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Original poster

Blackfish

13 replies

PerfectYear321 · 22/10/2023 21:46

Has anybody watched the documentary 'Blackfish' on Netflix about how SeaWorld caught the orcas they have? I watched it yesterday and it is really upsetting. I have been to Loro Parc in Tenerife but didn't know the background behind it. I would never go again to any of these places and definitely would not take my children.

OP posts:
WinterQueenie · 22/10/2023 21:49

I watched it a few years ago, it’s awful how the Orcas are kept and the number of attacks that the public aren’t aware of upsetting too. There’s a LOT more information on X (formerly Twitter) with really interesting links.

CobwebsAndCauldrons · 22/10/2023 21:51

Yes - I also watched about 7 years ago I think. Really upsetting. I have never been to any of the aqua parks but some of this is just lack of chance rather than a moral choice. Though now it would be the latter.

Coldinscotland · 22/10/2023 21:52

Heart wrenching.. That fisherman in tears really hit home they really had no idea what they were involved in. Those poor animals.

Dogsitterwoes · 22/10/2023 21:53

Hi OP,

I'm glad you've changed your mind about these places.

Can I ask you a genuine question. It's going to sound sarcastic but honestly not meant that way, I'm interested in how those that support these places think. Did you just never think about where the animals come from/are kept, or did you imagine something nice, or were you told something nice?

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Original poster
PerfectYear321 · 22/10/2023 22:04

Dogsitterwoes · 22/10/2023 21:53

Hi OP,

I'm glad you've changed your mind about these places.

Can I ask you a genuine question. It's going to sound sarcastic but honestly not meant that way, I'm interested in how those that support these places think. Did you just never think about where the animals come from/are kept, or did you imagine something nice, or were you told something nice?

As a kid you're told by adults (school or your parents) let's go and see some animals on this fun day out. You're told that we are caring for them and they live longer in captivity than in the wild. The fact these places exist and are heavily promoted as fun family-friendly places legitimises them. How would you know as a child to think about how those animals got there? When do you realise it's not right?

I was an adult when I went to Loro Parc and was in awe of the orca show. The orca show was amazing and it looked like they were enjoying it. I now know they are basically performing for food and are in a jail.The part in the documentary where they said about them being locked up
in solitary confinement in darkness for hours and have to be lured to go into the jail by starving them hits particularly hard.

An animal that should be swimming hundreds of miles a day kept in a small pool. There's a diagram of how big the car park at Sea world is compared to the pool the orcas are kept in. It's disgusting.

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XenoBitch · 22/10/2023 22:07

I saw it a few years back. I would have never have gone to Sea World type rubbish before watching it anyway. It is common sense that a huge sea mammal would struggle in a tiny tank.
The bit about the orca who bashed her head and spurted blood through her blow hole still upsets me now. They are highly intelligent beings who should not be enslaved as they are now.

megletthesecond · 22/10/2023 22:08

I saw it a few years ago. It's never left me. I've never been to an aqua park. Can't say I blame the Orcas for losing their shit occasionally.

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 22/10/2023 22:10

Yes I've seen it, horrific. I went to seaworld as a child and I still regret it, even though I never had a choice.

I'd never go or take my kids now

Original poster
PerfectYear321 · 22/10/2023 22:23

I don't know why I'm getting questioned for realising this and making a thread. Birds and other small animals like snakes in cages that instead should be roaming the earth is also normalised, but you probably think this is ok? I'm not an animal lover by any stretch of the imagination

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VeniVidiWeeWee · 22/10/2023 23:20

You're getting questioned because it's been known about for many years.

Mammillaria · 22/10/2023 23:33

I saw it a few years ago and found it very upsetting. I've never been to sea world or anywhere similar, but equally I'd never really given it much thought. I suppose we are so used to using animals for food, companionship and entertainment that we get used to not asking these questions.

I did visit Puy du Fou in France a few years back and was surprised to see many performing animals in the re-enactments. Sure enough, when I researched it later there were many concerns over their treatment :(

Original poster
PerfectYear321 · 23/10/2023 23:42

VeniVidiWeeWee · 22/10/2023 23:20

You're getting questioned because it's been known about for many years.

Riiiiighht.... it's been known for many years so nobody should ever mention it again? It's taught in schools is it? SeaWorld etc don't heavily promote their parks? People who know about it are educating others? Really? Well, I've just tried to and you jumped on the chance to dismiss me instead.

I did a search and there are baby orcas in these parks so we've got a few more decades of this. Why won't they release them to a humane place where they can live out their life not in a jail?

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