Orca Kills!

Something very sad happened at Seaworld, Florida this week. A very experienced trainer was killed by the very being she had devoted her studies, and life to understand. She had worked with these magnificent creatures for many years and knew their habits and instincts completely. She knew the risks and dangers, but was willing to take those risks, even at the expense of her own life. I feel very sorry for the family and friends and colleagues she leaves behind. She was obviously dedicated to her work, indeed her vocation in life.


On the other hand, we know that these Orcas are also known as Killer Whales. They do not earn that title casually. It has a background. These are predators, and have swam our oceans for millions of years, unchanged. They were created that way. Yes I said 'created' not evolved. This has become a news item because the whale killed the trainer, and perhaps because we believed that the whale had been trained out of its nature! We should not be surprised that lions maul their trainers, as Orcas kill theirs, and even our pet domesticated dogs will occasionally maul a child to death. We capture the animals, but we do not captivate their instincts, no matter how well we learn to train them to jump and leap so gracefully. They are killers at heart.


Isn't that part of the reason we are fascinated by them? The risk? The danger element? The possibility that as we watch, something might go wrong? Is there something of the gladiatorial spectacle in this? I have to admit to seeing these shows at Seaworld more than once, and being fascinated at the trainer's ability to swim with them, jump on top of them, stroke their tongue, and even let these magnificent animals push them high into the air, out of the water, and on its snout! Amazing, but for my part, I certainly had come to think that the trainer was in charge of the animal, and they are... but only to the degree that the animal's basic instinct allows. In this case, the animal's instinct came through, and a life was ended. 


The chief of Seaworld was visibly shaken and affected by this disaster, as he gave his interview, and said that every safety procedure would be re investigated! I think this is a bit naive. You may be able to retrain a trainer, but you cannot retrain the killer instinct out of a killer whale, no matter what steps you take. And in the meantime, thousands of people will flock to see the 'show' this year, unaffected by the death of a Seaworld employee. I wonder again, what really makes the performances so memorable? The music? The grace of the Orca? The command of the trainer? Or maybe the thought deep down that 'something might happen this time'?


Just my thoughts, but what do you think?