Jean-Michel Cousteau's Statement on Captive Orcas & the Trainer Killed at Sea World

Jean-Michel Cousteau comments on the tragedy on February 24th, 2010, when trainer Dawn Brancheau was dragged into the water and killed by Tilikum, an orca at Sea World's Orlando park. This is the third death associated with Tilikum while in captivity. The tragic death of the trainer suggests that maybe we have outgrown the need to keep such wild, enormous, complex, intelligent and free-ranging animals in captivity, where their behavior is not only unnatural, it can become pathological.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Cousteau
• orca
• Sea World
• captivity
• killed
• Tilikum
• killer
• whale
• Ocean
• Futures
• trainer
• wild

[FighterForPaula1]

Orcas and dolphins, just like many other captive animals, you will notice take part in a variety of behaviours that symbolize stress and boredom. These include: Chewing (some orcas' teeth are extremely worn down from chewing concrete and bars), bobbing (similar to swaying, a behaviour common in chained elephants in the circus), and sulking (MANY captive orcas do this, whereas in the wild, they would constantly be moving and never lay idle).

[Natheyja]

@mahjabeenadam I am quite similar to you, in the way I feel about orcas but please do not go see them in captivity, you'll only be disappointed. It's been a dream of mine for many many years to see an orca and last year it came true. Too bad it was way too far to recognize by sight (I had a video camera with me, I managed to zoom in) but still, I know, I've seen a pod of them. And it'll remain my dream to get to be close to them, but never would I ever step foot in places where they're captive.

[P1NKBLUSH]

Very important video with a great message.

These majestic animals need to be free.

[m1ndymayhem]

Just as Sea World lies about their animals being happy, living longer in captivity, and having flopped-over dorsal fins in nature, they originally claimed Dawn slipped into the water and drowned. This woman was practically scalped. Her arm was ripped off. Tilikum had to be lifted out of the water before he would even drop her body. You will never hear the truth from these scum. Their money for "conservation" goes to legal pressure, to be able to contuinue to steal wild animals.

[m1ndymayhem]

@orlandobabe, orcas are not hunted or eaten by humans. Granted, they are now full of PCBs in the wild, thanks to humans, but to say they're better off in chlorinated water in tanks under 40 feet deep where their sonar bounces off the concrete walls and drives them insane and are forced to do repetitive, boring tricks for an unnatural diet and are punished by isolation is insane. The only positive in Tilikum's life at this point is that captive orcas' lifespans are cut by more than half.

[TheVlogSister]

Saying that captivity is safer for these animals is like saying that jail is safer for a human being. Such bullshit!

[hwysuga]

Sea World is a sick business

If people wouldn't go to these cruel shows it would stop the murders

[orlandobabe]

I totally agree with Cousteau, I wish the whales and all animals in captivity were freed to be what they are suppose to be. But crap! If it were for those who destroyed their homes and habitates or kill them for food, or the pleasure of it or worst to make a bigger profit of them. It seems like captivity is a safe but unhappy home for them.

[LodgeyLfc]

im in! lets free the orcas!

[RingneckDoveFan]

I wonder how much he's getting paid to read that statement off a screen.

[winkwinkers799]

@cubanews Zoos aren't necessarily bad, I used to be against them but some people do care for the animals and although there will always be a zoo that treats their animals wrong we can't judge all zoos because of one bad one. Captivity programs attempt to bring back a species and integrate them back into their natural environment. Those programs are often found in zoos, so boycott sea world and six flags for making their animals perform, not zoos.

[savecetaceans]

Go to facebook page " London against cetacean slaughter" we're trying to get as many people and organisations together to make a stand. Put an end to captive whales and dolphins! Find out more by visiting our page. like it to keep up dated! - "London against cetacean slaughter"