SeaWorld Orlando Takes Another Hit...
*sigh* SeaWorld is having a bad year.
Taima was one of the "veteran" orcas at SeaWorld Orlando. She was 20 years old, and had 3 calves before this pregnancy.
Her mother, Gudrun, was captured from the wild and sold into captivity during the great "whale round up" in the 70's. She had Taima at SeaWorld Orlando July 1989. She had 2 other calves, Nyar, in 1993, whom was both physically and mentally ill and did not live very long, and a stillborn in 1996, under some of the most horrid conditions in SeaWorld history. The calf had to be extracted from her by staff and vets with chains and a lift. It was horrific, but at the time, the only thing they could do for her in efforts to save her. Gudrun herself died 4 days after the complications. She was about 20 years old.
Taima grew up and lived in SeaWorld Orlando her whole life. Given her dominant mother, she herself could be quite moody and tempermental towards both other orcas and trainers. She became a first time mother in 1998 to a male named Sumar, by mate Tilikum. In 2000 she had her 2nd son, Tekoa, also fathered by Tilikum. She showed severe aggression towards both of them which resulted in the 2 boys being moved to different parks. In 2006 she had her daughter, Malia, and turned a leaf in her mothering towards her and proved herself as a successful mother.
All 3 of her offspring were sired by Tilikum, the 12,000 pound bull orca at the park, and most successful breeder. Though he's been with all the other whales, he and Taima were the "couple". They shared a bond, and were often paired together for shows and kept together during the day. As most of you have heard, Tilikum was also the whale that killed veteran trainer Dawn Brancheau in Feb of this year. Since the accident, trainers have been temporarily barred from the water, and have no physical contact with Tilikum. He has not been used in shows as of yet. Many people think that he's being neglected or kept by himself since the accident, and that is not true. He's had contact with all the animals just like he normally would, and has been kept with Taima for the most part. So he was not kept alone.
***Click for full images***
Taima & Tilikum
Taima was pregnant with their 4th calf together and went into labor last night, canceling the remaining shows and putting trainers on baby duty. It was learned today that both she and the calf died. The baby was stillborn, and Taima had complications getting her out. The staff and vets attempted to help her, but her complications were too severe. She too, was 20.
This is such a loss. First Dawn, now the loss of a mother and baby. SeaWorld is going to get all kinds of things hurled at them. Especially by PETA. They are always just lurking, waiting for bad things to happen so they can act righteous. They are wrong and some of them the biggest idiots who ever lived. Parasites who give the public and media false, twisted information and fool anyone who does not think for themselves.
Dawn
Taima was one of the most BEAUTIFUL orcas in the parks. She had such lovely eye-patches and a long, elegant shape. She will be missed by the trainers, staff, the whales, and people like me who have loved these animals all their lives and keep up and study them and their history.
Taima
(picture from Cetacean Cousins here: http://cetacousin.bplaced.net/orca/profile/taima.html
I am really sad for Tilikum. One reason I love these animals like I do is because of their close family ties, sensitivity and knowing. He'll know she's gone. For years she's been there...been his girl...his buddy. As I said, he's been with/kept with the other whales as well, but they clicked, and because of that, they were kept together more so than the others. And with his lack of physical contact and interactions with trainers gone, it was even more of a comfort to know he had somebody with him.
Taima & Tilikum
Don't really know why I felt I needed to post this. It is a journal right? I guess that's a good a reason as any. Those of you who know me know that I have these guys on the brain all day, every day, checking up on them, reading about them, looking at pictures, watching trip videos...know I'm always on the verge of telling stories about them...but refrain for lack of interest of those around. I love them. That's why I have the board, and I guess I have this...to talk about things I can't or don't in the real world. I suppose I'm thankful.
I'm so very sad over this. No, it's not my family, or anything worth a few tears and a day's worth of moping to most people...but to me...it is important, and a sad situation. It may not compare to some of the more important things in life, but it is important enough for me to grieve just a little. When my favorite orca, Taku died...I bawled. I had kept tabs on him when I first started seriously paying attention to them, and then by the grace of God, he got moved to our park here in Texas...and I didn't get to see him before he died.
And it was a day that brought such happiness to mine and many others' lives. My best friend had her daughter that day. My "niece" was born and then he died. That was a interesting day, emotionally let me tell you lol Though nothing can take the full happiness away from the great anticipated birth of a child, especially that little girl, sweet Roo...there was a little twig of sadness at the end of the day.
Thanks for reading if you did...and if for whatever sane reason, you actually have any questions, or are just intrigued...do feel free ask. Especially when it comes to Tilikum , the accident and whats going on with him now. I would have elaborated more than I did, but it would have grown into a book, so I refrained from touching on it too much.
PLEASE...don't believe and buy into those people at PETA...Russ Rector...Naomi Rose or any other anti-captivity person...they don't know what they're talking about, and you'll just be more confused. So please...ask me, and if I don't know...I sure as hell will reference you to someone who does.
Cheers,
~Krissy~
Taima & Tilikum (They were such a sweet pair...he's HUGE...and she was so tiny...)
Dawn with Katina
Taima was one of the "veteran" orcas at SeaWorld Orlando. She was 20 years old, and had 3 calves before this pregnancy.
Her mother, Gudrun, was captured from the wild and sold into captivity during the great "whale round up" in the 70's. She had Taima at SeaWorld Orlando July 1989. She had 2 other calves, Nyar, in 1993, whom was both physically and mentally ill and did not live very long, and a stillborn in 1996, under some of the most horrid conditions in SeaWorld history. The calf had to be extracted from her by staff and vets with chains and a lift. It was horrific, but at the time, the only thing they could do for her in efforts to save her. Gudrun herself died 4 days after the complications. She was about 20 years old.
Taima grew up and lived in SeaWorld Orlando her whole life. Given her dominant mother, she herself could be quite moody and tempermental towards both other orcas and trainers. She became a first time mother in 1998 to a male named Sumar, by mate Tilikum. In 2000 she had her 2nd son, Tekoa, also fathered by Tilikum. She showed severe aggression towards both of them which resulted in the 2 boys being moved to different parks. In 2006 she had her daughter, Malia, and turned a leaf in her mothering towards her and proved herself as a successful mother.
All 3 of her offspring were sired by Tilikum, the 12,000 pound bull orca at the park, and most successful breeder. Though he's been with all the other whales, he and Taima were the "couple". They shared a bond, and were often paired together for shows and kept together during the day. As most of you have heard, Tilikum was also the whale that killed veteran trainer Dawn Brancheau in Feb of this year. Since the accident, trainers have been temporarily barred from the water, and have no physical contact with Tilikum. He has not been used in shows as of yet. Many people think that he's being neglected or kept by himself since the accident, and that is not true. He's had contact with all the animals just like he normally would, and has been kept with Taima for the most part. So he was not kept alone.
***Click for full images***
Taima & Tilikum
Taima was pregnant with their 4th calf together and went into labor last night, canceling the remaining shows and putting trainers on baby duty. It was learned today that both she and the calf died. The baby was stillborn, and Taima had complications getting her out. The staff and vets attempted to help her, but her complications were too severe. She too, was 20.
This is such a loss. First Dawn, now the loss of a mother and baby. SeaWorld is going to get all kinds of things hurled at them. Especially by PETA. They are always just lurking, waiting for bad things to happen so they can act righteous. They are wrong and some of them the biggest idiots who ever lived. Parasites who give the public and media false, twisted information and fool anyone who does not think for themselves.
Dawn
Taima was one of the most BEAUTIFUL orcas in the parks. She had such lovely eye-patches and a long, elegant shape. She will be missed by the trainers, staff, the whales, and people like me who have loved these animals all their lives and keep up and study them and their history.
Taima
(picture from Cetacean Cousins here: http://cetacousin.bplaced.net/orca/profile/taima.html
I am really sad for Tilikum. One reason I love these animals like I do is because of their close family ties, sensitivity and knowing. He'll know she's gone. For years she's been there...been his girl...his buddy. As I said, he's been with/kept with the other whales as well, but they clicked, and because of that, they were kept together more so than the others. And with his lack of physical contact and interactions with trainers gone, it was even more of a comfort to know he had somebody with him.
Taima & Tilikum
Don't really know why I felt I needed to post this. It is a journal right? I guess that's a good a reason as any. Those of you who know me know that I have these guys on the brain all day, every day, checking up on them, reading about them, looking at pictures, watching trip videos...know I'm always on the verge of telling stories about them...but refrain for lack of interest of those around. I love them. That's why I have the board, and I guess I have this...to talk about things I can't or don't in the real world. I suppose I'm thankful.
I'm so very sad over this. No, it's not my family, or anything worth a few tears and a day's worth of moping to most people...but to me...it is important, and a sad situation. It may not compare to some of the more important things in life, but it is important enough for me to grieve just a little. When my favorite orca, Taku died...I bawled. I had kept tabs on him when I first started seriously paying attention to them, and then by the grace of God, he got moved to our park here in Texas...and I didn't get to see him before he died.
And it was a day that brought such happiness to mine and many others' lives. My best friend had her daughter that day. My "niece" was born and then he died. That was a interesting day, emotionally let me tell you lol Though nothing can take the full happiness away from the great anticipated birth of a child, especially that little girl, sweet Roo...there was a little twig of sadness at the end of the day.
Thanks for reading if you did...and if for whatever sane reason, you actually have any questions, or are just intrigued...do feel free ask. Especially when it comes to Tilikum , the accident and whats going on with him now. I would have elaborated more than I did, but it would have grown into a book, so I refrained from touching on it too much.
PLEASE...don't believe and buy into those people at PETA...Russ Rector...Naomi Rose or any other anti-captivity person...they don't know what they're talking about, and you'll just be more confused. So please...ask me, and if I don't know...I sure as hell will reference you to someone who does.
Cheers,
~Krissy~
Taima & Tilikum (They were such a sweet pair...he's HUGE...and she was so tiny...)
Dawn with Katina