What are the standards for animals who attack humans?

[Aunt Spiker]

The most common reaction to any animal-led attack on a human is to put the animal down.

If Spot bites someone - then it's possible that Spot will be put to sleep.
If a bear in Yellowstone attacks someone their reaction is to hunt the animal down and kill it in order to prevent future attacks.
I a lion in a zoo escapes his exhibit and attacks someone, the lion will be put down.

Elephants
Cats
Chimpanzees

The list can go on of animals who either just maimed or killed a victim in an attack - and we're put down either immediately or eventually after a court order.

So why are things seemingly different when it comes Tilly the Killer Whale?

In the case of Tilly, who's killed 3 times, Sea World seems to have unusual power over the say-so of the animal's life and quickly made it clear that Tilly won't be put down.

Why do they have this power and freedom of choice when countless other people - even in situations in which ones life was not in danger - do not?

 

[WI Crippler]

The most common reaction to any animal-led attack on a human is to put the animal down.

If Spot bites someone - then it's possible that Spot will be put to sleep.
If a bear in Yellowstone attacks someone their reaction is to hunt the animal down and kill it in order to prevent future attacks.
I a lion in a zoo escapes his exhibit and attacks someone, the lion will be put down.

Elephants
Cats
Chimpanzees

The list can go on of animals who either just maimed or killed a victim in an attack - and we're put down either immediately or eventually after a court order.

So why are things seemingly different when it comes Tilly the Killer Whale?

In the case of Tilly, who's killed 3 times, Sea World seems to have unusual power over the say-so of the animal's life and quickly made it clear that Tilly won't be put down.

Why do they have this power and freedom of choice when countless other people - even in situations in which ones life was not in danger - do not?

Hell, insurance companies will refuse to write homeowners policies for people who have dogs that are have high incidence of bite reports, just based on breed. The dog itself doesn't even had to have bitten anyone. I don't know why the whale hasn't been put down after 3 kills.

 

[spud_meister]

i think if you have a tamed animal that comes in frequent contact with people, it should be put down, but wild animals in captivity shouldn't be, there's somewhat of a difference between a whale drowning people in captivity and a rotweiler ripping off a three year olds face.

if you keep a 6 ton apex predator in a glass tank, what do you think will happen?

the only times Orcas have attacked people is when they've been in captivity.

 

[rathi]

Realistically, its because Killer Whales costs millions and bring in a lot of revenue. Honestly, I have no problem with letting Tilly live. The problem is putting seal sized mammals in a tank with a seal eating animal called a "killer whale". Tilly is only a danger to fools who make the deliberate choice to get in close proximity to a multi-ton carnivore.

 

[digsbe]

Tilly is an exception because the whale is worth far more than any other animal. I think it deserves to die, it's killed 3 people and is obviously a danger to others. However, putting it down means loosing a ton of money spent on the whale and training it. It's all about the dollars and not about the deaths.

 

[Goshin]

Personally I'd be surprised if any trainer was willing to go within Tilly's reach ever again... but I suppose there will be some overconfident person who will do so, and eventually Tilly will rack up Kill Number Four.

How many is too many?

 

[1069]

Tilly is an exception because the whale is worth far more than any other animal. I think it deserves to die, it's killed 3 people and is obviously a danger to others. However, putting it down means loosing a ton of money spent on the whale and training it. It's all about the dollars and not about the deaths.

Orcas do not kill people in the wild.
Placed in captivity and turned into trained circus performers, their natural instincts sometimes kick in.
I'd sooner Tilikum be released than killed. Why kill him?
Do you think the deceased trainer would want that? She probably loved marine animals.
Do you think it would make her family feel better?
No orca in recorded history has ever attacked a human in the wild.

What's your justification for wanting to kill Tilly?
Hypothetically speaking, of course. Sea World would never do that. They use him for breeding purposes. If anything, they'd just stop having him perform and keep him as a breeder.

 

[Ethereal]

Personally I'd be surprised if any trainer was willing to go within Tilly's reach ever again... but I suppose there will be some overconfident person who will do so, and eventually Tilly will rack up Kill Number Four.

How many is too many?

Their life, their choice, I guess. Who am I to tell them they can't swim with a big fish (I know it's a mammal...:2razz?

 

[Ethereal]

The most common reaction to any animal-led attack on a human is to put the animal down.

If Spot bites someone - then it's possible that Spot will be put to sleep.
If a bear in Yellowstone attacks someone their reaction is to hunt the animal down and kill it in order to prevent future attacks.
I a lion in a zoo escapes his exhibit and attacks someone, the lion will be put down.

Elephants
Cats
Chimpanzees

The list can go on of animals who either just maimed or killed a victim in an attack - and we're put down either immediately or eventually after a court order.

So why are things seemingly different when it comes Tilly the Killer Whale?

In the case of Tilly, who's killed 3 times, Sea World seems to have unusual power over the say-so of the animal's life and quickly made it clear that Tilly won't be put down.

Why do they have this power and freedom of choice when countless other people - even in situations in which ones life was not in danger - do not?

The animal is their property and the people who were killed by it knowingly placed themselves in a dangerous situation. If they want to keep it around, and some fool wants to get in the pool with it, who are we to say otherwise?

 

[idk]

Orcas do not kill people in the wild.

That's because people don't often swim off the coast of Alaska.

 

[Aunt Spiker]

Yeah - I don't doubt that they're indiscriminate and would chow down on a human like many other animals if the conditions were right for it.

 

[Manc Skipper]

That's because people don't often swim off the coast of Alaska.

Orca may be found anywhere, including the Mediterranean, where lots of people swim. They are generally thought not to be a particular hazard to humans, and many Orca groups specialise their diet, eating mainly fish, or seals or other marine creatures such as whales. (which is where the "Killer Whale" tag comes from, Orca's are dolphins
One David Attenborough animal series had film of Orcas surfing up the beach to capture seal pups in South America somewhere. One intrepid cameraman donned a wetsuit and filmed the attacks from the water, but was left unharmed.

 

[idk]

Orca may be found anywhere, including the Mediterranean, where lots of people swim. They are generally thought not to be a particular hazard to humans, and many Orca groups specialise their diet, eating mainly fish, or seals or other marine creatures such as whales. (which is where the "Killer Whale" tag comes from, Orca's are dolphins
One David Attenborough animal series had film of Orcas surfing up the beach to capture seal pups in South America somewhere. One intrepid cameraman donned a wetsuit and filmed the attacks from the water, but was left unharmed.

They can be found anywhere, yes, but the more aggressive transient killer whale pods tend to prefer the polar regions where they find easier prey. I understand the allure in deeming Shamu a friendly human-lover (as we did with Flipper), but it's simply not true. Under the correct circumstances I have no doubt that a wild orca would not hesitate to kill a human being.

As it stands right now, humans just aren't on the menu. We're bony and small. But just as it is foolish to assume that a wild dolphin won't attack and kill a person (they will), it's foolish to assume a wild orca wouldn't do the same.

*To clarify my position on the issue, I'm undecided whether or not orca captivity for entertainment should be allowed. I understand both sides of the argument.

 

[liblady]

Tilly is an exception because the whale is worth far more than any other animal. I think it deserves to die, it's killed 3 people and is obviously a danger to others. However, putting it down means loosing a ton of money spent on the whale and training it. It's all about the dollars and not about the deaths.

the whale doesn't deserve to die for behaving like an animal.

 

[Harry Guerrilla]

They should let it go, if it's able to live in the wild.

These animals were never meant to be stored in small spaces and to do performances.

 

[Aunt Spiker]

Yeah, right - an Orca whale whose been in captivity for 20 years, is domesticated and use to people and has killed people, as well.
Let him go and he'll be attacking people at the beaches.

They strongly discourage people from letting any type of aquatic pet go in the wild due to a variety of issues that can happen.

 

[roguenuke]

I'm not totally sure, but I'd say the main reason the whale doesn't have to be put down as would be mandated if it were one of the other animals you mentioned is that for the other animals, since they're all terrestrial animals, there is a chance that any of them can get loose and kill again, even those kept in zoos. The concern being that it could be someone that didn't put themselves in harm's way at all. Tilly, being a whale, has almost zero chance of escaping on its own. The chance of Tilly killing someone who doesn't put him/herself in harm's way is almost zero. (I can't really say completely zero because I don't know if the tanks that they house Tilly in connect to the ocean in a way that could allow a chance for Tilly to escape. Also, it is possible that some environmental/animal rights group/person could get really brave, and try to help him escape.)

I agree with the other posters though that said money was a huge consideration in keeping Tilly alive. And I agree that it might be hard to find someone to train with him again. Hopefully, they will just keep him to breed and not put anyone else at risk. But that comes back to a money issue, so who knows?

 

[Skateguy]

what do thy call those whales again?? Nuff said.

 

[Manc Skipper]

what do thy call those whales again?? Nuff said.

"Killer Whales" are not whales, but dolphins. They kill whales, which is how they came to be named. "whale killers" would be more accurate.

 

[DrunkenAsparagus]

They should let it go, if it's able to live in the wild.

These animals were never meant to be stored in small spaces and to do performances.

An animal raised in captivity like an orca can't be released. It's hard to train it to hunt in a pool

 

[Harry Guerrilla]

An animal raised in captivity like an orca can't be released. It's hard to train it to hunt in a pool

This is where I turn eco-tarian.

Wild animals shouldn't be held in captivity.
There is, almost, no reason for it.

Some wild animals can turn psychotic, if left near humans to long.

 

[Aunt Spiker]

This is where I turn eco-tarian.

Wild animals shouldn't be held in captivity.
There is, almost, no reason for it.

Some wild animals can turn psychotic, if left near humans to long.

Yes, I think that's whats going on with Tilly. . . Tilly has flipped.

I believe the Orca is extremely smart, probably smarter than we know - and Tilly knew what he was doing and intended to do it. He pulled her in by her hair, that's pretty vicious.

 

[Ikari]

I'd say for this whale either release it into the wild or put it down. But in the end, it belongs to Sea World, so it's their business. But if it kills again, I think Sea World would be liable for the damages since it is their property and they know it to be unsafe.

 

[DrunkenAsparagus]

This is where I turn eco-tarian.

It's a freaking whale

Wild animals shouldn't be held in captivity.
There is, almost, no reason for it.

Well they give us food (I'm not going to tofu), entertainment, and an assortment of other things. I hate pointless abuse to animals, but if animals have rights then they also have responsibilities. Are we gonna jail a dgo because it took a dump on city hall?

 

[Harry Guerrilla]

It's a freaking whale

I understand but it's stupid to hold such an animal solely for entertainment.
Add to that if it's a potentially dangerous animal.

It's not it's natural habitat so if people get killed no one should be surprised.

Well they give us food (I'm not going to tofu), entertainment, and an assortment of other things. I hate pointless abuse to animals, but if animals have rights then they also have responsibilities. Are we gonna jail a dgo because it took a dump on city hall?

They don't have rights, I don't want them to have rights but there are some things that are just stupid.

Remember that polar bear Knut, they should of never saved him.
His mother left him in the wild and unfortunately for the bear that is where he should of been left and not be brought to a zoo.

Many animals do not adapt well to zoo habitation.