#killer whales

[amanitahouses]

watercolor, marker, and construction paper digitally scanned and animated (stickers available here)

[daz-e]

[orcinus-veterinarius]

Learning anything about marine mammal training will make you re-evaluate so much of your relationship with your own pets. There is so much force involved in the way we handle domestic animals. Most of it isn’t even intentional, it just stems from impatience. I’m guilty of it myself!

But with the exception of certain veterinary settings where the animal’s health is the immediate priority, why is it so important to us that animals do exactly what we want exactly when we want it? Why do we have to invent all these tools and contraptions to force them to behave?

When a whale swam away from a session, that was that. The trainer just waited for them to decide to come back. If they flat out refused to participate in behaviors, they still got their allotment of fish. Nothing bad happened. Not even when 20-30 people were assembled for a procedure, and the whale chose not to enter the medical pool. No big deal. Their choice and comfort were prioritized over human convenience.

It’s almost shocking to return to domestic animal medicine afterwards and watch owners use shock collars and chokers and whips to control their animals. It’s no wonder that positive reinforcement was pioneered by marine mammal trainers. When you literally can’t force an animal to do what you want, it changes your entire perspective.

I want to see that mindset extended to our domestic animals.

[hometoursandotherstuff]

[whereifindsanity]

Leo Thomas

[fisheatingorca]

Me and my cetacean pals!

@calsfinalproject

[namu-the-orca]

This is a video from the fb page run by the animal care team at Marineland Antibes in France. It made me happy and relieved and sad at the same time. These people are still here. Still doing their very best to take of their beloved animals, stuck in limbo for more than a year already. I so, so wish the best for them. I so wish Wikie and Keijo will be moved to Loro Parque, where they can be with other killer whales. I so wish their trainers will be involved in such a move. Wikie was one of the first Killer whales I ever saw for real; she was only 8 years old then. She, and this place, will always occupy a special part in my heart.

Look at them, look at these people who have never given up on them. Who still show up, despite their own utter uncertain future (and I guess very little pay). None of us should give up on these whales either. I so wish all of them the best. UPDATE: a couple hours after writing this I JUST read the news that Wikie and Keijo will indeed be transferred to Loro Parque!!!! I am so very happy. I hope the transfer will go smooth and without much trouble for the animals, that they will be accompanied by their loyal staff and that they will settle into their new home well.

[jadeseadragon]

@roamtheocean

Captured by @captaindannyfrank⁣ ⁣Seen aboard @discoverywhalewatch⁣ ⁣ 🎥

📍 Big Sur, California.