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Blood in the water
On 24 December 2009 a 6,600 pound orca killed trainer Alexis Martnez at Loro Parque, a marine park in the Canary Islands. Two months later, trainer Dawn Brancheau was killed by an orca at SeaWorld Orlando. Should Martnez's death have served as a warning about the lethal potential of killer whales being trained for our entertainment?
This excellent expose by Tim Zimmermann highlights the efforts the captivity industry makes to hide the effects captivity has on these intelligent mammals and the frustration and deprivation they endure in the name of entertainment. In captivity they are robbed of their natural social environment, is there any wonder that these pent up frustrations are actually creating an 'accident waiting to happen' scenario with trainers at the receiving end. Marine Parks are aware of the dangers but continue to expose trainers to this simply for profit.
We urge everyone to read this report and judge for themselves whether it is now time to stop keeping these highly social, intelligent animals in captivity.
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