Causes Of Tilikum Behavior

There has been many other cases that has been ignored before even Tilikum has killed people in Seaworld that they have completely twisted and made up lies to cover up the fact Orcas shouldn't be tamed and put in large pools. For example, November 23, 1987 trainer John had an Orca jump on top of him causing many injuries and another attack in November 29, 2006.

The book has three parts, the last part focuses on how SeaWorld management could not hide their dark side anymore. After Tilikum killed trainer Dawn Brancheau, everything changed. The captivity debate increased exponentially and questions aroused as to why an intelligent orca would commit this act. Although originally SeaWorld said that Brancheau slipped and fell into the pool, there were witnesses that told the media the truth. Tilikum grabbed Brancheau while she was laying on the surface about ten inches away and began to ram her head against the pool and dragged her to the bottom. After thirty minutes, Tilikum was captured with parts of Brancheau’s body in his mouth. Researches began to look up previous cases where Tilikum has attacked, and they did not make sense to Brancheau’s case because of how long she has worked with Tilikum. This book supports my thesis because it begins the journey to orcas being completely free. Although it may contain similar information to my former source Blackfish, this book goes into more depth as to why the animal captivity investigation

The rhetorical situation of the documentary is presented by director and writer Gabriela Cowperthwaite when she brings to light the history of Seaworld and it’s famous orca, Tilikum by recruiting former trainers and whale experts. The context of the film is explained when it dives into the orca attacks, the most recent victim being Dawn Brancheau who was killed by Tilikum in 2010. The principle aim to this documentary is that orcas should not be held in captivity because it is detrimental to their mind citing past incidents throughout Tilikum’s life. I found this “text” to be effective because it highlights the developed brain of an orca, former incidents with Tilikum, and consistent concealment of blame from

The reason that Tilikum started to attack the trainers is because he became frustrated because he has been in a 30 feet tub his whole life. If he was to be free and swim in the ocean everyday with his family, he wouldn’t be so frustrated because he is locked up his whole life. It all started back in sea land when he was first captured and taken to a huge pool but not big enough for a whale to live in. Tilikum would be locked up for eight plus hours a night in a metal tub. Being stated in the document “The issue was really that we store these whales at night in what we call a modular which was 20 feet across and probably 30 feet deep, as a safety precaution because were worried about people cutting the net and letting them go, and the lights were all turned out. So, literally no stimulation they're just in this dark metal 20 foot by 30-foot pool for two thirds of their life.” Also another probably was that when they got in trouble or didn’t do what the trainer wanted them to do, then the whales wouldn’t get the fish or get feed. Which would make the whales angary and start to attack people because they weren’t getting feed like they were spouse to. By giving them the fish the trainer at Sea world are tricking the Whales into doing things so that they would get a treat, being said in the Film,” At the time I think I could have convinced myself that the relationships that we have were built on something stronger than the fact that I'm giving them fish, you know, I like to think that but I don't know if that's the truth. I had been there awhile and I'd seen a few other things along the way that made me question why I was there and what we were doing with these

Since SeaWorld opened in 1964, the park has encountered harsh criticism from the public. Whether criticized for their ethics or their oblivious harm to animals, the underwater amusement park raises many ethical questions regarding the captivity of sea animals, especially orcas. Most people are uninformed about orcas to begin with, so they do not understand why SeaWorld is such a terrible place. SeaWorld exploits animals in their shows to bring revenue to their company, while disregarding the physical and mental health of the animals. Today, people have begun to see the reasons why SeaWorld should close. SeaWorld should close their doors due to their record of unhealthy orcas, their aggressive killer whale, Tilikum, and their dishonesty to the public.

On May 30th of 2012, judge Ken Welsch issued a ruling on OSHA vs. SeaWorld: During the shows, SeaWorld trainers must now remain behind barriers, separated from the orcas. The ruling on this case is necessary to keep trainers, audiences and as well as the orca safe. In the documentary “Blackfish” clarifies the incidents of SeaWorld, specifically with Tilikum a male orca, utilizing various rhetorical devices. The documentary declares the intelligence orcas have, the controversy with keeping them in captivity and how poorly informed the trainers are of previous incidents.

These sources include, former seaworld trainers and directors, were they revealed the horror that would occur within seaworld but would not be discussed with the public. Many of the incidences were not even being discussed with the trainers, seaworld kept their staff in the dark. She even interviewed the former director of seaworld, Steve Huxter, were he implies that some of the orcas were being deprived of food just because they wouldn't do a simple behavior right. “ When he was first introduced… previous head trainer would use techniques that would involve punishment, he would team up Tilikum… to do the same behaviors and if Tilikum would mess up or not do them then both orcas would be punished and not get food. The other orca would get mad and bite Tilikum”, said Huxter. Nevertheless, these sources helped boost Cowperthwaite credibility by showing that she has done her homework and has provided facts and statistics, as well as expert opinions to support her

The filmmakers of Blackfish carry out their argument throughout the movie with the warrant that the general public is unaware Of the happenings behind the scenes of SeaWorld shows, with regard to the treatment of the orcas. He utilizes interviews with X trainers, and a very powerful interview by John Crowe, a man who previously caught whales for SeaWorld, on the “torturing’’ Accounts of stealing orcas from the families in the ocean. The sale also assumes that the public would not agree or endure such treatment of these wild animals after learning the truth. Black fish highlight emphasizes it's emotional and reasoning appeal with the effort to make Seaworld suffer and financial downfall, hoping it will make them change in their practice. Their directors do not allow for much room and fallacies or exceptions to their claims, but during one of the interviews in the movie, it is mentioned that the specific attack by Tilikum to Dawn Brancheau could have been a result of a training error that could have upset the

SeaWorld opened in 1964 along the Mission Bay in San Diego, stretching a total of 21 acres. When they first started, their park only had 45 employees, a few dolphins, sea lions, and two saltwater aquariums. Today, several parks are spread out throughout the southern United States in California, Florida, and Texas. SeaWorld provides various shows every day with special perks for high paying guests, such as swimming with dolphins and other sea dwellers. A majority of their shows include orcas, otherwise known as killer whales. Recently, these majestic beasts have been living up to those names, attacking, mauling, and fatally injuring the parks own trainers. Blackfish, a documentary released in 2013, gets up close and personal with these stories of attack, to bring us countless reasons why orcas, and other marine life, should be left to live in their natural habitats, instead of in the concrete cells they rot in now. Orca pods are part of a matriarchal society, the females are more dominant and this can cause disputes between the alphas. When orcas are confined to a small space, these fights can get out of hand, disallowing the least dominant one to run, resulting in injury and death to the whales. Over the past 35 years there have been four deaths and countless injuries, and each time SeaWorld has placed the blame upon the trainers, explaining they hadn 't completed basic safety procedures. Orcas should not be kept in captivity for many reasons. Firstly, they are

The two older and female orcas started getting frustrated with Tilikum, all of them were put in a cement tank that could barely fit a human let alone three orcas at night because the owner of sea land was scared someone would cut the net and set them free at night. Haida and Nootka started bullying Tilikum out of frustration and sometimes in the morning Tilikum came out of the tank bleeding from scratch

When the infamous orca whale Tilikum attacked and killed trainer Dawn Brancheau in 2010, the issue of whales in captivity was pushed into the limelight. Three years later, the film ‘Blackfish’ was released, which focuses on the mistreatment captive whales face and served as a catalyst for protests and boycotts of Seaworld by animal activists. Now, in 2016, Seaworld has announced the orcas they have now will be the last generation at their parks. Seaworld’s CEO has also met with the Humane Society president to come to an agreement; Seaworld would “[end] captive breeding, [phase] out circus-like killer whale shows, and [serve] sustainable seafood and other humanely raised meat” and “pledge $50 million to causes including the abolition of commercial

Orcas are forced to live in tight quarters together; they have nowhere to escape conflict. This results in anxiety and tension leading to fights between orcas and their trainers. For example, in February 2010, Dawn Brancheau was pulled underwater and killed by a killer whale named Tilikum. “The 40-year-old trainer was at ease with the killer whale and had just petted him on the nose” (ABC News 2010). Orcas have social rules that prohibit violence against one another, if a fight were to occur, they can find the space to flee. Unfortunately for Dawn, Tilikum didn’t have the space he needed and lashed out. Also, injuries caused by their “family” only occur in captivity; fights rarely occur in their natural environment. Although orcas naturally eat seals, penguins, and squids, these animals only become “killer” whales in captivity. Can you blame these amazingly intelligent and emotional creatures for being frustrated with their confinement?

Since 1961, 157 orcas, or killer whales, have been ripped from their homes and shoved into captivity. 127 of these orcas are now dead. With the number of captured orcas plus the number of those born into captivity, The W.D.C. (Whale and Dolphin Conservation) reports that, “At least 162 orcas have died in captivity, not including 30 miscarried or stillborn calves” ( “The Fate”1). Out of the 127 taken into captivity, 44 have died in SeaWorld. There are currently 58 orcas residing in 14 marine parks in eight different countries. 24 of those orcas are held in SeaWorld’s three parks in the United States. Since 2002, 14 have been taken out of the wild and put into these marine parks. (“The Fate”1) It is not fair for these innocent creatures to be physically and mentally manipulated and damaged. Such brutality would not be condoned if it were targeted towards a human, and it should not be condoned when targeted toward an animal. Orca whales should not be held in captivity because they are forced to live in subpar conditions, they are mistreated while in captivity, and they are led to aggressive behavior.

At a young age, Tilikum was captured and made to perform for a park known as SeaLand; however, in the custody of the park Tilikum was kept with larger whales where they abused him along with park employees. Due to the abuse that Tilikum suffered, it caused him to claim the life of a female park employee in 1991. Even though SeaWorld was made aware of this incident, it still did not stop them from allowing their trainers to enter the water with him. In 1999 and 2010 SeaWorld’s Daniel P. Dukes and Dawn Brancheau became Tilikum’s second and third victim to be killed. One would think after the first incident that Tilikum would be set free, but it is more practical to have a whale that performs and makes

In November of 1983 Tilikum was taken away from his family at approximately two years of age. Once he was in America he didn't go straight to Seaworld, he actually started at a small marine park in Florida called Sealand. While he was there the trainer used the female orcas to teach Tilikum all the tricks, but if he did not perform it the correct way there would be a punishment. This meant that neither of the orcas would get a reward which was food.the females became mad at tilikum and would rake him, meaning they would scrape their teeth across the length of his body. The conditions at the very small marine park were awful for such large animals, the tank that all three of them were put into was only 100-foot-by-50-foot pool that was just 35 feet deep. Now you would think after being trapped in such a small space would make you go a little crazy, and in Tilikum’s case it did. While he was at Sealand he was the cause of a trainer's death, he had drowned her, this was the first humane killed. Eventually Sealand shutdown, and “on January 3, 1992 SeaWorld applied for an emergency permit authorizing immediate importation of Tilikum for medical reasons.”- PBS, Frontline. Once he was at Seaworld he was put straight to work learning all the routines, but his living conditions didn’t get much better the other whales at Seaworld raked him too. The trainers soon put Tilikum into his own