By MIKE SCHNEIDER, Associated Press Writer Mike Schneider, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 11 mins ago ORLANDO, Fla. – A veteran SeaWorld trainer was rubbing a killer whale from a poolside platform when the 12,000-pound creature reached up, grabbed her ponytail in its mouth and dragged her underwater. Despite workers rushing to help, the trainer was killed.
The whale, named Tilikum, apparently grabbed Brancheau by her long ponytail, according to the head of animal training at all SeaWorld parks, Chuck Tompkins. He told ABC's "Good Morning America" that her ponytail swung out in front of the whale.
"That's when the trainer next to him (Tilikum) said that he grabbed the hair, pulled her under water. And of course, held her under water," Tompkins said.
(park visitor)Skaggs said he heard that during an earlier show the whale was not responding to directions. Others who attended the earlier show said the whale was behaving like an ornery child.
"There wasn't anything to indicate to us that there was a problem," (head of animal training)Tompkins told the CBS "Early Show."
Live Science:
And they are big, growing to 32 feet (nearly 10 meters) and weigh a whopping 18,000 pounds (8,164 kg), according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). As apex predators, killer whales have few enemies, vulnerable only to large sharks.
Their fierce reputation comes from interactions with whales, not humans. In fact, sailors who witnessed killer whale attacks on larger cetaceans referred to the animals as "whale killers." That name changed to killer whales. The Spanish sometimes refer to the orca as Ballena asesina, meaning "assassin whale," according to the MarineBio Conservation Society.
By ADAM SCHRECK, Associated Press Writer Adam Schreck, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 51 mins ago DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – The Middle East's biggest shopping mall was partially evacuated Thursday as maintenance crews scrambled to contain a leak that amateur video showed spilling water out of the shark-filled aquarium.
Well, no need to go into the "wild sea creatures shouldn't be kept in captivity" spiel. The above news items appeared at a time when I was thinking about the "daze" of elementary school. I was also thinking about birdsong, after having been triggered by Pete Townshend's latest blog entry wherein he describes wearing a new hearing device that controls his tinnitus. Townshend remarked that he was once again able to hear birdsong. And how joyous that was.
I was also specifically thinking about my oldest son and the elements of school that make him and his very small group of friends feel like captives. Orion has Asperger's Syndrome which places him somewhere on the big spectrum of life as "different." Orion can be just as social as all get out in the right setting. Being forced into societal patterns via school, clubs, and/or the "in" crowd group make him want to go under and drag a few captors with him. Much like Tilikum the Orca of Sea World infamy. I read that the name "Tilikum" is Chinook jargon for "friend" or "tribe" or "kin," depending on the source you read. Orion means "dweller on the mountain," according to one source. Orion in Greek mythology was the hunter. The name also means "light of heaven," "son of fire, son of light," and "dawn, east" according to various language sources. I think Orion feels a closer kinship with the sea and field animal world than the human animal world.
Do birds of a feather flock together? Undoubtedly! Orion's small group of schoolmates were initially thrown together as part of the "resource" program for kids who need some help to navigate the world of school systems. Each is brilliant in his own way. Each struggles with social interaction and expectation of that by others. They have no need for typical social interactions or day-to-day small talk. It makes no sense in their world. They are "let's get down to business" thinkers and doers. Often, they are viewed as distant or unapproachable. Not so when you know the right approach.
I'm not sure why our society continues to force people into "indistiguishable" molds. When you meet with various school personnel they seem to have similar goals in making the child "indistinguishable from his peers." It's sad really.
How do we honor one's individuality and self when our systems are set up in cookie-cutter style?
from "The Shack":
Jesus is speaking to the protaganist "Mack:"
"I don't create institutions - never have, never will." "That's an occupation for those who want to play God. So, no I'm not too big on religion, and not very fond of politics or economics either." "They are the man-created trinity of terrors that ravage the earth and deceive those I care about. What mental turmoil and anxiety does any human face that is not related to one of those three?" "Put simply, these terrors are tools that many use to prop up their illusions of security and control. People are afraid of uncertainty, afraid of the future. These institutions, these structures and ideologies, are all a vain effort to create some sense of certainty and security where there isn't any. It's all false! Systems cannot provide you security, only I can."
Orion does well because he has an inner drive to do so. Not because someone forces system-oriented societal rules on him. Simply put by me, Orion and his kin are here to teach us how to break down the old ways, the old systems, and usher in something completely different. And oh how we fight these lessons. Well, regardless of that fear-based urge to fight change, it is happening. The breakdown of systems has never been more evident than in what has transpired for our societies over the last 5years.
My youngest son's life is another example of how I believe he, his brother, and their kin are here to teach us how to live as we were meant to live.
Autistic people who cannot physically speak words often vocalize with an ethereal trill that is unique to each one, but when heard together is like a thousand birdsongs in a forest. It's startling, amazing, breathtaking, and will make you pause. If you are ever gifted with the chance to hear this, you will never forget it. Much, I imagine, like Pete Townshend must have felt upon hearing birdsong again after so many years of deafness to that tone. My hunch is that Pete Townshend, an original and early system crasher, may be on the Asperger Syndrome spectrum. When studying his life and style of interaction, it's apparent to me. If you study the rock opera Tommy or his The Boy Who Heard Music book and accompanying songs, you just know that inspiration had to have been filtered through an autism-like wave in Townshend's soul. Anyway, I've tried for years to record Ben making the trill sound, but haven't been able. It's spontaneous and happens without any real sound or vocal precursor, so it's tough to catch it.
(Gregory L. Blackstock, artist and autistic)
My thoughts often relate Ben and his kin to relationship with birds. Just the other afternoon as I was meeting Ben's bus, a young teen student appeared in the seat right behind the driver. He had asked to have his seat up front near Ben's seat. That boy said in a very stilted and cracking adolescent voice: "I'm waiting for the weekend." This is a boy who rarely speaks. I said, "Me too!" Then, Ben, still standing at the top of the bus stairs, broke into that amazing trill. One or two voices joined him from the rear of the bus. I said "Wow! Is everyone singing today??!" And at that moment, nearly every child on that bus broke into their own version of "The Trill." I can't explain but it was as if time stood still for that moment in space. The bus driver and aide were astonished too. Neither said a word but just smiled. Goosebumps, awe, silly stick whap to the forehead. An incredible heavenly chorus that makes me pause to this moment when thinking about it. It's part canary, part whale, part finch, part teakettle, part angel. I just can't explain. I think Pete would get it.
I'm reminded of the happy faces on Ben's little bus. The kids who love the bus ride, love going to school, and being with each other. Then, I think of Orion and Sarah's bus with the mostly "typical-brained" kids. Glum chum faces staring out the windows as the bus chugs and huffs its way to the local school. Night and day.
You can hardly blame them.
9 comments:
aww, it's sad, but these beautiful large creatures are not meant for captivity. As much love you give them and they are smart, they know they are loved. You told me @ FB, Nature took over nurture, this world needs to really look at what animals are kept as zoo pets. I am sorry for the young woman who lost her life, but you play with these creatures. it is risky
I know Grace. But those shows bring in the bucks eh? Do the trainers *really* understand that at any given moment for no reason apparent, any one of these animals could suddenly be provoked by some unrecognized (by us) innate response and *boom* ... you have what happened at Sea World. This includes our beloved pets. Being leader of the pack will always be challenged at some point, whether in a small way such as when a dog attempts to "take over" its owners space (bed, chair, etc.), or in a much larger way such as with Tilikum the Orca. I could be completely wrong, but it's what I think. I saw the Orca show at Sea World when living in Orlando. They are amazing, awesome animals. But, I was left feeling saddened by the whole circus arena feel to the place.
xo
Yep, a dog attempts to take over, I am experiencing this, the news keeps showing how these orcas are housed, basically in swimming pools, so sad. no wonder they are pissed off. I remember going to sea world as a kid, san diego, now it has a whole different meaning. not cute, not fun, torturous.
why don't others in mass society see what we see?
ox
I think the whole thing's pretty sick (the whole Sea World spiel with Orcas). Of course it's set up to be a tragedy too (for SOMEONE) in the end........
Ahhh. Loved your bus story. I wish, WISH you could better describe that "trill". hm. I'm trying hard to picture it. Is there any other way you could describe it further?
And ah yes, our Pete. His way of communicating and the things he says outloud sometimes --- hm... I have wondered. And the way his mind works in circles and goes off in tangents. And of course his exquisitely sensitive creativity. All reasons why I love him so much. He's DEFINITELY different. Sometimes I wonder about my Jeremy too. He's so shy...... (I was too) .. but so deep, beneath that surface. And so FUNNY and so intense and so interested and interesting. And so focused (yet so distracted) But also so different and struggling to "fit in." A lot like me too. :-)
Love this post, Tink.
Thanks Lucy and Grace. I read that Tilikum was captured as a young whale off the coast of Iceland. There is a group that dedicates their time, love, and efforts to re-introduce formerly captive Orcas to the wild. I have to find the name of the group again. They've apparently had many successes! That would be very cool for Tilikum.
I wish I could described the high-pitched "trill" or song-type vocal. Maybe I'll search for some vocals and come up with something close.
Yah .. PT, you, Jeremy, Grace... Some of us are just more introverted and attuned/sensitive. Maybe on the spectrum somewhere. I guess we're all on a spectrum somewhere! lol
The spectrum is called a rainbow.
:-)
Very good post. Some animals are not kept for captivity. This post reminded me of a news report I saw. Just recently a man was mauled by his tiger that he kept in the loft of his house. He had fought for years to have this beast and in the end paid the ultimate price.
These animals are unpredictable and I believe should be in their own habitat.
Yeah, just like the woman who got her face ripped off by that chimp. HOrrible. But one has to be crazy to treat these animals like doll-babies and forget they're wild. Their pet has only been domesticated for its lifetime. Its species is still wild (as are its genes), unlike our dogs and cats who have 10-20,000 years or more of domestication behind their genes.
Meant to show you this the other day: Pete standing in the rainbow.
Loveable.
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