Shamu Attacks Trainer

This story about Shamu attacking its trainer isn't surprising. I used to be so amazed with Sea World and even wanted to study marine biology at one time. The story I read said that the trainer who was attacked trained with the San Diego Shamu for 12 years.

The attack has surprised people, but it doesn't surprise me. These mammals are raised in captivity to perform. Although their name "Killer Whale" is nowhere near close to their reputable gentle nature, I feel that animals should not be kept in captivity for mere profit and entertainment. It's one thing to keep in captivity animals that are in danger of extinction and therefore help increase their population.

Which brings up another issue. Animals/Mammals such as Shamu or Coco, both of which were raised from babies by humans - can these animals ever make it in the wild if they were released? Is it fair to raise them this way?

I guess it depends on which Shamu it was.

According to Wikipedia:

The first Baby Shamu, born on September 26, 1985 and named Kalina, was the first-ever orca calf to thrive in captivity. (Ten orca calves had been born in captivity before 1985, but five were stillborn and the others all died within two months of their births.) The first Grandbaby Shamu, a male known as Keet, was born in February 1993 and the first Great Grandbaby Shamu, a female named Kalia, was born on December 21, 2004.

One Shamu is in San Diego, another in Orlando, and the other in San Antonio. I'm betting it was the Sag/Cap cuspy Shamu. 😉

"The first was a killer whale attacking a great white shark."

Sheer awesomeness...

This is like the marine version of Alien vs. Predator.

"It looked more like The Govenor Arnold fighting President Bush."

Y'know, I'd pay to see that...

Republican on Republican...not sure it would be a good fight.