Blackfish

[GreekStein]

I watched a documentary today called 'Blackfish'. I watched on Netflix but it's also on youtube if anyone wants to check it out. The documentary wasn't amazing but it was a little eye opening.



I went to Seaworld Orlando as part of a Disneyworld trip when I was 5 years old and everywhere I go I love to visit things that involve wildlife.

I've been Camel riding in Cyprus, I've ridden an elephant in Thailand (no easy jokes pls), I've cuddled up to an urangutang. I've been in a pool with crocodiles. I've been on a night safari, to a bird show etc etc etc and every time I've really enjoyed the experience and the animals are just so awesome but at the same time it leaves me feeling uncomfortable. In some countries, animals are given a fair amount of space but in places like Thailand that stuff largely goes out of the window. Mistreatment doesn't just have to be physical abuse. The animals are given way less space, separated from their mothers etc. They are also sedated and probably are in a few of the pics I have below.

Do people here think there's nothing wrong with what organisations like seaworld do? Do some of you always steer clear of these places on holiday? Maybe I'm just very selfish because even though I might not agree with certain things that happen and should ultimately not go, I do anyway. Generally interested in people's thoughts on this stuff.

[TightEnd]

very good film indeed. changed my attitude towards such places


the tiger picture. you were happy to be photographed next to an animal chained by the neck? i don't know the circumstances of the animal or the place but i think i would baulk at it.

[GreekStein]

very good film indeed. changed my attitude towards such places


the tiger picture. you were happy to be photographed next to an animal chained by the neck? i don't know the circumstances of the animal or the place but i think i would baulk at it.

I was less happy on my next visit to that zoo when I saw how fucking small it's enclosure was when it wasn't sedated and out for pics. I've stayed in bigger bedrooms than the place that tiger had to move around in.

[Marky147]

Watched it when it first came out, and found it very interesting, but it didn't seem very objective.

[kinboshi]

Was previosuly thinking about visiting the Elephant 'sanctuary' in Bali this July.  We read up on it, and won't be visiting it.

Like you say, it's a tough decision as it's amazing to see this animals close up, but its also wrong for them to be maltreated.  I'm not against zoos at all, as they carry out important conservation work and also it's not always cruel to keep an animal in captivity (as long as they're given room and the right conditions, etc.).  Living in the wild isn't usually a walk in the park (to mix my analogies), always the chance of starvation or being eaten for most animals.

Got to do what your conscience dictates I guess, after you've read up and have some knowledge of the facts of course.

[BorntoBubble]

cheers for this, i agree its a difficult balance between zoo's and no zoo's due to the funding and the awareness they bring.

I have no idea of the solution, but i do think that fit and healthy animals should never be taken away from the wild anymore, there is no need.

[kinboshi]

cheers for this, i agree its a difficult balance between zoo's and no zoo's due to the funding and the awareness they bring.

I have no idea of the solution, but i do think that fit and healthy animals should never be taken away from the wild anymore, there is no need.

Conservation, breeding, protecting from poachers, and habitat destruction - they're all reasons fit and healthy animals could be taken out of the wild.

[kinboshi]

Haha, my phone changed conservation to conversation. That's probably not a reason