SeaWorld, OSHA, & Orcas

This week I decided to talk about SeaWorld's appeal of the safety citations issued by OSHA. After the incident with Dawn Brancheau being eaten alive in front of a live audience four years ago by Tilikum, one of SeaWorld's killer whales, they shouldn't even have to think twice about risking the safety of their trainers – but they are. 

I should start by saying I am completely against SeaWorld and how they keep wild animals (orcas and dolphins in particular) in captivity. I am a huge animal lover and I believe they should be free.

Orcas are wild killer whales that are suppose to live in an atmosphere a million times larger than what they are provided at SeaWorld. They are wild animals and are unpredictable which is one great reason as to why I believe SeaWorld trainers should always be out of the water or have some kind of physical barrier between themselves and the whales. OSHA declared changes to be made after Brancheau's death stating they must keep barriers between trainers and orcas at all times. SeaWorld has been fighting since then to keep trainers in the water interacting with the orcas. I have done research on SeaWorld, Tilikum, and orcas in general for about the past year. Orca's are not typically aggressive animals which leads me to believe Tilikum eventually had had it and was lashing out when Brancheau was killed. That can happen with any wild animal, especially wild animals in captivity not living in their normal environment. This is why I disagree with SeaWorld as a whole and I'm very happy that OSHA denied SeaWorld's appeal for the safety of the trainers. I do however, wish something more could be done about the captivity of wild animals.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/11/us/seaworld-ruling/index.html?hpt=us_c2