SeaWorld faced controversy after the critically acclaimed documentary, “Blackfish” hit the screen. Many people enjoy the sights and sounds at Sea World; however, “Blackfish” claims to show viewers what happens behind the scenes.
“Blackfish” examines SeaWorld’s now-captive performing killer whales in relation to Dawn Brancheau’s death in 2010. Brancheau was killer whale Tilikum’s trainer. She was killed by the whale and suffered from chronic trauma to the head, neck and torso before drowning.
“The 40-year-old trainer was at ease with the killer whale and had just petted him on the nose,” according to ABC News. “However, in a scene that horrified SeaWorld visitors, Tilikum grabbed her long ponytail when she turned her back, pulled her into the pool and began swinging her around in its mouth.”
The documentary shows the life and conditions which Tilikum had been placed in and tries to answer the question as to why he is a killer. He has spent almost his entire life in captivity and has killed two trainers and one tourist. In captivity, Tilikum was, according to “Blackfish,” physically abused by other whales and deprived of food by his trainers.
“It isn’t completely wrong to house these animals,” said junior Cole Harper, a biology major and aspiring marine biologist. “Yes they may have killed people, but these trainers know that they sign up for that when they take the job. They know there is a chance that they could lose their life. A killer whale can grow to 30 feet and weigh up to 11,800 pounds. I do believe they should be housed in a larger tank, something that is significantly larger than what they are in now, because in the wild they could swim 50 miles a day.”
SeaWorld has received massive amounts of feedback since releasing the film. According to www.mysanantonio.com, musical artists such as Trace Adkins, Heart and Joan Jett have all canceled performances due to the revelation of “Blackfish.”
According to SeaWorld’s website, “‘Blackfish’ employs false and emotionally manipulative sequences concerning the collection and separation of killer whales: Through stock footage and video mismatched to the narrative, the film implies that SeaWorld collects killer whales from the wild and separates mothers and calves.
To advance both its anti-captivity narrative and its false theories surrounding Ms. Brancheau’s death, the film falsely suggests that Tilikum had become psychotic and aggressive.”
The controversy of whether “Blackfish” is fact or fiction continues.
“There is so much we still don’t know about them and can still learn from them; we just need to do it in a better way,” Harper said. “We took them out of their environment and expect them to behave normally. Do you think you’d act the same if you were taken and put in a cage?”
