Is this wrong?

[trackdaynova]

I saw this, thought it was impressive, obviously the relationship between killer whale and trainer appears to be fantastic, but is that the case?

Some of the comments are 'to perform or starve', what's your views? Surely something that large wouldn't do anything they didn't want to?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAfTHFiiNF8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[Benn]

Its a hard one to work out, we've all seen them get pissed off and attack the trainers.. But i dont think its right for us to lock them up and watch the do tricks when they should be free to swim out in the seas.

[mowgli]

i saw the show a few years back.. it is really amazing to watch, but only in hindsight does the whole capture/exploitation thing come up.

the whale is a very clever creature, and any trip to a zoo shows you animals being bored to the point of madness.. personally, when i go to twycross zoo with the kids, i can't bring myself to see the big cats... they look so pitiful...

but.. the odd whale in captivity that makes people stop using whale products, and polluting the sea in general is a good thing. even though america's environmental record is hardly glowing & they caused the wholesale slaughter of the whales in the first place.. it was the best source of oil before underground oil was found..

the whale will do just what every other creature will do, it adapts to its environment, and if he is trained to do exactly the same show every day, at set times then gets fed, he will do it every day to guarantee his food....
it is still exploitation, but so is going to work

[claire6069]

i think the thing to remember is that ANY animal has basic wild instincts and these instincts will and do come out at some point or another regardless of training and bribery with food.

the thing with seaworlds like this is that whilst they are impressive with what they can make the whales/dolphins do, they have to remember that they've got a wild sea creature whose natural instinct is to kill and eat. whilst the whales may enjoy a routine and having attention, they must (i know i would) get to a point where they're bored of doing the same show 20 times a day for some measly fish and a rub on the nose.

The pools they're kept in are not 1% of the size of their natural habitat and this need for freedom must bug them. Orca's are very intelligent creatures, hence why they train so well.

If they enjoyed it that much, there wouldnt be so many stories of orca's having killed their trainers or attacked them. 10/10 to the trainers that dare get in the water with a 12000 pound killer but i think thats a point they have to remember and to punish it for following its natural behaviour when its angry or agitated is unfair.

Some creatures are meant to be for humans use/enjoyment, i dont think that sea creatures fall into this category though. Looking at how little we actually know about our oceans, i think we should question what we actually understand about the creatures that live in it.