Artistic Science

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BOOK OF THE DAY:

Beneath the Surface: Killer Whales, SeaWorld, and the Truth Beyond Blackfish by John Hargrove and Howard Chua-Eoan 

“I had a boyhood dream that came true, almost magically, like something out of a children’s storybook. In time, I discovered that the gorgeous dream was only part of the story, that the bigger story was more of a nightmare, for myself and for the whales.”

John Hargrove’s childhood dream was to become a an orca trainer, since he was six-years-old. Whenever he went to his favorite magical place on Earth, he stayed after shows to satiate his curiosity and passion with a handful of questions to trainers. 

“Captivity is always captivity, no matter how gentle the jailer.”

After two decades Hargrove has worked with 20 whales on two continents, including two of SeaWorld’s U.S. facilities. As he became more experienced in his field, he began to doubt his profession and whether the whales’ needs were being met in captivity. After two trainers were killed by orcas in marine parks, Hargrove takes a bold stand, he realizes SeaWorld’s programs are both detrimental to its whales and fellow trainers.  

“When you are trapped by a whale that has gone over to the dark side, you still can hope that you can look the orca in the eye and redirect him or her. But in SeaWorld the corporation, there is no soul to peer into.”

After he leaves SeaWorld, he becomes one of the stars of the controversial world-wide seen documentary Blackfish. In his book, Hargrove extends his experience and compassion to advocate for the treatment of  SeaWorld’s orca.

“SeaWorld says that its animals receive all of their food regardless of how they perform throughout the day. This is false…The reality is that it was still happening even as I resigned in August 2012. I know of whales whose food base usually ranged from 180 to 250 pounds per day being restricted to as little as 59 pounds of food.”

He gives us of a reality of one of the most magical-perceived experiences in the world. He opens our eyes to the beautiful bond built between trainers and the animals, but the disappointing fact that the beautiful sea critter do receive unethical treatment, including breeding, separating whales, improper alimentation, etc. Also Hargrove does not hold bac,k he educates us on Sea World’s disloyalty to its trainers.

“The company denies separating mothers and calves, and when a mother and her offspring are assigned to separate parks, SeaWorld explains that the calf has been weaned. But orcas are unlike other animals. A calf is always a calf, no matter how old the whale becomes, it is always its mother’s son or daughter.”

He depicts a highly moving and compelling picture of intelligent and social creatures, which should be admired, not be imprisoned. He provides us with a vibrant and inspirational contrast of orcas in the wild, as opposed to those who spend their entire lives in activity.

“All of the reasons its orcas cannot be returned to nature stem from the fact that they have been psychologically and physically damaged by captivity.”

Overall Beneath the Surface is a meditation on human relationships with wild animals. He urges humanity to realize that animals also experience cognitive damage. They also become psychologically ill.

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(via wordsnquotes)