Tilikum, the 12,000 pound, mature, alpha male Orca whale, has been involved in three human deaths--although one of the incidents is based on circumstantial evidence. According to the Los Angeles Times, Sea World officials "said they intended to continue using Tilikum -- who delights audiences with outsized splashes -- in its performances.
The article quoted SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment President Jim Atchison, who told reporters that Tilikum has been "a part of our team and he will remain a part of our team." Removing Tilikum from shows "would be a shame," he said.
Atchison also said, "This is really a wonderful animal and his participation in our shows, his engagement in our interactions and so forth is very important to his overall health and husbandry." This particular Orca whale has been a foundation breeder for the Sea World Orca Whale Program.
The dog pictured above, Billie Jean, is one of our "failures." She spent months in the adoption room, without enough exercise or training. She was adopted and/or fostered several times (three times that I know of) and was involved in an incident where she bit her handler while lunging at another dog. The solution to Billie Jean's aggression? Euthanization.
The solution to Tilikum's "aggression"? New training protocols, according to news reports.
The contrast between attitudes--the ease by which we euthanize dogs that have bitten, maimed (let alone killed) a human--and attitude of the Sea World officials toward their expensive (and very dangerous) Orca whale are striking. I realize that Orca whales are endangered, intelligent wild animals. I realize that dogs live in much closer proximity to humans than do most Orca whales. Still, I can't shake the feeling that we have different standards in effect. I guess it's better to be a "killer whale" than an "aggressive dog."
