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Bored and Curious
11 years ago
Orcas, that is. 
darktaggr here again. So, a while ago, around when Blackfish first came out, I heard about a few instances of orcas leaping out of SeaWorld pools. I hadn't been able to confirm the stories, but I do recall that one name was given quite frequently. I remember it was a bull, but I can't remember what stadium. From the way it was told, though, it sounded as if he'd cleared the glass completely and landed squarely on the seats. I took the stories and placed them on the plausible shelf and didn't think much more of them. Since I know orcas are smarter than that, but also know that depression can lead people to do dangerous things, I wasn't sure if I should believe the tales, and without proof, I could only stick a pin in them.
Flash forward to today when the IFuckingLoveScience Facebook page decided to post about one curious cow.
http://www.iflscience.com/plants-an.....ident-seaworld
All it would have taken was one gentle, friendly nibble on a kid's finger and a once-in-a-life-time touch on the beak would have turned into the million dollar lawsuit moment.
darktaggr here again. So, a while ago, around when Blackfish first came out, I heard about a few instances of orcas leaping out of SeaWorld pools. I hadn't been able to confirm the stories, but I do recall that one name was given quite frequently. I remember it was a bull, but I can't remember what stadium. From the way it was told, though, it sounded as if he'd cleared the glass completely and landed squarely on the seats. I took the stories and placed them on the plausible shelf and didn't think much more of them. Since I know orcas are smarter than that, but also know that depression can lead people to do dangerous things, I wasn't sure if I should believe the tales, and without proof, I could only stick a pin in them.Flash forward to today when the IFuckingLoveScience Facebook page decided to post about one curious cow.
http://www.iflscience.com/plants-an.....ident-seaworld
All it would have taken was one gentle, friendly nibble on a kid's finger and a once-in-a-life-time touch on the beak would have turned into the million dollar lawsuit moment.
kit
~azalea
Holy f**k. These GIFs are giving me MAJOR creeps. Imagine Kayla sliding out of the pool and getting injured (and how the hell would you haul back an orca back into the pool in time?) or if she "snapped" and injured any of the kids (I doubt that, but who can guarantee what her intentions were? Or if instinct kicked in?) Waaah...
DarkTaggr
~darktaggr
I dunno about getting them back into the pool in time, but they do have cranes and special harnesses for moving them for medical reasons or bastardizing the concept of a pod by swapping out members. Beached orcas can stay alive for a few hours, so I don't really think getting them back in would be a problem. It's the injuries that cause the most concern, both to the orcas and to the audience.
Arwyn
~arwyn
Poor orcas, so little room to swim around and I can imagine how mind boggling bored they must be in those tiny aquariums.
DarkTaggr
~darktaggr
SeaWorld does have plans to enlarge their tanks. While this is basically like saying they're turning a bathtub into a jacoozi, at least it shows that they're being affected SOME way.
Arwyn
~arwyn
Ah, I'm guessing this is in response to the movie Blackfish, SeaWorld is trying to redeem themselves a bit I take it.
DarkTaggr
~darktaggr
That;s their intent, yes. Redeeming themselves in the cheapest, most money-grubbing way possible. Bigger tanks! More people! More money! LOL. Nope.
