Free Tilikum!

Welcome to my first blog.  I will usually blog about cutting edge medical discoveries that aren’t out yet, things like that.  But I am appalled at what has happened at Sea World and I must speak my mind. I invite you to do the same and join my discussion group.

The killing of the veteran trainer at Orlando Sea World two days ago was shocking and morbid, but not unexpected.  I have been against the keeping for these magnificent marine mammals, the Orca, in captivity for thirty years.  

I am 53 years old.  I lived in San Diego for most of my life, up until ten years ago, and I have not been to Sea World since the mid 1970’s.  This is because I do not believe that intelligent beings such as the Orca should be kept in a “bath tub” for their entire lives, just to generate billions for Sea World; another example of corruption and greed in America. 

CNBC here is another episode of “American Greed” for you.

First of all, I feel for the woman.  The whale was obviously mad and tired and sick of performing.  I do not believe that it was playing or done by accident.

The witnesses in the audience said the whale grabbed her by the waist while she was standing up, and shook her so hard her shoe flew off.  Then thrashed her around the tank until she was dead.  Can you imagine how hard you would have to be shaken to have your shoe come off?

But Sea World claims she was lying down next to the whale and her ponytail way floating in the water. The whale playfully grabbed her ponytail and accidentally killed her, while he was playing with her.

However, Georgia Robinson from the “Environment” website agrees with me.   I quote from the article she wrote yesterday. Here is the link to her article.  The quote is below the link.

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/whale-watch/killer-whales-deadly-attack-on-seaworld-trainer-20100225-p407.html

Witness Victoria Biniak told the station she saw the attack from a public viewing area and also said the whale's name was Tilikum, or Tilly for short.

"The trainer was explaining different things about the whale and then the trainer that was down there walked away from the window," Ms Biniak said.

"Then Tilly took off really fast in the tank and he came back, shot up in the air, grabbed the trainer by the waist and started thrashing [her] around.

"He was thrashing her around pretty good. It was violent."

Ms Biniak said the attack was violent enough for Ms Brancheau's shoe to fly off.

Brazilian tourist Joao Lucia De Costa Sobrinho and his girlfriend told the Sentinel they were at an underwater viewing area when they saw a whale with a person in its mouth.

Ms Blancheau was bleeding from the face or mouth and the whale turned her over and over as it swam, Mr Sobrinho said.

A SeaWorld spokeswoman told CNN the incident did not occur during a performance.

Now, my friends, we all know there was an audience present.  Is performing in front of an audience not a performance? 

What is this junk about him playfully grabbing her hair as she lay next to him.  The whole audience saw what happened.  He zoomed back and attacked, just like a killer whale.  

That whale had been in captivity for thirty years.  Orcas may not be smarter than man, but they are at least close. In the wild, they swim about 100 miles a day.  The animal was in hell.  He wanted out. No one would listen.  So he showed them.  Now Sea World is covering it up, trying to say he grabbed her hair in a playful manner.

They also want to start the Shamu show up again this weekend at all parks, and including Tilikum in the performances!

Is this not some of the worst greed you have ever heard of? 

They will not let the whale go, because he is worth billions in tickets, though Sea World says its because he can’t survive in the wild.  He has been dependent on man for too long. 

Excuse me, but, I am a biologist.  I know a few things about animals.  Tilikum is a Killer Whale.  What, they think he won’t be able to find something to eat if he’s free?  Give me a break.  Who is going to mess with him?  He is a killer whale that weighs 12,000 lbs and is 22 feet long. 

And if they let him go free, and he did die?  So what?  He would be happy.  He wants to be free. He killed a human trainer at Sea World and no one cares!  SeaWorld is covering it up, trying to make it look like and accident.  There are witnesses. How can they get away with this? 

God help us. 

I quote from Fox News Friday February 26, 2010.  This is the statement Sea World made to them.

“The killer whale that drowned a veteran trainer was just curious about her ponytail and dragged her into the water to investigate a new toy,” the former head of animal training at SeaWorld Orlando said Friday.

I welcome comments on this. Sea World should be shut down in my opinion.  They are lying and covering up a murder witnessed by an audience full of children, just so they won’t lose money on their whale show. 

Please help me understand why and when did this world turn so greedy?  Would you take your kids to Sea World now?

Free Tilikum in the name of God!!! 

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