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killer whale beaches itself (suicide attempt) at theme park

posted 8 years ago by libby2130
4 replies | jump to latest

http://mashable.com/2016/06/07/video-killer-whale-theme-park-beaching-tenerife/#CrD2xt5V.SqJ

Morgan, the orca, is seen deliberately pulling itself out of the water at Loro Parque in the Canary island and laying motionless for several minutes, in a video taken by "Morgan Monitors" and shared on Vimeo.

[–] babz12 8 years ago

Though killer whales are intelligent, I'm not sure they have the kind of thought process to think, "I'm unhappy. I'm just going to end it all now." Beaching is also something whales do in the wild so the actual act is not sinister.

Also, apparently this whale is deaf and blind in one eye and was actually found near starvation beached in the Netherlands. She'd be dead if they hadn't captured her, which I know lots of people say dying in the wild would be better than dying slowly in captivity, but who knows how the whale felt and really feels. Why this particular whale did it at that time? Who knows. Waiting for food maybe. Hoping a sea lion would wander by she could snatch or hoping a trainer would throw fish in her mouth.

[–] libby2130 8 years ago

this is the same whale that was banging it;s head against the gate the week before...so that is an indication that the whale is not happy...and it is knwn that they give them anti depressants

[–] tcob44 8 years ago

Though killer whales are intelligent, I'm not sure they have the kind of thought process to think, "I'm unhappy. I'm just going to end it all now."

There are numerous scientific studies over the last few decades that have shown that dolphin and orca intelligence is comparable to humans. In fact, some countries have granted them non-human personhood status. In addition, dolphins have been known to deliberately commit suicide, specifically the dolphin named 'Peter' who was part of a NASA-funded study that administered LSD to dolphins (in addition to giving the dolphin hand-jobs...)

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jun/08/the-dolphin-who-loved-me

Beaching is also something whales do in the wild so the actual act is not sinister.

There are different kinds of beaching, and the type you are referring to is usually caused by seismic activity messing up their sonar, or the US Navy's super-sonar messing up their sonar. This is not that.

Why this particular whale did it at that time? Who knows. Waiting for food maybe. Hoping a sea lion would wander by she could snatch or hoping a trainer would throw fish in her mouth.

Scientists and trainers have been waaaaaaay past this point of unfamiliarity with orcas. Have you seen Blackfish, BTW? Because right in the beginning of the documentary you learn about how the wild orcas tricked those trying to kidnap their children. The males made a big ruckus and led the captors the wrong way, whereas the mothers and children kept mostly underwater and went the opposite direction, this strategy working once before, but was thwarted by the fact the orca-child-abductors used helicopters the second time, not wanting to be out-smarted again.

[–] Troyal1 7 years ago

Interesting