BLACKFISH

[JPatton]

As BLACKFISH aired on CNN last week I thought, "What's going to happen when visitors to SeaWorld turn on their television sets back at the hotel and see---BLACKFISH?"

Today I found the following review of SeaWorld Orlando on TripAdvisor. It was written by a visitor from London. Here is the review in its entirety with no editing from me:

"We were so looking forward to coming here - my two teens loved the Manta and the Kraken, so make sure you do those if you are brave enough. There wasn't a whole load of other things that grabbed their attention, unlike some of the other attractions we visited.

We went along to the show with the orcas and it wasn't what I had expected - no trainers in the pool with them and certainly not the extravaganza I had imagined. And then I saw the CNN documentary Blackfish, purely by chance a couple of days later back at the hotel. It was having its first airing while we were staying in Orlando.

I realised why there were no trainers in the pool and consider the space these amazing creatures had at their disposal. In fact the whole family were glued to this truly shocking documentary, which we agreed that, if we had seen it beforehand, we would not have gone to the show. Plus, for me, it raised many other questions about the treatment not only of the orcas but also of the trainers. It was really thought-provoking. I wouldn't dream of going to a circus in this day and age and in the UK they are banned - and yet I took the whole family to be 'entertained' by captive animals. Never again.But make your own minds up."

 

[JPatton]

My only opinion that changed after watching it is having trainers in the water.

And...that's it? No other improvements will come to mind?

BLACKFISH will be broadcast again on CNN tonight Nov 3:

11PM ET (8PM PT)
2AM ET (11PM PT)

 

[wm49rs]

And...that's it? No other improvements will come to mind?

BLACKFISH will be broadcast again on CNN tonight Nov 3:

11PM ET (8PM PT)
2AM ET (11PM PT)

Think you've made your point....

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Think you've made your point....

And the turnstiles keep spinning at Sea World. He/she needs better tactics than spamming this board to further the cause.

 

[OFTeric]

I agree at this point JPatton it feels like you are being paid to promote BlackFish on CNN

 

[The Empress Lilly]

This thread is called 'Blackfish'. One can hardly be accused of spamming for discussing Blackfish in it. In fact, I think one will find that all 127 posts in this thread discuss Blackfish.

And the accusationts of plants throughout this board are daft and tiresome.



Anyway, I found Blackfish not merely thought-provoking, but also an eminently watchable documentary. Chilling at times. Highly recommended.



This footage was acquired by the documentary makers through FOIA, the Freedom Of Information Act, because it had been in used in court in a lawsuit against SEA. Tough luck for SEA, and hurrah for freedom of information!

 

[The Empress Lilly]

I found the following review of SeaWorld Orlando on TripAdvisor. It was written by a visitor from London.

[...]

I wouldn't dream of going to a circus in this day and age and in the UK they are banned - and yet I took the whole family to be 'entertained' by captive animals. Never again. But make your own minds up."

If I can just isolate this quote. Yes, orca shows are frowned upon in many countries, just as much as bear dancing or lions jumping through burning hoops in the circus.

In fact, in the entire world there are only 45 captive orcas, the majority owned by Sea World, with a few more on display in 'let's kill more whales' Japan and the bull fighting territories of Spain and southern France. The rest of the world doesn't participate in this activity. In fact, in Europe it is commonly considered a violation of the ban to hold orcas other than for scientific or educational purposes.

 

[luv]

There was a commentary from a Sea World employee in the Sentinel last Sunday. Basically said that Blackfish was not only biased, but also broke all rules of Journalism. Also said that he thought Dawn Brancheau (sp?) was a sweet person and that he doesn't appreciate people using her death to make money for themselves.

 

[BuddyThomas]

I watched the movie bc I love Sea World - and it's definitely bias. My only opinion that changed after watching it is having trainers in the water. Yes the incidents are few compared to all of the interactions but it's still scary. I guess it's a decision for the trainers to get in the water (when they are allowed) and I know that they are trying to improve safety. I guess it's all up to the individuals if they decide to get into the water.

So let me get this straight. One person drowns in a Disney resort pool after hours and immediately, after hours swimming is banned and Disney is going to put up locked gates to prevent guests from swimming after hours.

Sea Workd trainers have been attacked and/or killed multiple times by the Orcas, and it's just ------ back in the water!!!! Just up to the individuals if they decide to get in the water. Sea World takes no responsibility for this irresponsible decision?

 

[lazyboy97o]

So let me get this straight. One person drowns in a Disney resort pool after hours and immediately, after hours swimming is banned and Disney is going to put up locked gates to prevent guests from swimming after hours.

Sea Workd trainers have been attacked and/or killed multiple times by the Orcas, and it's just ------ back in the water!!!! Just up to the individuals if they decide to get in the water. Sea World takes no responsibility for this irresponsible decision?

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and the Sailing Ship Columbia are both still open. The Interstates, which just today were involved in several deaths, are also open. And excepting very rare instances, the debris will be cleaned up and things will be just as they were as though nothing ever happened.

 

[BuddyThomas]

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and the Sailing Ship Columbia are both still open. The Interstates, which just today were involved in several deaths, are also open. And excepting very rare instances, the debris will be cleaned up and things will be just as they were as though nothing ever happened.

Yes, those are all facts. But I am not entirely sure what you are suggesting. Are you saying, just dump the trainers back in the pool with the orcas, and every time one gets injured or killed, just drain the blood out of the pool and party on?

 

[lazyboy97o]

Yes, those are all facts. But I am not entirely sure what you are suggesting. Are you saying, just dump the trainers back in the pool with the orcas, and every time one gets injured or killed, just drain the blood out of the pool and party on?

The very cold reality of life is that people die and we are willing to accept many deaths even for our own convenience. If we stopped doing every activity in which there was a death we would be doing very little. Being a trainer at SeaWorld does not seem to be something that one does out of desperation and if they are willing to enter the water that is a choice I am comfortable to leave to them. How many orca attacks have their been at SeaWorld Orlando? How many at all of the SeaWorld parks? Just doing a quick look at Wikipedia and I only see the two involving Tilikum, the first of which I really do not count.

 

[BuddyThomas]

However many there have been is more than have been recorded in the wild. That number is ZERO.

And again, I'm confused as to what you are suggesting. We know these whales have killed or injured trainers in the past but what the hell. If the trainers are young and invincible just let them jump back in with gigantic "killer" whales and whatever happens, happens.

People have to drive on highways to get to work. People do not have to swim with killer whales.

 

[lazyboy97o]

However many there have been is more than have been recorded in the wild. That number is ZERO.

And again, I'm confused as to what you are suggesting. We know these whales have killed or injured trainers in the past but what the hell. If the trainers are young and invincible just let them jump back in with gigantic "killer" whales and whatever happens, happens.

People have to drive on highways to get to work. People do not have to swim with killer whales.

We don't have to drive at high speeds on the highways, but collectively we have decided that that convenience is worth the death and injuries that accrue as part of the process. We also don't have to have workers only close part of these highways and risk their lives maintaining them. The number of safe swims seem to rather greatly outnumber the actual number of deaths and I have no problem letting those involved make that decision for themselves. We let people jump into the ocean with sharks, why can we not let the people involved decide for themselves? Why don't we stop other people from engaging in other, more dangerous, professions?

And as I said at the start of the other thread, I think Hans Kretschmer would dispute the "ZERO" claim. But why let him get in the way of a more dramatic statement?

 

[Freshee61]

Yes, those are all facts. But I am not entirely sure what you are suggesting. Are you saying, just dump the trainers back in the pool with the orcas, and every time one gets injured or killed, just drain the blood out of the pool and party on?

Yes exactly! Everyone wants to see the trainers back in the pool and I bet the trainers can't wait either!

 

[BuddyThomas]

Yes exactly! Everyone wants to see the trainers back in the pool and I bet trainers can't wait!

I have to stop visiting thus thread. Every time I do so, I want to yank my own eyeballs out of my head to avoid seeing more ostriches with their heads in the sand, avoiding facts. I'm done. Buh-bye.

 

[Freshee61]

There was a commentary from a Sea World employee in the Sentinel last Sunday. Basically said that Blackfish was not only biased, but also broke all rules of Journalism. Also said that he thought Dawn Brancheau (sp?) was a sweet person and that he doesn't appreciate people using her death to make money for themselves.

This is by far the BEST post in this thread.
Thanks for sharing!

 

[BuddyThomas]

Sorry, I know I said I've had it with this thread and would not come back because it makes me too angry.

But I just want to mention that Blackfish is on this week's Entertainment Weekly "Must List". At #4 (out of 10).

Just watch it. And then form your own opinion.

Don't be proud of yourself for deciding not to watch it because you are such a fan of Sea World.

Documentaries are often one sided, but the footage in this film does not lie.



P

 

[danpam1024]

I love Sea World- for their commitment to the care and rehabilitation of animals in the wild and for the education and understanding of marine life. HOWEVER- what more can be "learned" from keeping ANY cetaceans in captivity? Not one thing-nada. Especially from the aspect of studying behavior, communication etc. That only happens in the wild; where they belong. The best we can hope for, in my opinion, is the discontinuation of captive breeding programs of animals that have no business being captive. How can you possibly replicate a habitat that stretches hundreds of miles in a tank? The animals they have now should be cared for until they pass- not made to perform like circus freaks. What has happened to Tili is as disgusting as it is heartbreaking.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

Blackfish goes global. The BBC to broadcast the documentary this Thursday, nine o'clock.

Blackfish - The Whale that Killed

2013-2014

DURATION: 1 HOUR, 20 MINUTES

Documentary which unravels the story of notorious performing whale Tilikum, who - unlike any orca in the wild - has taken the lives of several people while in captivity. So what exactly went wrong?

Shocking, never-before-seen footage and interviews with trainers and experts manifest the orca's extraordinary nature, the species' cruel treatment in captivity over the last four decades and the growing disillusionment of workers who were misled and endangered by the highly profitable sea-park industry.

This emotionally-wrenching, tautly-structured story challenges us to consider our relationship to nature and reveals how little we humans have learned from these highly intelligent and enormously sentient fellow mammals.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03j49l6
​