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Blackfish - tonight BBC4 9pm

63 replies

HesterShaw · 21/11/2013 14:05

It anyone's not seen this documentary, it's well worth a watch. It was very well received at the Sundance film festival and has got Seaworld on the run, which was the intention :).

It will make you think very hard about marine mammals in captivity, as well as it being very entertaining.

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NewChoos · 21/11/2013 15:47

I want to watch but think I'm too hormonal (have newborn!). I think it's good to raise awareness and I certainly would not visit sea world again, just doesn't seem right to me.

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HesterShaw · 21/11/2013 17:38
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NewChoos · 21/11/2013 18:02

Do you know if sea world attendance has reduced since this film?

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HesterShaw · 21/11/2013 18:26

Apparently it has yes! They had a shocking summer, and also their share price is sliding all the time.

They blame it on the weather of course. Tossers.

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judgejudyandexecutioner · 21/11/2013 19:39

Everyone should see this film. I read the book too Killer Whales in the wild are awesome. They have incredible brains way more developed than human brains for emotion, all the more sad when you consider the way they are treated in captivity Sad

CharlieAlphaKiloEcho · 21/11/2013 21:08

I'm watching this.

Can't believe the 911 call "A whale has eaten one of the trainers"

GlitterStag · 21/11/2013 21:26

book.

www.amazon.co.uk/Death-at-SeaWorld-David-Kirby/dp/1250031257/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385069033&sr=8-1&keywords=death+at+sea+world

Not by the makers of the film, but on the same theme. Poor Tilikum.

CharlieAlphaKiloEcho · 21/11/2013 21:40

:( Taking that baby whale away was so sad. The mum calling out to her really made me tear up :(

HowlingTrap · 21/11/2013 21:44

Aah you got here first! I was thinking is there a thread on this, I am watching intently too, Love a good Shock Doc! I saw the trailer and was like I need to see this!!!!

Poor girl, RIP Dawn.

NewChoos · 21/11/2013 21:47

That's why I couldn't watch it Charlie that part was mentioned to me. Just awful :(

NewChoos · 21/11/2013 21:48

I can't stand all the Seaworld PR - they are coming across as complete tossers I agree.

HowlingTrap · 21/11/2013 21:49

I was wondering that tooo, New Choo's plus OSHA ruled the trainers have to be physically seperated from the whales now, so the amazing acrobatic displays won't be pulling crowds in.

Those modules :'(

NewChoos · 21/11/2013 21:54

I'm so ashamed to think that when I previously visited sea world (many years ago) I did not give the welfare of the animals enough thought and believed the rescue/environmental stance SW takes. I really hope more people vote with their feet..

HowlingTrap · 21/11/2013 22:10

I went to SW in 2005 I was 15 and I remember enjoying the show but simultaneously thinking any second one could just drag you down. Dawn performed.

wierd to think 5 years later she was dead :'(

Although one of the whales ate a tropical bird flying across :O greedy bugger.

CharlieAlphaKiloEcho · 21/11/2013 22:50

NewChoos - I agree. I went when I was 11 and never thought about the welfare of them at all.

The PR spinning was totally shocking. Trying to make it seem it was the trainers fault!

I just don't think this whales are credited with the intelligence they obviously have.

The groups having their own languages? The mother trying out a long range call when her baby was removed? They are simply not entertainment are they?

I always planned to take my children on the typical Florida run an recreate my own favourite childhood holiday but I will never step foot in a Seaworld place again.

HowlingTrap · 21/11/2013 23:04

The director made a good point in an interview, just not going almost isn't enough , the more moeny they loose, they'll take it first from the whale thus the pools will get worse, less stimulation, less vetinary etc.

Its a no win.

CharlieAlphaKiloEcho · 21/11/2013 23:16

That's true Howling. I hope more people start looking into this.

The footage of that whale pulling the trainer under but letting him up just in time to breath again, then letting one leg go only to catch the other and pull him down again.... that was the most chilling bit for me. It seemed a very calculated way of showing him who really had the power!

scrappydappydoo · 22/11/2013 00:20

So gutted to have missed this - going to see if its on iplayer. We went to Seaworld about 5 years ago and felt really uncomfortable with the animal welfare - it all seemed to be about entertainment with a very thin veil of conservation to legitimise it. We've been back to Florida several times since and have avoided like the plague - people have never understood why. Hopefully documentaries like this can only highlight these issues and parks like Seaworld and other zoos will pay attention.
I don't know if it was said in the documentary but Discovery Cove where you swim with dolphins is run by the same people as Seaworld - so it makes you wonder about the dolphins welfare there.

CharlieAlphaKiloEcho · 22/11/2013 00:36

I've just seen that there is a documentary called The Cove about dolphins Scrappy. It's about how they are caught and sold to marine parks. I don't know if it's aimed at seaworld though. May see if I can track it down.

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HesterShaw · 22/11/2013 00:50

The Cove was the real masterpiece. Blackfish is the one which is having most impact, because the message ia more direct, but the Cove is the one which kickstarted this whole backlash. You should watch it :). It's a great piece of cinema as well as everything else

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CrockedPot · 22/11/2013 01:23

It's on I player.

FixItUpChappie · 22/11/2013 02:50

I've seen this and it was veeerrrry disturbing but very well worth a watch.

I think most people have maybe wondered if whales should be a zoo type animal but what I really had given no thought to was the trainers stories. I had NO idea of the danger these marine parks put their staff in. It was pretty indefensible IMO. oh! And the footage they had...unbelievable!!!!! Everything caught on tape - I couldn't believe the footage. Hard to argue with it all played out before your eyes.

I hope some of you come back and tell me what you thought. I was truely genuinely bothered.

mrswarbouys · 22/11/2013 09:26

I saw it last night. The negligence and inhumanity that Seaworld management have for their employees is beyond belief. How do these people sleep at night? Good natured, caring young people ripped to pieces by creatures that shouldn't be in tanks in the first place is shrugged off as 'their own fault'.
I too had no idea just how little the trainers actually know about these creatures. As for the lies they are conditioned to tell the public. I really want to be a part of whatever activism their is that will get these barbaric places shut down for good and the management prosecuted. Imagine if this was happening in North Korea or Iran??

judgejudyandexecutioner · 22/11/2013 10:22

The inhumanity of humans is astounding isn't it? Sad