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Free Tilly: Should Wild Animals Be Kept in Captivity?

Photo courtesy of flickr user, Tilikum. View more photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tilikum/3426364449/

Tilikum (or Telly for short), the whale who attacked and drowned his trainer on Feb. 24, 2010, is a 30-year-old bull orca (or Killer) whale who has been in captivity for most of his life. He is a 12,000 lb whale and is the biggest and oldest whale currently in captivity, but he has killed three times. Does this mean it’s time for him to finally be “free?” And if so, does that also mean that keeping animals in captivity will no longer be necessary or humane in the 21st century? Way back in the 90’s, I sponsored a killer whale. She was Keiko’s “grandmother” and she was a wild orca. I was thrilled. At that point in my life, I was fascinated by these big, beautiful creatures and wanted to save as many as I could. Saving animals has kind of become a habit, in fact; I have three dogs because I can’t stand to see an animal mistreated. Animals, children and the elderly are in my opinion, the most helpless members of society. They need someone to stand up for them, and I’ve always tried to be that person. I think we, as college students and the world’s next generation of journalists, animal trainers, politicians and jack-of-all-trades, all need to stand up for what we believe in.

I believe in saving these whales. I went to Orlando’s SeaWorld once, again back in the 90’s, with my grandparents. We watched the whales and I was amazed at what they could do. After that we went to a wild-life preserve that helped heal manatees and sea turtles who had been hit by boats. This station was a wonderful experience because I got to see how the animals were taken care of before they were released into the wild. These animals sometimes do need our help, but that’s mostly because we’ve harmed them once before.

As you know, I’m rather level-headed. So take this post with a grain of salt; I’m not a radical as so many in the media are calling those who are demanding Telly’s return to the waters of his “youth.” PETA, the people for the ethical treatment of animals, has a petition that you can sign and send in an effort to free this orca from his theatrical prison. As the petition site says, there are animatronics that would wow the audience in the same way that Telly does, without causing these animals to continue to be on display for our pleasure.

Another alternative is HD videos. There are cameras that go underwater and that way we could see the majesty of these animals without the tortured look in their eyes. Have you ever seen an animal in a tank at an aquarium? If you have, you notice that their eyes resemble a resigned soul, someone who has accepted their fate and can’t see a way out. Remember Mumble in Happy Feet? Despite the fact that he was a cartoon, it was clear that the animals kept in these confined spaces do lose their minds and ultimately themselves in the endless cycle of isolation, boredom and performance expectations.

What do you think? Do you think it would acceptable to use HD cameras and animatronics as a substitute for live animals? If you agree, sign the petition, join the Facebook page AND stand up for what you believe in. Make it so that whales, dolphins and other wild creatures will be safe in their natural habits for years to come. If you don’t, do tell why!