TILIKUM - WHY CAPTIVITY KILLS (HUMANS, TOO)

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• published: 20 Jan 2015
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TILIKUM - WHY CAPTIVITY KILLS (HUMANS, TOO) ----Michele Bollo, Mothersea in collaboration with Russ Rector, Dolphin Freedom Foundation Video of Tilikum quarantined in the Sealand medical module in 1992, after he had killed Keltie Byrnes. The module is so small, only 23’x30’ and 20 feet deep for an animal that is 20 feet in length. Shot by Sea World to show the hellhole of the medical module vs. the "expansive paradise of Sea World", he is listless, and rests near motionless on the surface, to the point the skin around his blowhole began to dry and crack. This claustrophobic module separated the whales Tilikum and Nootka from Haida. Sealand is not situated for more whales. When Haida became pregnant with Tilikum’s calf, Kyoquot, Sealand had 17 months to make preparation. They did very little to accomplish that, rather announced after Keltie’s death, they were closing shop. Once Haida gave birth, both Nootka and Tilikum were housed in the module together. The female-dominated hierarchy left Tilikum abused and injured, rejected, so that when he could leave the module, the females refused to let him into the main pool. So, when Sea World expressed interest in Tilikum, in an effort to protect their “merchandise” Tilikum was confined to that tiny, dark space on a near full-time basis for what turned out to be weeks. In a cache of provocative documents procured by Russ Rector, dedicated dolphin activist of many years, even The US Department of Commerce lays blame to both Sealand and Sea World for contriving the medical emergency. With approximately some 17 months to take action, Sealand made no effort. Life Force an ecology organization, went so far as to provide multiple suggestions, including a design to accommodate the main pool with portable net partitions. The subsequent import by SeaWorld was motivated by the need to acquire a male stud, regardless of his past history as a killer, to add to their “collection”. The fact that he has sired 21 calves, the most successful breeding bull in captivity is profoundly clear. Here is the link for the entire set of documents. This deliberately created import had many organizations weighing in, clear that a foreseeable, avoidable and abusive situation was allowed to develop, to the point of emergency. https://foiaonline.regulations.gov/foia/action/public/view/request?objectId=090004d2802a64fa If you were to read only two documents from the 1,058 pages, although much of it is provocative reading: The first document was generated by SeaWorld to Anne Terbush, Chief of Permits at NMFS on DEC 30,1991. Sea World states in reference to Keltie Byrnes' death that “we believe the accident was unique to Sealand and was due to the unfortunate combination of a poor pool design which prohibited exit from the water, inadequate emergency life saving procedures and the interference by the whales unaccustomed to the presence of people in the water. Sea World understands the historical interest regarding the incident at Sealand, but Sea World believes its present employee training and safety program should be judged on its merits and by comparison to current industry standards, particularly since the situation at Sealand is so different from the which exists at Sea World. For example, Sea World’s animals are all highly trained and are accustomed to interacting with trainers and veterinary staff. Sealand’s animals are essentially untrained and will be managed initially by Sea World as untrained animals. Furthermore, Sea World’s facility is structurally different from Sealand’s facility in significant respects. At Sea World, safety for both employees and killer whales is paramount in all our work.” Sea World hypes Orlando’s “spacious sparkling paradise” compared to Sealand at the end of the video, but the letter, signed by Brad Andrews is chilling and sadly inaccurate in retrospect. A prolonged lawsuit brought by OSHA against Sea World and two more deaths are testimony to that. The second document is a letter from Nancy Foster, Director of the Office of Protected Services, Department of Commerce to Brad Andrews, Vice President of Zoological Operations at SeaWorld, dated JAN 8, 1992. In the letter, which approves the conditional import of Tilikum, Dr. Foster holds accountable both Sea World and Sealand, in that they did not take action prudent to the well being of Tilikum. Dr. Foster concludes the letter with this warning: “If similar circumstances should arise in the future, while the health and welfare of marine mammals will continue to be of paramount concern to NMFS, lack of action necessary to ensure marine mammal health and welfare in the face of available information will not constitute sufficient grounds for issuance of an emergency import authorization.” Russ Rector CaptivityKills’@comcast.com Michele Bollo Michele.mothersea@gmail.com