pro-Earth worship groups that see animals as a priority above humans, and the money that drives venues such as Sea World, have made the decision that animals and money trump the value of a human being.
We need to keep biological facts straight.
There is a vast difference between a domestic animal and a tame animal. Domestic animals have been bred to enhance genetic traits of docility. Tame animals are non-domestic (wild) animals that have not (yet) harmed a human. Tilikum and his offspring are not domestic animals, and it is doubtful his offspring have been bred for docility, especially considering the breeding after the 1991 attack.
The vicious dog laws exist to enforce correct breeding by culling dangerous animals, and most importantly to unsure that a dangerous animal that has learned wild behavior is not returned to having access to humans. Considering this, Tilikum should never be released to the wild. Also. his bloodline should be monitored for aggressive behavior; if any appears, that offspring should also be retired and removed from the breeding population.
These animals will likely never be domesticated – the gene pool is too small and the centuries ahead too many. We must above all stop impressing upon them our human ideals of acceptance and inclusion. They belong to the wild and not to us. No nine-year old girl should leave such a show thinking otherwise.
The woman knew what the whale had done before and she took the risk anyway. People die in air shows, horse races, football games, even golf. I agree that human life is more precious than animal life, but people take risks all the time. I am not interested in getting in a tank with a killer whale, but I riding horses is a joy of my life.
Dogs share our same environment, but only those who willingly get in the tank with the whale are at risk. The trespasser was there illegally, and suffered the consequences of his foolish action just as he might have had he jumped into a lion or gorilla enclosure.
And Sea World cannot make a dime from selling tickets unless the public continues to show up.
Why on earth don't they let the thing go? If Sea World is unwilling to do so, the animal must then be euthanised. The whale might not survive in the wild, but at least it would have its chance. It's pure idiocy to carry on status quo; it will inevitabley take another life. Cetaceans are highly intellegent mammals, and it is only to be expected that one or another will sooner or later fall prey to anger and violent behaviors as a result of having been confined to an area which to them must seem like a bathtub.
It's just dumb to expect huge wild predatory animals to always do as they're told.