“Fabulous Killer Whale watching at Sumburgh Head and Grutness this afternoon, with a pod ‘surfing’ and jumping in the swell. The seal in the photo clinging onto the rocks for dear life I think did survive!”
There’s no way to say this easily, so I’m just going to say it. Tilikum - probably the most well-known and controversial orca whale in the world - has died.
Tilikum has been battling a tenacious lung infection for around a year. and that is what he likely succumbed to, despite dedicated 24-hour care. Officially, cause of death is never announced until after a thorough necropsy (animal autopsy), which involves the collection and study of many tissue samples. That takes time and allows the veterinary staff to scientifically confirm the conclusions they reach from studying the animal’s body. Tilikum’s necropsy will likely be performed in Seaworld’s on-site building, specifically built for the task of handling large cetaceans. It is reasonable then, in this case, for the press release to state that there is no official cause of death - it is suspected, but vet staff are doing their jobs and following the proper protocol before publicizing it.
Headlines all over the internet are immortalizing him as a “killer” killer whale - either the unwitting champion of a polarizing media piece, or as a violent and unstable martyr. I challenge you to think about this differently: an animal is dead. An animal we, as a collective culture, have placed a huge amount of moral and societal weight on. That should be our focus today. Not the politics, not if this is champions a movement. A whale from a beautiful, powerful, rare species is dead.
(It has not been an easy week for anyone in the orca fandom - J-2 (Granny) was announced missing from her pod and is presumed dead as well).
I want to ask people to stop, for a second, before diving into what is surely to be the newest round of furor and recognize that a beloved animal is gone and that people are grieving. Tilikum was an icon to millions of people on all sides of the cetacean captivity debate and because of that, an ambassador for his species. Whatever you say about it in the coming days, please keep in mind that for many this is an extremely personal topic, and be kind.
Killer whales travel in their family group for most of their lives. This family group includes a two-year-old calf (second from top), and a young-of-the-year (middle).NOAA/Vancouver Aquarium
Beyond the lies, beneath the deception, the truth will surface.
Magnolia Pictures has debuted the trailer for the chilling Sundance documentary Blackfish, directed Gabriela Cowperthwaite, about orcas in captivity.
Holy shit.
OKAY, WE NEED TO REBLOG THE FUCK OUT OF THIS. EVEN IF YOU’RE NOT AN ANIMAL PERSON, YOUR FOLLOWERS NEED TO SEE THIS. ESPECIALLY DURING THE HEIGHT OF VACATION SEASON. DO NOT SUPPORT SEA PARKS WITH CAPTIVE WHALES. IT’S NOT ENVIRONMENTAL PROPAGANDA (I can’t believe I even used those words) IT’S A REAL ISSUE AND IT’S NOT A MATTER OF PROOF, IT’S A MATTER OF COVERING IT UP AND IGNORING
Okay let me tell you some shit about Orcas I found out while doing a report on them
Orcas are smart ass mother fuckers. In the wild they hunt fish in pods so they can create a net of bubbles to capture fish and then eat them. They also hunt in pods so they can create waves to knock seals off of ice flows. Orcas are so smart they form societies based on their ancestry so they can care for their young and survive.The entire ocean is full of orcas that are smart enough to distinguish between humans and actual prey. And I know this because ORCAS HAVE NEVER KILLED HUMANS IN THE WILD. NEVER. THESE ANIMALS ARE SO SMART THEY KNOW AFTER A QUICK GLANCE THAT “HEY THAT’S NOT A SEAL. THAT’S NOT SOMETHING I WANT TO EAT, IT’S A GROSS HUMAN”
GUESS WHAT ELSE, MOTHERFUCKER? THE ONLY KNOWN DEATHS FROM ORCA ATTACKS HAVE BEEN IN CAPTIVITY.
WE HUMANS TOOK THESE MAGNIFICENT CREATURES FROM THEIR HOMES AND PUT THEM IN THE EQUIVALENT OF A BATHTUB AND THEN WE GET UPSET WHEN THEY ATTACK US. IT’S NOT THE WHALES FAULT.
AND YOU KNOW THOSE “CUTESY” FLOPPED OVER FINS? THAT’S ACTUALLY CAUSED BY THE TANKS BEING SO SHALLOW AND ROUND. IN THE WILD ORCAS CAN GO THOUSANDS OF FEET DEEP AND THE WATER PRESSURE IS WHAT KEEPS THE FINS UP, BUT IN THE TANKS THE WHALE IS STUCK SWIMMING IN A CIRCLE SO IT DEVELOPS A CRIPPLED FIN.
SO DON’T EVER TELL ME WHALES IN CAPTIVITY IS A GOOD THING, BECAUSE YOU’RE WRONG MOTHERFUCKER.
