Hello and thank you for being a DL contributor. We are changing the login scheme for contributors for simpler login and to better support using multiple devices. Please click here to update your account with a username and password.

Hello. Some features on this site require registration. Please click here to register for free.

Hello and thank you for registering. Please complete the process by verifying your email address. If you can't find the email you can resend it here.

Hello. Some features on this site require a subscription. Please click here to get full access and no ads for $1.99 or less per month.

'Blackfish' - Documentary Exposes the Shittiness of SeaWorld

The hauntingly brutal nonfiction film Blackfish focuses on those leaping, frolicking, seemingly happy-go-lucky (even dolphin-esque) whales in captivity in places like SeaWorld, where every so often they’ll crunch down on a foot or arm and drag someone under until he or she drowns. And then you glimpse something wrong — something monstrous and unnatural — in this picture. And once you do, you won’t be the same.

The film begins in 2010, when esteemed 40-year-old trainer Dawn Brancheau was killed by a whale named Tilikum before a horrified Orlando SeaWorld crowd. The incident was generally viewed as a freak accident. The first wave of reports said that Brancheau had slipped and fallen into the water, the next (the version SeaWorld still stands by) that Tilikum had gone for Brancheau’s inappropriately dangling ponytail.

But this was — by all credible accounts — a savage attack. Tilikum had killed before, once at a place called SeaLand in Vancouver, once (possibly) at SeaWorld in Orlando. (The problem is that no one could prove what had actually happened to a disturbed man who’d snuck into SeaWorld after hours and was found in the morning on Tilikum’s back, naked and dead.) The big fella remains at SeaWorld, by most definitions psychotic but a source of million-dollar sperm to make more orcas for more lucrative fish shows. What’s an aquatic theme park without a killer whale?

This is one of those docs during which audiences gasp and cry out — or just cry — at regular intervals. Sometimes we cry for the humans, sometimes for the whales. After the prologue that alludes to Brancheau’s fate (we must wait more than an hour to hear the full story), director Gabriella Cowperthwaite cuts to a burly, bushy old guy who took part in a 1970 expedition to steal baby whales from their mothers to supply the burgeoning fish-show industry. The man is an ex-mercenary who claims to have toppled presidents. But what he can’t forget are those whales.

Orcas, you see, don’t part so easily with their children. Cowperthwaite animates what happened while a researcher narrates. The males attempted to divert the human predators while the females and children swam the other way. A brilliant diversion — spoiled by a spotter plane that relayed the whereabouts of mothers and children.

Whales are complicated, intelligent, highly emotional beings. They stick by their mothers for life in family pods. A mother who loses a child will make the kind of sound that transcends species. You hear that sound in Blackfish. You will never forget it.

Tilikum was one of those young ones snatched from his mother.

Former Orlando SeaWorld trainers recall the anguish of mothers losing children (SeaWorld would ship babies to other parks), the excruciating solitary confinement of orcas like Tilikum, and even how males’ dorsal fins, erect in the wild, would sadly go limp and curl over in captivity.

Those ex-trainers are riveting subjects, chiseled and eloquent. And traumatized. Editor Eli Espres will cut back and forth from their tearful recollections to footage of their younger selves, smiling and spouting their insipidly hearty SeaWorld spiels. I loved listening to curly-haired Samantha Berg (now living at the opposite end of the U.S. — in Alaska), Dean Gummersall (especially cretinous as a SeaWorld spokesman in his early days, now appropriately and likably embarrassed), John Jett, and especially the weathered, sardonic Dr. David Duffus. But I shouldn’t single anyone out—they’re all compelling. They all came to love those whales, even Tilikum, driven mad by isolation and regular attacks by the tag-team torture of formidable mama whales. There was no place else for him to swim.

The movie unfolds like a thriller. We see trainers seconds away from their deaths — which are not, mercifully, shown. But the near-deaths are shown and are awful enough. Top trainer Ken Edwards is repeatedly pulled under by a whale (not Tilikum) that will not let him go. It went on for twelve agonizing minutes.

by Anonymousreply 109September 15, 2019 10:51 PM

SeaWorld officials declined to be interviewed for Blackfish, but there are transcripts from an OSHA hearing (wittily animated) suggesting that the company’s Kelly Clark lied about her connection to a park in Spain’s Canary Islands where a young trainer was torn apart. The whales came from SeaWorld.

For the record, SeaWorld has sent a letter to critics calling the movie’s allegations “inaccurate and misleading.” In the space of a minute, I’d spotted two places in which it totally mischaracterized the information in Blackfish and one in which it contradicted several of its employees (who were filmed surreptitiously spouting the company line). SeaWorld conceded nothing, nada — I’m surprised it didn’t dispute the movie’s 83-minute running time. Writer David Kirby, who isn’t in the film but wrote a book called Death at SeaWorld, issued a point-by-point refutation and called the letter “one of the clumsiest, most ill-advised acts of corporate crisis-management in decades ... Think New Coke.”

Blackfish doesn’t get into the subject of dolphins in captivity. That’s another can of fish. But you can extrapolate. It would be heartening beyond words if all cetaceans were someday gone from parks like SeaWorld. But that won’t happen without a hell of a fight. And trainers who go on record decrying what they’ve seen will likely be blackballed.

It’s true that the number of whales in captivity isn’t huge. But they’ve now become the mightiest symbols of our cultural hubris — of our inability to manage creatures we have the power to capture and imprison. It’s a metaphor for the ages.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 1July 20, 2013 12:01 AM

Captivity is evil.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 2July 20, 2013 12:04 AM

The Cove is another good one. Fuck SeaWorld.

by Anonymousreply 3July 20, 2013 12:13 AM

I saw the previews to this and it was kind of shocking. I'm sure SeaWorld is doing everything it can to make sure people don't see it.

I'm curious -- why is it called "Blackfish" if whales are mammals?

by Anonymousreply 4July 20, 2013 12:14 AM

The Cove is horrible. And by that I mean what it documents, not the actual film itself.

by Anonymousreply 5July 20, 2013 12:18 AM

It sounds very interesting OP but it also sounds too heartbreaking for me to watch. I'm not good with stuff like that.

I agree with the biologist in the article at R2. Captivity may have served a purpose at one point but it is no longer necessary.

by Anonymousreply 6July 20, 2013 12:37 AM

The cove was horrifying! I still see the blood and have nightmares!

by Anonymousreply 7July 20, 2013 12:43 AM

Two things to keep in mind about cetaceans. One, these are animals that in the wild have a range of literally thousands of square miles. No matter how big a tank one can build, keeping them in captivity is like keeping a human in a tiny cell for life. And two, they have self awareness. They are not stupid, they KNOW what is happening to them.

by Anonymousreply 8July 20, 2013 12:49 AM

And r8, they are all so beautiful in the wild

by Anonymousreply 9July 20, 2013 12:53 AM

R9 You are so right. A few years ago a bunch of us went to Sanibel Island. They have this big speed boat there that takes people out and the dolphins ride and leap in the wake. It was amazing! For one thing, you get to a lot closer to them than if you were sitting in some big arena. We got to see a mama dolphin swim and do jumps with a baby dolphin. It was far more enjoyable than watching them do stupid tricks and jump through hoops. They were having as much fun as we were, and when it was over, they got to swim off and be what they are meant to be, wild animals.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 10July 20, 2013 1:03 AM

Careful, OP. the tl:dr troll is out there in all her twitterized glory.

Thanks, though. Interesting.

by Anonymousreply 11July 20, 2013 2:34 AM

SeaWorld is a creepy organization all around. I've been to the one in San Diego - the exhibits seemed ok, but the shows were just horrible: full of phony patriotism and a lot of Up With People type cheering. It wouldn't surprise me at all if SeaWorld's owners were arch conservatives.

by Anonymousreply 12July 20, 2013 2:44 AM

what's a tl dr?

by Anonymousreply 13July 20, 2013 2:49 AM

too long: didn't read

by Anonymousreply 14July 20, 2013 2:51 AM

huh?

by Anonymousreply 15July 20, 2013 2:54 AM

tl;dr is when confused, dim bulbs feel overwhelmed when they see they may have to read something that is longer than four sentences.

Guess who usually feels overly taxed by such a proposition?

by Anonymousreply 16July 20, 2013 3:03 AM

Hargrove is on Bill Maher tonight and he is hot as fuck.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 17July 20, 2013 5:42 AM

Where can I watch Blackfish?

by Anonymousreply 18July 20, 2013 5:53 AM

Free Willy

by Anonymousreply 19July 20, 2013 6:16 AM

Buh-Bye!

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 20July 20, 2013 6:59 AM

Leave those sea creatures where they belong. They're not pets, they're not toys, they're not supposed to be hugged or ridden on. Christalmighty, I'm surprised incidents like this don't happen more often?

by Anonymousreply 21July 20, 2013 10:24 AM

R17, that picture of him doesn't do justice to how hot he looked on Maher's show last night.

Here he is on Overtime (although he never got a chance to speak) . . .

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 22July 20, 2013 1:36 PM

Link fail

by Anonymousreply 23July 20, 2013 1:47 PM

This documentary is just shallow.

by Anonymousreply 24July 20, 2013 1:53 PM

Sorry - maybe you have to be an HBO subscriber. I'm sure Overtime will show up on Youtube soon.

by Anonymousreply 25July 20, 2013 1:58 PM

Now I'm in the mood for Sushi.

by Anonymousreply 26July 20, 2013 2:08 PM

The last time I met up with family at Sea World in Florida I chose not to attend the killer whale show and waited outside for them. It is painful to watch them knowing how sentient these animals are.

by Anonymousreply 27July 20, 2013 8:39 PM

Hargrove is gay for those who did not know.

by Anonymousreply 28July 20, 2013 8:49 PM

The guy on Real Time came off as a bit of an idiot.

by Anonymousreply 29July 20, 2013 11:59 PM

Blackfish is going to be shown on CNN October 24th and various times. Please watch it. Even if you can suppose that Seaworld has only good intentions towards these animals, it is important to know that there is no way that a captive environment for an Orca, that can normally swim 70 or more miles per day, can ever come close to replicating their natural environment. And Orca and Dolphins are part of a very structured family and social structure and even in the wild, when separated from that due to an accident or something, they don't thrive on being alone. But the forced social structure at Parks like Seaworld don't work well, because Orca primarily live and socialize only with family and they don't live compatibly with Orca from other social structures.

Please watch the film and if you like it, read "A Death at Seaworld" and writings on the subject by journalist Tim Zimmerman.

Blackfish even has some eye candy in the form of John Hargrove. You can see a video of him performing aerial stunts at Seaworld on youtube. He is gorgeous and he offers one of several insider viewpoints on Seaworld and orca captivity in the film.

by Anonymousreply 30October 12, 2013 5:46 PM

Thanks for the tip, R30. I'll be sure to watch it on CNN.

by Anonymousreply 31October 12, 2013 5:49 PM

For the total idiot at R13.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 32October 13, 2013 2:07 AM

R32, your reply would have been brilliant if R13's post wasn't three months old, already answered three months ago, and if we hadn't already seen that lmgtfy link show up a thousand times. Just fuck off.

by Anonymousreply 33October 13, 2013 2:22 AM

I see R33 doesn't know how to use Google either.

by Anonymousreply 34October 13, 2013 3:44 AM

The plight of these animals in captivity is very sad. They are prisoners, who have committed no crime, but are sentenced to a watery prison for profit and entertainment. The premise that the marine parks help us study them may have made some sense 30 years or so ago, but we have exhausted what we can learn from them in captivity. To use that argument would be like saying it is valid to get a good assessment of human behavior by only studying those who are incarcerated. A person in a 9x9 cell will not give you much useful data, and nor will an Orca in a tank on the scale of a bathtub for their body.

I urge you to not pay money to go to these captivity parks, and if you have even a slight interest in helping these animals, watch The Cove ( with a big box of tissues) and watch Blackfish, Read A Death at Seaworld and Tim Zimmerman's article about Tilikum.

by Anonymousreply 35October 14, 2013 3:31 AM

Blackfish is on CNN this Thursday. If you have ever been to a marine park, or are considering a trip to one, I urge you to watch this. Using animals for entertainment purposes is "old school". Hopeflly we will soon arrive to the conclusion that outside of conservation efforts, research into the animals and effects of environmental pollution, etc, and preservation of endangered species, we should be working to reduce the number of animals kept in cages, or in environments that don't even attempt to mimic the natural environment. For cetaceans, captivity will never be adequate because these animals naturally cover up to 100 miles per day and no captive environment will substitute for that.

by Anonymousreply 36October 22, 2013 3:43 PM

if interested, this is on TONIGHT, CNN at 9 Eastern time. I think it repeats again at 11

by Anonymousreply 37October 25, 2013 12:09 AM

It's airing on CNN right now.

by Anonymousreply 38October 25, 2013 1:22 AM

OMG! I want to watch this, but I'm so scared.

by Anonymousreply 39October 25, 2013 1:36 AM

I'm not an animal rights-type, but even I would never support Seaworld. I think it's ridiculous to make these creatures do tricks as if they aren't impressive and majestic enough just doing what they'd naturally do. I don't know how any moron says they want to work there because they love whales; that's like someone wanting to become a rodeo clown because they claim to love bulls.

by Anonymousreply 40October 25, 2013 1:54 AM

So fucking sad. Fuck all these bastards.

by Anonymousreply 41October 25, 2013 1:58 AM

Separating a baby whale from its mother is just about the most evil thing you could do.

The descriptions of the mother screaming for her baby was heartbreaking.

by Anonymousreply 42October 25, 2013 2:05 AM

Jack Hanna is an asshat. Seriously.

Take off your fucking Hat Jack

And shut your mouth because you sound ridiculous

by Anonymousreply 43October 25, 2013 3:08 AM

I wanna know who drew the short straw to jack off Tillikum. That was quite a scene. Orca porn.

by Anonymousreply 44October 25, 2013 3:36 AM

Okay, I had my DVR set to record this but it only recorded for one hour even though it says the documentary is 80 min?? What's up with that? Should I just rent it from Netflix? I don't want to watch one hour and be left hanging.

by Anonymousreply 45October 25, 2013 5:02 AM

I hate people.

by Anonymousreply 46October 25, 2013 5:18 AM

Fuck you Fuck you Seaworld!!!!!!!!

by Anonymousreply 47October 25, 2013 5:22 AM

Seeing monkeys in zoos is just as heartbreaking. These are highly aware and emotional creatures. Keeping them caged is fascistic.

by Anonymousreply 48October 25, 2013 5:44 AM

Don't those people including Jack Hanna who are supporting Sea World ("and by the way, I don't work at Sea World") know how stupid they sound, especially to an audience that just watched BLACKFISH?

"The trainers aren't in danger....oh, and if they were they want to be there anyway - like Indy car drivers.... If it wasn't for Sea World millions of people wouldn't be able to see the whales up close and we wouldn't know anything about them...."

by Anonymousreply 49October 25, 2013 12:55 PM

Seaworld attendance is gonna plummet

by Anonymousreply 50October 25, 2013 1:04 PM

Hopefully, R50.

by Anonymousreply 51October 25, 2013 1:47 PM

Let's hope so.

by Anonymousreply 52October 25, 2013 1:49 PM

What worries me about this is, what if radiation in the Pacific causes sea life there to go extinct? There are dozens of stories about fish washing up dead recently. Diseased seals in Alaska and Canada. Recently, some type of very large, deep sea fish was found washing ashore dead. What if some idiot decides to dump these animals back into the equivalent of the sea holocaust? They'll die along with all the others.

I'm no fan of Sea World either, but people are in such denial over the deaths of sea life in the Pacific, they pretend it's not happening. Where will they go if Sea World closes? Can they fend for themselves? Is the a water sanctuary in the ocean?

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 53October 25, 2013 2:17 PM

Another sea life story:

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 54October 25, 2013 2:19 PM

Similar stories about the Gulf of Mexico after the BP oil spill, also Florida area. I hate to say this, but these poor animals may be the last of their kind in the end.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 55October 25, 2013 2:22 PM

Sea World has a "sea rescue" program now. They were called because 14 whales had beached themselves. In the end, Sea World attempted to save only 5 and saved only 1.

by Anonymousreply 56October 25, 2013 2:23 PM

Florida sea life deaths:

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 57October 25, 2013 2:24 PM

Wish I'd caught this on CNN yesterday. I'm going to Netflix it.

SeaWorld makes me mad because there really are other ways to introduce the public to marine life. A place like Monterey Bay Aquarium, in contrast, is actually doing something about conservation and education and looks at species in context. Check out Saving Otter 501 which was recently on Nature. Sorry.. getting off topic.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 58October 25, 2013 2:56 PM

The bottom line is SeaWorld needs to be shut down.

by Anonymousreply 59October 25, 2013 3:50 PM

Anyone have insight as to why whales do sometimes beach themselves, especially in groups? What is going on there?

by Anonymousreply 60October 25, 2013 4:08 PM

Tilikum is a serial killer.

by Anonymousreply 61October 25, 2013 4:10 PM

And the guy he killed - first he took stripped him and bit off his dick.

by Anonymousreply 62October 25, 2013 5:13 PM

An extra "took" in that post....sorry.

And after reading a bit more - it seems he didn't bite off the entire dick, just one ball....

by Anonymousreply 63October 25, 2013 10:05 PM

Thank you for pointing this documentary out, OP. They totally should close SeaWorld. White trash fraus and their broods can go to Disneyland instead.

by Anonymousreply 64October 26, 2013 3:56 AM

Sea World is kind of like freak shows in the old days- people back then didn't understand why it was wrong to display human beings as freaks, but they do now.

It shouldn't be that hard to understand why it's wrong to kidnap incredibly intelligent animals, separate them from friends and family for the rest of their lives, and keep them imprisoned for life.

The "freak show" era is long over, why can't we understand that it's not okay to have animal freak shows either?

by Anonymousreply 65October 26, 2013 4:27 AM

This is an horrific story. I feel the same way about keeping birds in cages. The need to fly is innate in birds. Even one that has never been out of a cage will suffer because its natural behavior is being stifled. We can be cruel, selfish bastards!

by Anonymousreply 66October 26, 2013 6:02 AM

Just watched this. Powerful and sad. SeaWorld should be shut down.

On a superficial note, one of the former trainers, Jeffrey Ventre, is a hot daddy.

by Anonymousreply 67November 30, 2013 9:04 PM

How did they keep the video of the most recent fatality from going viral? Everyone there must have had a camera running.

by Anonymousreply 68December 4, 2013 12:38 AM

R68 there is one video on youtube that is the moments leading up to the death. I guess no one else did have a camera running, and SeaWorld has managed to keep their internal video from leaking.

by Anonymousreply 69December 4, 2013 12:43 AM

Blackfish Convinces Musical Acts to Cancel SeaWorld Performances

Heart, Willie Nelson and Barenaked Ladies have all canceled.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 70December 8, 2013 9:40 PM

I was in San Diego last month with some friends and we did the Zoo, the Safari Park, and some things in Balboa Park, but I bailed when they went to Sea World. And the ironic thing is that one of them is an uber-animal-lover type. (I didn't see the movie, but the previews were enough to prevent me from ever going to Sea World again.)

by Anonymousreply 71December 8, 2013 9:47 PM

CNN: Add REO Speedwagon to the list of musical acts canceling SeaWorld shows because of the documentary "Blackfish."

"Due to concerns regarding our February 16 appearance at SeaWorld, we have chosen to cancel the performance," the rock band said on its Facebook page on Friday.

A promoter could put together a great concert series with the acts who have canceled SeaWorld shows in the past several weeks, including Trisha Yearwood, Willie Nelson, Cheap Trick, Heart and Barenaked Ladies.

The acts bailed on the Orlando theme park's "Bands, BBQ and Brew" concert series amid pressure from fans who started online petitions, tweeted and posted on Facebook pages demanding they not play SeaWorld. The fans became upset after watching the CNN documentary "Blackfish," which first aired on CNN in October. The film tells the story of the killing in 2010 of a SeaWorld trainer by an orca. It raises questions about the safety and humaneness of keeping killer whales in captivity.

"In light of recent concerns, Trisha has decided to remove the February 22 date from her upcoming tour plans," Yearwood's representative told CNN on Thursday.

SeaWorld confirmed the REO Speedwagon withdrawal on Friday and referred CNN to its previous statements about the cancellations.

"We expect that other artists will be targeted in this campaign," SeaWorld spokesman Nick Gollattscheck told CNN in consecutive statements Wednesday and Thursday, starting with Cheap Trick's cancellation.

The park's six-week concert schedule -- which also previously listed Martina McBride, 38 Special, Justin Moore and Scotty McCreery -- has disappeared from SeaWorld's website. It now simply promises "incredible concerts with top artists in classic rock and country music."

SeaWorld is working to book replacement acts, Gollattscheck said. "We'll announce the full lineup of bands when all artists have been confirmed. We'll repost the schedule on our site then."

The Canadian rock band Barenaked Ladies was the first to cancel, reacting to a petition posted on Change.org.

"This is a complicated issue, and we don't claim to understand all of it, but we don't feel comfortable proceeding with the gig at this time," the band said on its Facebook page.

"I don't agree with the way they treat their animals," Willie Nelson said on December 6 when he canceled. "It wasn't that hard a deal for me."

Sisters Nancy and Ann Wilson of Heart did not elaborate last week when they announced their decision to cancel at SeaWorld, although they acknowledged it was "due to the controversial documentary film."

"We're disappointed a small group of misinformed individuals was able to deny fans what would have been great concerts at SeaWorld," Gollattscheck said.

SeaWorld said it would like the musical artists to learn for themselves about SeaWorld.

"The bands and artists have a standing invitation to visit any of our parks to see firsthand or to speak to any of our animal experts to learn for themselves how we care for animals and how little truth there is to the allegations made by animal extremist groups opposed to the zoological display of marine mammals," Gollattscheck said.

SeaWorld says the documentary ignores the park's conservation efforts and research.

by Anonymousreply 72December 14, 2013 8:35 PM

Just watched it. It's quite disturbing. The 12 minute video of the trainer that was pulled under several times was chilling. It's amazing he survived.

Even after the net was put up the orca still went after him. He literally escaped in just about one minute.

by Anonymousreply 73December 20, 2013 9:03 PM

Even though I really liked zoos and places like Sea World when I was a kid, I instantly knew there was something "wrong" with them.

I had a basic understanding that animals have natural habitats (learned in school or from nature shows) and that the zoo or Sea World-type place, even if "nice" was essentially prison for animals. And, the bigger the animal and further it was from its natural habitat, the worse it was. Didn't think much of it at the time.

A lot of these animals move over a huge area in the wild, so no wonder the fucking go insane from the restricted movement, not to mention the unwanted attention that comes with a zoo.

I still love basic aquariums and huge tanks of fish and eels and such (not things like dolphins or sea lions). Is it evil a that level?

by Anonymousreply 74December 20, 2013 9:15 PM

Damage control:

After months of dismissing "Blackfish" as activist propaganda, SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. today is launching a more aggressive counterattack on the critical documentary.

The Orlando-based theme-park company has placed full-page ads in eight of the country's largest newspapers, making a passionate case for the importance of displaying killer whales in captivity.

The "Open Letter from SeaWorld's Animal Advocates" — which appears in today's Orlando Sentinel, New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today, among other papers — defends the way SeaWorld cares for the 29 whales in its corporate collection. Although it never identifies "Blackfish" by name, the ad is the first step in a campaign to rebut criticisms raised by the film and the animal-rights activists promoting it.

SeaWorld President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Atchison said in an interview Thursday that the company decided to respond after several well-known performers backed out of concerts that had been scheduled for early next year at SeaWorld Orlando, most of them citing the "Blackfish" controversy.

Eight of the 10 acts SeaWorld had been counting on to headline its annual "Bands, Brew & BBQ" concert series — including Barenaked Ladies, Willie Nelson and Trisha Yearwood — have canceled, an episode that has drawn international attention.

"That ended up getting more coverage and became a story of its own, and, accordingly, what we wanted to do is to make sure that some of the misconceptions that were floating around related to that coverage were put to bed," Atchison said.

SeaWorld would not say how much it spent on the newspaper ads, which could soon be followed by an online campaign. But the move suggests that the company, whose 11 theme parks drew a combined 24.4 million visitors last year, is concerned about potential long-term brand damage from "Blackfish," a small-budget film that began as an entrant to the Sundance Film Festival in January and was just shortlisted for an Academy Award.

The film chronicles the capture and captivity of Tilikum he 6-ton killer whale at SeaWorld Orlando who killed trainer Dawn Brancheau in February 2010. Although "Blackfish" grossed only about $2.1 million during limited theatrical release this summer, it has repeatedly aired on CNN and this week debuted on Netflix's popular streaming-video service.

A representative for "Blackfish" distributor Magnolia Pictures said Thursday that the film's performance on Apple's iTunes and video-on-demand channels has been "through the roof," though the company would not provide figures. Netflix also would not disclose viewership data for the film.

In its open letter, SeaWorld says it has invested $70 million improving its killer-whale habitats in the past three years. Much of that has been spent on safety upgrades implemented after Brancheau's death, which remains the subject of a legal battle between SeaWorld and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Some of the company's claims are certain to spark an equally aggressive response from animal-rights groups.

For example, SeaWorld says in its ad that the life spans of its killer whales are equivalent to those living in the wild, which contradicts claims by animal-rights groups. A widely cited 1995 study found that the mortality rate of killer whales in captivity was about 21/2 times that of killer whales in the wild. Naomi Rose, a marine-mammal scientist with the Animal Welfare Institute, said Thursday that more recent research suggests the difference is closer to three times.

But Christopher Dold, SeaWorld Entertainment's vice president of veterinary services, said the rate of survival for SeaWorld's whales is just as high as that of whales in the wild.

Some of the discrepancy arises from how the statistics are calculated. Activists use data for all known whales taken or bred into captivity, while SeaWorld use figures only for its own whales and only from the past 15 to 20 years, which the company contends better reflects advances in care.

by Anonymousreply 75December 21, 2013 6:12 PM

Similarly, SeaWorld says in its ad that it does not separate killer-whale calves from their mothers, aside from rare occasions when the mother cannot care for the calf herself. But activists have compiled a long list of young killer whales separated from their mothers at SeaWorld parks.

The difference is one of definition: When SeaWorld says "calf," it is typically referring to whales still nursing, which can last until about two years of age. Activists generally include juvenile and adolescent whales, which can be a decade or so older.

"They're just trying to take advantage of the difficulties in finding absolute numbers to compare," said Howard Garrett, director of the Orca Network, an advocacy group in Washington state, and a researcher who participated in the making of "Blackfish."

Despite its high-profile response today, Atchison insisted that "Blackfish" and the negative publicity it has spawned have not hurt SeaWorld's business. The company says it is on track to post core earnings of almost $440 million on sales of nearly $1.5 billion, both of which would be company records.

"As much data as we have and as much as we look, I can't connect anything really between the attention that the film has gotten and any effect on our business," he said.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 76December 21, 2013 6:13 PM

From that article, 8 out of 10 acts cancelled. Which 2 are still performing?

Just watched Blackfish and cried buckets. I don't think I'll ever get the sound of the mama's distress cries out of my head. (BTW, straight female posting this).

by Anonymousreply 77December 23, 2013 1:15 PM

Let the Duck Dynasty assholes start a band and play there.

by Anonymousreply 78December 23, 2013 1:32 PM

Sooo...the guy who's the source for all this is a guy who claims to have 'toppled Presidents'? This is what is passing as a credibly witness now?

by Anonymousreply 79December 23, 2013 1:41 PM

People...left and right...have lost all capacity for critical thinking.

Zoos perform a function, particularly given that they now often house animals that are virtually extinct. It's too late for people to suddenly get sentimental. We have despoiled most of the Earth, and are irradiating the oceans.

SeaWorld is awful in many ways, but so are the people who are now coming forward. They participated in acts they now pretend to find repulsive, and my guess is that they're angling for book deals and such. Frankly, they don't have a lot of credibility either.

Humans continue to overpopulate and pollute the Earth, then grimace at SeaWorld's antics. It's hysterical. Guess where YOUR hamburger came from? Think that cow enjoyed her life?

by Anonymousreply 80December 23, 2013 1:51 PM

R80, yes, are right of course. And.at the same time consciousness change is incremental.

by Anonymousreply 81December 23, 2013 2:05 PM

Sometimes change comes about incrementally. A good analogy from the past is the human freak shows. Seaworld may have had some positive influence by introducing us to these whales in the first place when they were considered monsters of the sea. But now they too must evolve by at least stopping the whale tricks. And yes I like my occasional steak. But I'm evolving to once a month at that. The rest of the time it's fish (no analogies about whales being fish).

by Anonymousreply 82December 23, 2013 2:20 PM

The problem we face is that it's too late, at this point, for incremental change. The conservative backlash of the eighties has doomed us. Reversing global warming may be impossible at this point. People once talked about population control, and seemed to be moving in a more positive direction. Now people take pride in being anti-'PC', and in hating progressive ideals. We don't have all the time in the world, and things are going quickly in the wrong direction. There was an article in the Times today about Dolphins in the Gulf dying from pollution and remnants of the oil spill. We are not in good shape, and we just don't have forever to turn it around. It's already probably too late, which is really a tragedy.

by Anonymousreply 83December 23, 2013 5:52 PM

bump

by Anonymousreply 84December 24, 2013 11:56 AM

Is it true a man had sex with the whale?

by Anonymousreply 85December 24, 2013 12:25 PM

Nice try, R79.

But you're even stupider than you type if you think we'll fall for that shit.

by Anonymousreply 86December 24, 2013 1:30 PM

I like the white Rae dawn chong lookalike

by Anonymousreply 87December 24, 2013 1:47 PM

[quote]And the guy he killed - first he stripped him and bit off his dick.

How would a whale even know what a dick is or that men have them unless the trainer was regularly swimming nude and showing his dick to the whale.

by Anonymousreply 88December 24, 2013 2:30 PM

R4 Pacific Coast tribes call them Blackfish, as they are black fush

by Anonymousreply 89December 24, 2013 2:50 PM

R85 Male dolphins have been known to try to have butt sex with people on those stupid "Swim with Dolphins" shows They have sex with each other too

by Anonymousreply 90December 24, 2013 2:52 PM

There was a video of a man jerking off a dolphin. The dolphin's penis was like a corkscrew. Search on YouTube.

by Anonymousreply 91December 24, 2013 3:14 PM

FUCK! I just watched this and by the second half tears streamed down my face continually for the rest. I know the editors have manipulated the evidence but I was so moved and sad for the humans and whales involved, regardless of Seaworld's implicit in events, it's a shitty business and keeping whales captive for causal sport is evil and heartless.

by Anonymousreply 92January 10, 2014 3:00 AM

The documentary can be watched in full online, for those who haven't seen it yet and are interested:

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 93August 10, 2014 9:25 PM

[quote]Seaworld may have had some positive influence by introducing us to these whales in the first place when they were considered monsters of the sea.

I think that is why many people loved SeaWorld in the past. My family went to SeaWorld several times in the 80s and 90s when we visited relatives in San Diego. Over time, we got tired of the shows and eventually we read up on the issues of keeping whales in captivity. I saw Blackfish last year when it came out and I have talked to several people who have seen it and are now anti-SeaWorld. SeaWorld still has fans/supporters. A former co-worker of mine was posting on Facebook the other day about talking his kids to SeaWorld.

by Anonymousreply 94August 10, 2014 10:12 PM

Christ, that ex trainer Jeff Ventre is fucking hot as all hell.

And that little bitch went on to med school to become a psychiatrist.

He's a tasty little morsel, that one.

by Anonymousreply 95August 11, 2014 12:10 AM

I saw a video where a guy sucked on a dolphin's cock. It didn't last long, but the dolphin appeared to be overjoyed.

by Anonymousreply 96August 11, 2014 12:20 AM

Jesus R96! People are so weird. Ugh. Tastes like fish I guess.

by Anonymousreply 97August 11, 2014 1:41 AM

Fuck me!

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 98August 11, 2014 2:39 AM

Do people physically protest outside SeaWorld? They should.

I would never go there. No way. It should be closed. It's evil.

by Anonymousreply 99August 11, 2014 2:44 AM

There was protest back in February.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 100August 11, 2014 4:00 AM

Dolphins and Whales have no business being in captivity. period. Sea World and other such monstrosities should be shut down.

I think this is inevitable that Sea World and places like it will go under.

The public tide turning against them as awareness about how these animals are treated and that their captivity is tantamount to torture.

Those concerned about whales and dolphins in captivity need to start creating a plan to house these animals when the corporation of Sea World goes bust and they dump them.

This will require quiet a bit of planning because several of these animals are probably unable to survive in the wild at this point and several have been born in captivity.

by Anonymousreply 101August 11, 2014 12:11 PM

SeaWorld's earnings have dropped

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 102August 15, 2014 12:54 AM

bump

Airing on CNN right now.

by Anonymousreply 103August 17, 2014 1:06 AM

R102, I'm very happy to read that.

by Anonymousreply 104August 17, 2014 1:06 AM

I'm watching it now. I've seen it before, but I think when it comes to recent documentaries, it is one of the best ones. SeaWorld is losing support from the public, but it will probably be another ten years or more before they hit the bottom.

by Anonymousreply 105August 17, 2014 1:19 AM

I just watched it tonight and though it was disturbing, I think of the joy and inspiration these parks have brought to so many children for so many years. And isn't really about the children in the end? And before we completely condemn evil SeaWorld because I know it's de rigeur to only see the world in black and white, let's not forget that it donates millions to save injured and endangered animals and returns them to the wild. So there's that.

by Anonymousreply 106August 17, 2014 2:43 AM

Hulu was showing ads for a while. All those earnest Sea world employees talking about how much they love these animals and what an honor it was to "take care" of them. I wanted to put my fist through my own computer.

Thankfully they stopped just as I was getting ready to email Hulu to cut the shit.

by Anonymousreply 107August 17, 2014 2:52 AM

Why has it taken me this long to watch "Blackfish?" Did they really say that Keltie Byrne (a CHAMPION swimmer) drowned? I remember when they found the body of the man on Tilikum's back, I watched it on the news and didn't think much on it at the time. I had never heard about Alexis in the Canary Islands, that must have been hushed up and as for Dawn, well, I remember finding that out on Facebook at the time. My condolences to the families of the victims and I'm sorry I have posted this many years later.

by Anonymousreply 108September 15, 2019 10:23 PM

Way to wake up a thread after five years to make it all about you, R108. Don't you have mirrors to stare into or something?

by Anonymousreply 109September 15, 2019 10:51 PM
Loading
Need more help? Click Here.

Yes indeed, we too use "cookies." Take a look at our privacy/terms or if you just want to see the damn site without all this bureaucratic nonsense, click ACCEPT. Otherwise, you'll just have to find some other site for your pointless bitchery needs.

×

Become a contributor - post when you want with no ads!