This heartbreaking documentary is an absolute must-see before you ever consider going to another theme park or zoo again.
Director Gabriela Cowperthwaite brings us the powerful Blackfish which looks at Killer Whales taken from their vast home in the sea and put into marine parks for our entertainment. We do love seeing wild animals in zoos, marine parks and circuses. We are also accustomed to believe that benefits result from the research and education gained from these animals in captivity. But does that really compensate for any of the negatives of keeping these beautiful wild animals in big concrete domains? After seeing this, my answer is an absolute no! This will definitely make you think.
We are introduced to Tilikum, the 2000lb Killer Whale (an Orca) who was taken from the open seas at the age of two and transferred to Sea World in Orlando. Here he is cooped in a tiny pool and is expected to perform tricks for the amusement of many excited people. From obvious aggravation and frustration, Tilikum has killed three trainers, including Sea World’s main trainer Dawn Brancheau.
Then we are shown the life that these incredibly intelligent beasts – whales and dolphins – face in captivity for our pleasure and Sea World’s profit. The Orcas are kept in a small floating warehouse each night. They are trained to do tricks and punished if they do not follow their orders.
What broke my heart was seeing them remove a baby Killer Whale from it’s mother and transfer it to another marine park. You could see the mother in absolute grief. She backed herself into a corner of the pool and was crying out loud. It was absolutely devastating, but I was not alone as the trainers interviewed were clearly stressed and admitted it was a noise they had never heard before.
Blackfish is not speculation; we are shown fact. Cowperthwaite has made sure that we see actual footage. It was not as bad or as graphic as I thought it would be, so it is something that most people could easily handle. Former Sea World trainers give guilt-ridden interviews, where they verify examples of this cruelty along with explanations of why they left. Their love for these whales is quite obvious, as is the fact that they were completely disillusioned at the system which claimed to do everything it can to protect these animals.
It is pretty clear that it is money, not the welfare of Killer Whales which is a priority to the theme Parks. Sea World does very well out of their animals doing tricks, so they have no intention of stopping it. Naturally they declined to be interviewed, but I fail to see how they could defend their actions anyway.
I rarely feel such emotion watching movies as I did here. To see these highly intelligent animals spending their lives in what amounts to almost a bathtub, performing tricks for our entertainment, will touch even the hardest heart. I am so glad I saw this, because it completely changed my thinking. If more people can see this, then they can share this information and help these gorgeous Killer Whales return to roaming the oceans.
Reviewed by Kirstey Whicker
Rating out of 10: 10
More News
