I just saw an incredible clip of Jean-Michel Cousteau commenting on that tragedy at SeaWorld, and so want to share it below. In 2 minutes, he provides so much information and understanding of the situation, all intercut with video of orcas both free in the ocean, and captive in tanks. I have no words, but he thankfully sure has, some of which I’ve transcribed here.
Among his observations, he explains that, “Maybe we, as a species 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…all of our groundbreaking insights have been learned by diligently studying them in the wild, where we discovered they have languages, and relationships, and complex societies, just like us, like us. In captivity, orcas can’t even echolocate. They live in a world of sound, and confining them between walls, is like blindfolding a person. Putting them in a jail and expecting to learn something about them? We need to look at ourselves, and decide the time has come to view captivity of whales and dolphins, as a part of our history, not a tragic part of our future.”
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No one moved for a moment. And then just as slowly and smoothly as the ascent had been, he, or she, descended. I’ll never forget it. It was truly a magical moment. But it was just a moment. It was like a little hello; a little, “Oh, I’m sorry you didn’t get a chance to see me just then, did you want to? Here I am again. But I must go now.” It felt like though we lived such very separate lives, we got to share that one moment on the ocean that night. Thankfully, no tank for my friend.
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Sharon. I agree with you completely. We should all take part in defending these animals, some of which are still “caged” today.
Thank you both for commenting and making so many excellent points.
Sharon, you are so right that when an animal’s natural habitat is gone or nearly gone, perhaps zoos etc., if well run, offer the best hope to keep the species from extinction. If only we could stop more animals from joining that list by our hand.
Sam, thanks for joining our little community, and for providing that great quote from The Cove’s director. Sometimes it’s hard to face what is happening in our own countries. How can the seal hunt still go on in Canada for example? Certainly not the will of the majority here, just as I imagine the case will be in Japan once more know about that Cove. The shocked expressions of the Japanese interviewed on the street in that documentary, spoke volumes when they were informed of what was happening in their country.
I truly believe the more people that see what’s really happening to animals in captivity or even in the wild, the more who will want to see that treatment change. Awareness is not always easily found, especially when profits are concerned. Those running these facilities/industries have such a vested in interest in keeping control of those whales and dolphins et al. And in keeping the truth hidden, or at least very quiet.
FROM LAST NIGHT’S OSCAR CEREMONY:
Louie Psihoyos, who directed the Oscar-winning documentary The Cove, which exposed the senseless slaughter of dolphins in Taiji, Japan. Psihoyos mentioned that his film will finally be released theatrically in Japan next month. “Our hope is the Japanese people will see this film and decide for themselves whether animals should be used for meat and for entertainment,” Psihoyos said. “Watching a dolphin in captivity would be like learning about humanity only by watching prisoners in solitary confinement. If you take a captive animal out of the wild and you force him to do stupid tricks for our amusement, it says more about our intelligence than it does theirs.”
Thank you
Elizabeth,
Your post and Cousteau’s video reminded me of an incident that took place years ago at the Central Park Zoo in New York.
I was cutting through the Park and passed the Zoo and the lion’s cage. In those days it was a 10 or 12 foot cement cage with iron bars across the front. The lion was pacing back and forth rubbing his face on the iron bars. All the fur had been rubbed off his face and he was groaning/grunting continuously. Not only were these conditions cruel beyond belief but they certainly did NOTOHING to educate humans as to the real nature of the animal. This ‘display’ of the caged and abused lion could teach us absolutely nothing of the true nature of lions. Instead of giving us an appreciation and respect of lions, it showed us only a sick, crazed and undignified creature.
Since this time, zoo managements have become more enlightened. They no longer feel that they should have one of every animal to show people, but instead work to have captive breeding programs for endangered species. The enclosures are larger and the habitat as close to the natural as possible. Animals should still be in the wild, but where natural habitat is shrinking and/or dangerous, zoos offer some chance for species survival.
Aquariums and sea parks have not followed suit with the progressive zoos. Large fish/sea mammals need thousands of miles of habitat. This is simply not possible in captivity. To keep these wonderful creatures in confined spaces where they cannot even communicate is cruel and, like the old Central Park Zoo, teach us nothing about their true nature and abilities.
Thanks for the Cousteau post.
Sharon
Thank you