Blackfish is a documentary made in 2013 about Orca or Killer Whales (although they are actually dolphins) in the marine park Seaworld, and presents I think a compelling case about how unsuited they are to a life in captivity.
Seaworld comes across as a business where Public Relations is everything, and the real truth is to be avoided, even when the safety of their trainers is at stake. In that respect, I think it could be taken as an example of what goes on in many other corporations and governments also, not just marine parks.
The documentary interviews many ex-trainers who used to work for Seaworld, and covers the deaths of some trainers at Seaworld and whether they were really "trainer error" or "accidents" or on the other hand deliberate acts by killer whales that had become psychotic through their life in captivity. (There are no known reports of wild orca attacking humans, although they do eat seals.)
Other interesting interviews are with a man who worked on an OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Authority) legal case against Seaworld, and with a man who caught a young Orca from a pod of adults back in the 1980s, and now considers it the worst thing he ever did.
It also presents evidence about the strong family bonds orcas have, their intelligence, and suggests they may even have a strong emotional life.
The documentary maker didn't come from any animal rights background or any particular organization like PETA or SAFE, but began the film to try and answer the question of what really happened in the death of Seaworld trainer Dawn Brancheau in 2010.
_http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2545118/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Seaworld comes across as a business where Public Relations is everything, and the real truth is to be avoided, even when the safety of their trainers is at stake. In that respect, I think it could be taken as an example of what goes on in many other corporations and governments also, not just marine parks.
The documentary interviews many ex-trainers who used to work for Seaworld, and covers the deaths of some trainers at Seaworld and whether they were really "trainer error" or "accidents" or on the other hand deliberate acts by killer whales that had become psychotic through their life in captivity. (There are no known reports of wild orca attacking humans, although they do eat seals.)
Other interesting interviews are with a man who worked on an OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Authority) legal case against Seaworld, and with a man who caught a young Orca from a pod of adults back in the 1980s, and now considers it the worst thing he ever did.
It also presents evidence about the strong family bonds orcas have, their intelligence, and suggests they may even have a strong emotional life.
The documentary maker didn't come from any animal rights background or any particular organization like PETA or SAFE, but began the film to try and answer the question of what really happened in the death of Seaworld trainer Dawn Brancheau in 2010.
_http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2545118/?ref_=nv_sr_1
I admit not a good feeling. However just imagining what these magnificent animals must be going through since their capture/creation makes me sick as a "sentient" being. Being raised in an environment where wild dolphins & whales pass through, encounters with them in their natural home changes something in you. Saw my 1st whale @ 8 and have never been the same. Our fishing vessel was surrounded by a pod of 20+ individuals that swam alongside us for about 15 minutes. All I could think about was the story of Moby Dick. Frightened by the size of the humpbacks, I looked over the side of our fishing boat. A baby whale turned on its side and its huge eye looked into my eyes and blinked. My little mind knew, this was another intelligent being watching back at me and without effort could have destroyed our 25' boat without effort.
