SeaWorld(Every zoo in the USA) vs OSHA
A historic event is happening in our lifetime folks.
Last year on February 24th, 2010 a senior trainer by the name of Dawn Branchaeu was dragged under the water by a 6 ton Orca by the name of Tilikum. Since then, SeaWorld has been slapped with lawsuits by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. These lawsuits stating that SeaWorld willfully put their trainers in danger. Since then SeaWorld has added new rules to handling killer whales. Trainers are no longer able to enter the water with the whales. Female trainers have to tie their hair back in tight buns. Trainers aren't allowed to touch or hug around the whales mouths unless their is a Guard Rail or Physical barrier separating them. Two weeks ago, SeaWorld took OSHA to court against these rulings. The first witness called to the stand was Kelly Flaherty Clark, director of animal training at SeaWorld Orlando. She did not witness the death of Dawn but did have things to say about handling Orca's. Last year alone, three killer whales died. One at SeaWorld of San Diego and one at Orlando. Clark said, "Each whale could of been saved if we could of been in the water with them. We would of known right away if there was something wrong with them and we could of saved them." In that time, she broke down into tears. "The Original Baby shamu, Kalina was the whale that I built a relationship with. She was the first whale I ever jumped into the water with and we hit it out right from the start. She was our baby girl..." Kalina was among the three killer whales to die. Taima a female, died while birthing complications while Sumar died of Pnemonia.
SeaWorld spokesperson Jim Atchison says that the entire world is following this case. If the court favors in OSHA then all marine parks and zoos around the world will be affected by the way they handle large animals.
Why am I posting this? Because I work as a trainer at the Minnesota Zoo with the dolphins. Dolphins are cousins of the Orca's, and my company and bosses are watching the case closely. If they find in favor of SeaWorld we will no longer be able to work in the water with Dolphins.
Post your opinions and ideas here. I would love to hear them!
Last year on February 24th, 2010 a senior trainer by the name of Dawn Branchaeu was dragged under the water by a 6 ton Orca by the name of Tilikum. Since then, SeaWorld has been slapped with lawsuits by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. These lawsuits stating that SeaWorld willfully put their trainers in danger. Since then SeaWorld has added new rules to handling killer whales. Trainers are no longer able to enter the water with the whales. Female trainers have to tie their hair back in tight buns. Trainers aren't allowed to touch or hug around the whales mouths unless their is a Guard Rail or Physical barrier separating them. Two weeks ago, SeaWorld took OSHA to court against these rulings. The first witness called to the stand was Kelly Flaherty Clark, director of animal training at SeaWorld Orlando. She did not witness the death of Dawn but did have things to say about handling Orca's. Last year alone, three killer whales died. One at SeaWorld of San Diego and one at Orlando. Clark said, "Each whale could of been saved if we could of been in the water with them. We would of known right away if there was something wrong with them and we could of saved them." In that time, she broke down into tears. "The Original Baby shamu, Kalina was the whale that I built a relationship with. She was the first whale I ever jumped into the water with and we hit it out right from the start. She was our baby girl..." Kalina was among the three killer whales to die. Taima a female, died while birthing complications while Sumar died of Pnemonia.
SeaWorld spokesperson Jim Atchison says that the entire world is following this case. If the court favors in OSHA then all marine parks and zoos around the world will be affected by the way they handle large animals.
Why am I posting this? Because I work as a trainer at the Minnesota Zoo with the dolphins. Dolphins are cousins of the Orca's, and my company and bosses are watching the case closely. If they find in favor of SeaWorld we will no longer be able to work in the water with Dolphins.
Post your opinions and ideas here. I would love to hear them!
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Comments
OSHA does bring up good points and there needs to be greater evaluation of performers in the water with such large creatures. The simplest precaution, in my mind, would have been an available oxygen tank. I think reform does need to occur, but I'm not sure that needs to be to the extreme that is being presented in this case.
What I think should happen: No worker should be MADE to get in the water with them. If they do, they should be given the option for various safety measures. The risks should also be spelt out for them, so they know just what they're getting in to.
For many trainers, it's currently as if they've had their child ripped away from them, and put behind a permanent barrier.
I've talked to many trainers who say that each day they do a show, it's hard to put on a happy face. They just want to leap over the edge and dive right into the pool. They want to be able to hug the whale without having a stupid physical barrier separating them. They say it's like losing a best friend, or a daughter or son. The relationship people see in shows sees is the most stressed, rule based performances SeaWorld has ever put on. Trainers hate it and the whales hate it.
Animals are like people. They too can snap.
Also, who does OSHA think they are? Let's focus on something like Rodeo's which kills 10 or 20 people each year... This was the first incident of it's nature in 45 years at SeaWorld. It just baffles me that OSHA thinks they can come in and pull this stuff now.
For some reason, this made me think first of octopuses. An animal that requires a padlock to keep it in an aquarium is obviously smart enough that we should be trying to communicate. Mainly, so that we don't get overrun by tentacled invaders in the future.