Blackfish Essay
In 1983, a male killer whale was captured in the North Atlantic, at the age of 2, he was already 11.5 feet long. They named him Tilikum. Tilikum was first introduced at Sealand, at night they stored the whales in a “module”, a dark, metal 20 x 30 feet box for two-thirds of their lives. During the winter the orcas would be locked in from 5 pm to 7 am. February, 1991, Kelty Burn falls into the water, then Tilikum brings her down, and drowns her. In the newspapers it claimed that it was an accidental drowning. Sealand closed, and SeaWorld needed a breeder. So, SeaWorld purchased Tilikum. Blackfish is a documentary that follows story of Tilikum, a captive killer whale that has taken lives of several people, and presents major issues within the sea-park industry.
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That SeaWorld separates the families, and lies about the death of Dawn Brancheau (one victim of Tilikum), and that SeaWorld makes killer whales become psychotic and aggressive. SeaWorld claims that Blackfish is propaganda, not a documentary. They claim that Blackfish’s two central claims are wrong: “(1) that life at SeaWorld is harmful for killer whales and for trianers working with these animals, and (2) that SeaWorld has attempted to cover up facts surrounding the tragic death of trainer Dawn Brancheau in 2010, as well as the history of Tilikum…” (SeaWorld Cares). After researching on the scientists featured in the documentary, Howard Garrett, joined PETA in a law suit against SeaWorld. The lawsuit stated that SeaWorld’s work with killer whales equaled slavery under the thirteenth amendment. The case was dismissed by the court. SeaWorld argues that the film relies on “animal rights activists masquerading as scientists.” The former trainers featured in the documentary, most of them have little experience with killer whales and others haven’t worked at SeaWorld in 20
That SeaWorld separates the families, and lies about the death of Dawn Brancheau (one victim of Tilikum), and that SeaWorld makes killer whales become psychotic and aggressive. SeaWorld claims that Blackfish is propaganda, not a documentary. They claim that Blackfish’s two central claims are wrong: “(1) that life at SeaWorld is harmful for killer whales and for trianers working with these animals, and (2) that SeaWorld has attempted to cover up facts surrounding the tragic death of trainer Dawn Brancheau in 2010, as well as the history of Tilikum…” (SeaWorld Cares). After researching on the scientists featured in the documentary, Howard Garrett, joined PETA in a law suit against SeaWorld. The lawsuit stated that SeaWorld’s work with killer whales equaled slavery under the thirteenth amendment. The case was dismissed by the court. SeaWorld argues that the film relies on “animal rights activists masquerading as scientists.” The former trainers featured in the documentary, most of them have little experience with killer whales and others haven’t worked at SeaWorld in 20