Blackfish

[scooter1369]

Documentary about SeaWorld and the treatment of the Orcas in captivity.

Blackfish Movie

 

[scarletmike]

There's a whole lot of inaccuracies in the movie, and it is extremely one-sided. If they had made it about Marineland (Niagara Falls) or any of the other animal parks that don't have top-notch facilities, care, and rescue programs it wouldn't be so bad.

 

[Muck]

I haven't seen the documentary yet, but I've read some of the feedback. Mike's reaction is pretty typical from those who are close to the subject...well except for the PETA types of course.

When I lived in SoCal and did a lot of diving, two of the naturalists from Sea World were in the group I dived with. They were both extremely bright and clearly cared about the animals they worked with. I don't believe for a second that either would abuse or torture the cetaceans in their care.

On the other hand the first time I visited Sea World San Diego I was watching porpoises in a public 'petting' pool and trying to figure out why their backs were criss-crossed with long scars...I looked up to see a number of steel cables 10-15' in the air creating a web over the tank .

So it's certainly not always a black & white issue.

 

[scarletmike]

I haven't seen the documentary yet, but I've read some of the feedback. Mike's reaction is pretty typical from those who are close to the subject...well except for the PETA types of course.

When I lived in SoCal and did a lot of diving, two of the naturalists from Sea World were in the group I dived with. They were both extremely bright and clearly cared about the animals they worked with. I don't believe for a second that either would abuse or torture the cetaceans in their care.

On the other hand the first time I visited Sea World San Diego I was watching porpoises in a public 'petting' pool and trying to figure out why their backs were criss-crossed with long scars...I looked up to see a number of steel cables 10-15' in the air creating a web over the tank .

So it's certainly not always a black & white issue.

I'm not nearly as familiar with San Diego's history as I am with Orlando (and Ohio's), but the dolphins in those pools never typically jump that high (I don't think the ones in the show do either). Dolphins and other porpoises also use their teeth to communicate, and 99% of the scarring you see on their bodies are from scratching each other to "talk," unless they're rescues, in which case they may be from other causes.

As far as orcas go (since they're the focus of the documentary), I'm not aware of the kind of aggression they show towards each other in captivity as opposed to what there is in the wild, but if it were true and serious, I would certainly believe from what I know that SeaWorld would be actively trying to figure out the behavioral triggers and solutions. I'd also consider the most knowledgeable people about orcas to generally be at or have ties to SeaWorld, so there's that as well.

 

[MaliBuckeye]

 

[AKAK]

Orca, Bean, Jalapeno Chile, and Yellow Rice Soup









Wait a minute!

 

[Muck]

I'm not nearly as familiar with San Diego's history as I am with Orlando (and Ohio's), but the dolphins in those pools never typically jump that high (I don't think the ones in the show do either). Dolphins and other porpoises also use their teeth to communicate, and 99% of the scarring you see on their bodies are from scratching each other to "talk," unless they're rescues, in which case they may be from other causes..

I very well could be misremembering the exact height of the wires, I just recall that I didn't notice them at first. The scars on the back of the porpoises (I don't recall the exact species eitehr) were straight lines 1-2' long and the width was a perfect match for the cables. They were definitely different than the scarring I've seen on other animals in captivity or when diving.

YouTube to the rescue. The uploader states this video was made in '84. The steel poles & cables do not appear to have been installed yet. I was there in 91.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RfV0n0C01k"]Dolphin Petting Tank - SeaWorld San Diego 1984 - YouTube[/ame]

Apparently they were dolphins not porpoises (maybe I just got that stuck in my head because they were a smaller species? I don't recall the exact shape of their rostrum).

Looking at the current attractions, the pool is long gone and the current setups to interact with dolphins are more controlled & supervised.

 

[scarletmike]

Interesting...like I said, I don't know San Diego as well as Orlando. I know a few people who might know a bit more about that though, so I'll have to see if I can find out.

 

[AKAK]

I don't recall the exact shape of their rostrum.

That's what they all say.