Blackfish - last chance to watch on iPlayer

[BlueKarou]

(Totally do not work for the Beeb, in case this is misconstrued as an advertising thing. If, however, they'd like to chuck me a couple of quid I wouldn't say no!)

I realise I might have been the only person interested but who hadn't watched this yet, as it's a couple of years old, but figured I'd share anyway in case anyone does want to see it/talk about it.

Blackfish, the documentary mainly featuring Tillikum the Orca (Killer Whale) at SeaWorld, is only available on BBC iPlayer until this evening. It's on Netflix, and presumably available at other places, but if you only have iPlayer and wanted to catch it, the link is here.

I watched it this morning and was horrified at how many Orca-related incidents; injuries and deaths, there had been and how many of them had been covered up. Also just so dismayed at how Tillikum was so badly mistreated in his youth, which must have had some part in causing these incidents.

The documentary won't necessarily stop me from visiting zoos; but I'm definitely going to think a lot harder about going to places where there are performing animals.

[TheGirlOnTheLanding]

It's a really thought provoking film, isn't it? You may be interested in another Storyville film that's on iplayer just now too, about a circus elephant that went on the rampage - similar story.

[BlueKarou]

I found it really interesting. Hard to watch at times, and really frustrating if it did all go down as they say. Just felt so bad for the Orcas, and for the trainers.

Will check out the elephants, ta.

[TheGirlOnTheLanding]

I know. I think the fact they hid the history from the trainers shocked me most. Putting aside the ethical aspect of performing animals, the knowledge that lives were put at risk rather than failing to make a return on their investment is truly awful.

[BlueKarou]

They should have stopped him from doing the shows after the first death. I don't understand how he's still doing a show a day to this date; I know they've got guards up, and the trainers don't get in with them during the shows anymore (but they still do for bonding purposes and any medical treatment)

It just seems like they've not really taken this as seriously as it should be. The Wikipedia list of injuries and deaths caused by captive orca is shockingly long.