tagged w/ Kalina
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In a new study, nearly a year in the making, former SeaWorld trainers Jeffrey Ventre, MD and John Jett, Ph.D, take us deep behind the scenes of Marine parks and their ability to provide environments adequate for keeping killer whales alive in captivity.
And is captivity causing Orca whales to lash out and/or mistakenly kill trainers? There are so many questions about captivity, what it does to animals, does it generate bizarre behavior, lessening quality of life, etc.?
Dr.'s Ventre and Jett take a hard look at captivity and Orca health and behavior in this important study.
The practice of keeping killer whales in captivity has proven to be detrimental to the health and safety of animals and trainers alike. On Christmas Eve, 2009, trainer Alexis Martinez was killed by a male captive bred orca named Keto, who was on loan from Sea World to a facility called Loro Parque, in the Canary Islands, Spain. Two months later, on 24 February 2010, trainer Dawn Brancheau was killed by Tilikum, an animal involved with two previous human fatalities. Medical Examiner (ME) reports described massive trauma to both Dawn and Alexis. Neither death was accidental.
Log onto The Orca Project to read the entire article, print out the report and make comments.In a new study, nearly a year in the making, former SeaWorld trainers Jeffrey Ventre,... more
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Killer whale dies unexpectedly at SeaWorld Orlando
By the CNN Wire Staff
October 5, 2010 3:37 p.m. EDT
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
* 25-year-old Kalina died Monday after a sudden illness; cause is yet to be determined
* She is the third adult whale to die at one of SeaWorld's parks in four months
(CNN) -- A 25-year-old killer whale unexpectedly died at SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida, the park said in a statement Tuesday.
The whale, named Kalina, died Monday evening after a sudden illness, according to the statement.
The cause of death will be determined by a necropsy, the park said, adding that the results could take up to six weeks.
The park said Kalina "showed no signs of illness as recently as Friday" and had a normal appetite Sunday.
"She began exhibiting signs of discomfort Monday afternoon and died suddenly in the evening," the statement said.
Kalina is the third adult whale to die at one of SeaWorld's three locations in four months. In September, 12-year-old male killer whale Sumar died suddenly at the San Diego park, and 20-year-old Taima died while giving birth to a stillborn calf at the Orlando park in June.
The average life expectancy for male killer whales in the wild is about 30 years, while females generally live about 50 years. The average life span in captivity is significantly less.
Photo: KalinaKiller whale dies unexpectedly at SeaWorld Orlando
By the CNN Wire Staff
October 5,... more
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