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Lifeforce Requesting Inquest Into The Death By Orca
posted on February 25, 2010
February 25, 2010
NEWS RELEASE
Re: Lifeforce Requesting Inquest into the Death by Orca
Lifeforce , a Vancouver-based ecology organization, will be requesting that officials conduct an inquest into the recent death of Dawn Brancheau a trainer at SeaWorld Orlando. Lifeforce hopes that a legal investigation will help prevent human tragedies and the exploitation of orcas.
An inquest hearing was held in Canada into the death of Sealand employee Kelti e Byrne in 1991. The same orca, Tillikum, caused her death. Lifeforce made several recommendations including stopping any further contact with Tillikum and the other two orcas. Lifeforce told them that it is likely that Tillikum would attack again. Now he has caused a third human death.
In captivity orcas and other cetaceans are deprived of their behavioural and social freedoms. Confinement in aquarium prisons results in psychological harm resulting in neurotic, aggressive behaviours. Captivity can drive them insane. At Sealand of the Pacific, Victoria, BC the three orcas were inhumanely confined every night in a “holding module” that was approximately 25’ x 30’ (Photographs and video available). There was a history of psychological abuse to Tillikum.
“No one would put zoo keepers in a bear pit. Aquariums must stop putting trainers into whale tanks and stop all other public contact. “stated Peter Hamilton, Lifeforc e Director, who has studied orcas in the wild, “For the sake of both animals and people the imprisonment of all dolphins must be phased out. It is also time to immediately stop petting and swimming with orcas and other dolphins. Close contact with such wildlife for financial profit is cruelty to animals and a hazard to people. ”
There have been many attacks on humans by captive orcas. But there have been no attacks by wild orcas. There were some very serious employee injuries but hush up orders/financial settlements kept a lot of it quiet. This also applies to swim with dolphin programs in which there are numerous dolphin aggression problems. Petting and feeding attractions also present public safety risks.
For further information: Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce Founding Director, lifeforcesociety@hotmail.com
See Tillikum at Sealand video:
Tillikum
See History of Physical and Psychological Abuses:
Sealand/Aquarium Abuses
See Orca Freedom Photos
Orca Freedom Images
See Global National TV "SeaWorld tragedy aftermath" in which Lifeforce Founder, Peter Hamilton, predicts more attacks:
Lifeforce Predicts More Attacks
UPDATE MARCH 9TH - NEW ORCA FREEDOM CAMPAIGN VIDEO
Tillikum: A Time for Change |
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