Personal Narrative: My Life As A Dolphin Trainer

Smith, Wesley J. “The Grim Good of Animal Research.” Scientific Research, edited by Sylvia Engdahl, Greenhaven Press, 2015. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints In Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010948220/OVIC?u=scschools&sid=OVIC&xide9245e81. Accessed 26 Apr. 2018. Originally published in www.firstthing.com, 18 Oct.

The theme between the pod, can animals feel and think , and bats! is to care about others.

The issue on whether or not to keep animals in captivity has been debated heavily for a long time. With species such as the panda on the verge of extinction to mistreatment of marine mammals in theme parks such as Sea World, keeping wild animals under the care of humans has been a struggle and a highly controversial topic. Even though many people believe that animals should not be kept in captivity because humans are incapable of fully understanding and providing specific needs for wild animals, certain animals can be kept happy and healthy in captivity, and these animals are an important educational tool for teaching people of all ages about biology, biodiversity, and the ecosystems of the world.

More than 90 percent in about 1000 scientists around the world, “felt that animal research is essential to scientific advancement” (Yoshida, 2011). One of the reasons that animals are used in labs is because it’s affordable, especially mice, since they are “mammals, […], [they] can be bred in a controlled manner, […], kept in a controlled environment”, and they don’t live long, plus fast reproduction (LifeVantage, 2017). Even though those are for science purposes and to help improve people’s lives and medicine’s quality, no living creature deserves to be locked up and live through pain, and then thrown away like garbage.

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated” (Mahatma Gandhi). Scientists have been using animals for biomedical research for centuries. They provide a source to get information scientists can not get without harming humans. A lot of debate is spread about whether it is good or bad. Animal experimentation is a controversial topic because it is helpful to humans, but it is also cruel and inhumane.

As a child I remember going to SeaWorld at least once a year. My favorite thing to do there was watching the Shamu show. It touched my heart to see these trainers bonding with such a big whale. I always told myself when I grew up; I wanted to be a trainer for the killer whales. I figured I would have to go study marine biology and the schooling would take years. While researching I found that anyone off the streets can be a trainer for the orcas, all you need to know is how to swim. Even now, having children of my own, I took them to Sea World to see Shamu and watched them enjoy it like I did. Earlier this year I noticed a documentary on Netflix about the killer whales at Sea World, it opened my eyes to a whole new perspective.

Who does not love to see dolphins and whales flipping and doing tricks? Although the animals look happy and unharmed, there is a dark truth behind the captive marine life in amusement parks and zoos. Yes, attending zoos and marine life amusement parks are a part of childhood; but recently researchers have discovered just how cruel the environment is for the marine life in captivity. After studies of comparing the quality of life of marine animals in the wild and in captivity, there are multiple examples shown in Blackfish, PETA, and the Animal Welfare Institute that show that animals prosper and live longer in their natural

Animal Research is topic that is highly debated by several people, especially those in the medical and the vet world. Why is this such a debatable topic to individuals? Many people consider animal research to cruel and inhumane, and others believe that it is for the greater good to help find cures for humans. Ron Karpati, a former pediatrician and who is now a medical researcher, agrees that animal research is used for the greater good even though it inflicts pain on animals. Karpati wrote an article called, “ I am the Enemy,” and in this article he states several points that prove his belief on animal research.

I’ll do as directed. Though, I still need to see the Dolphin Statue up close. Malcolm and Doris oblige me. While we meander there, I don’t speak about the cyclist with the yellow baseball cap, though I yearn for him and Bobby. I put that aside and continue my journey to reach the bronze sculpture. Where, at last in its magnificence, I find solace. In the belief, that my brother and perhaps his twin have gone to a place like Summerland, to rest in beauty and peace, in a universe where dolphins play and kindness is the norm.

When I came into the Corps I was and still am a scrawny kid; five feet seven and one hundred twenty pounds soaking wet. I came to the Corps to be challenged physically and mentally, however, I was not prepared for what I was getting myself into; I joined the Fighting Texas Aggie Fish Drill Team.

Gloria Steinem once said, “Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities.” Imagination and dreams can make anything possible, including me becoming a marine biologist. Ever since I was five years old, i have dreamed of becoming a marine biologist. My dad, stepmom, and me took a trip to Orlando, Florida and I was terrified of what was to come. I didn't know it had the time, but now I realize that this one experience has shaped me into who I am and what I love.

The idea of animal rights has been around for centuries. Even decades ago, people were taking action for the welfare of animals. Marc Bekoff and Ned Hettinger share this idea all the way back in 1994 when they said that there is evidence that scientist are concerned with animal welfare by acknowledge that they use the guidelines in place to protect animals during research, in order to have their work published (Bekoff 219). Guidelines are the basis for the moral and ethical treatment of animals. Each person may have his or her own standard, but having a standard among the entire population ensures the welfare of the animals. Unfortunately, these standards are not at a level to where the animals are being protected. Many animals in captivity are treated in ways that would shock the average person. Orcas for example, are starved until they do the desired task (Cowperthwaite). This form of operant condition can lead to success, but often leads to resentment and hostility towards the trainers.

The Vancouver Aquarium uses dolphins and belugas to provide entertainment and utilizes the profit gained, to aid them in research. In The Case for Animal Rights, Tom Regan’s moral principles state that there should be total abolition of the use of animals in science as well as for entertainment purposes (337). Moreover, he claims that humans and animals have equal values and rights. Based on this principle, I argue that the practices of the Vancouver Aquarium of using belugas and dolphins for scientific and entertainment purposes is immoral and thus unjustified.

Animal experimentation by scientists can be cruel and unjust, but at the same time it can provide long term benefits for humanity. Animals used in research and experiments have been going on for 2,000 years and keep is going strong. It is a widely debated about topic all over the world. Some say it is inhuman while others say it’s for the good of human kind. There are many different reasons why people perform experiments and why others total disagree with it.

With nearly millions of animals dying each year from being captive, or endangered species being hunted down and killed, we need to discover a new way of displaying that our world is full of beautiful animals and wildlife. Wild animals are suffering both physically and mentally from the lack of freedom that confinement imposes. These harmful environments are preventing animals from having the opportunity to live in, and be exposed to their natural habitats. Keeping animals imprisoned in cages and small enclosures just for the sake of human observation causes stress and frustration, which is risking animals overall health and well being. These morally unacceptable and cruel actions of retaining wild animals in captivity is certainly wrong.