Blackfish
Blackfish: Never Capture what you can’t Control
A film by Gabriela Cowperthwaite
Many of us have experienced the excitement and awe of watching 8,000 pound orcas, or “killer whales”, soar out of the water and fly through the air at sea parks, as if in perfect harmony with their trainers.
Yet this mighty black and white mammal has many sides – a majestic, friendly giant, seemingly eager to take trainers for a ride around the pool, yet shockingly – and unpredictably – able to turn on them at a moment’s notice.
BLACKFISH unravels the complexities of this dichotomy, employing the story of notorious performing whale Tilikum, who – unlike any orca in the wild – has taken the lives of several people while in captivity.
So what went wrong?
BLACKFISH presents shocking footage and riveting interviews with trainers and experts manifest the orca’s extraordinary nature, the species’ cruel treatment in captivity over the last four decades and the growing disillusionment of workers who were misled and endangered by the highly profitable sea-park industry.
This emotionally wrenching, tautly structured story challenges us to consider our relationship to nature and reveals how little we humans truly know about these highly intelligent, and surprisingly sentient, fellow mammals that we only think we can control.
When you look into their eyes, somebody’s home. Somebody’s looking back at you. . . but it may not be what you think.
Sign the Petition
Please sign the petition here to be send to SeaWorld, Inc : To humanely release the Orca whale known as Tilikum to a seapen for rehab here. The petition is sponsored by FreeTillyNow.org and BlueFreedom.org
ABOUT BLACKFISH
February 24, 2010 is a day whale trainers – and fans of sea parks – will never forget, particularly those who were present that day at SeaWorld Orlando.
It was then that a veteran killer whale trainer, DAWN BRANCHEAU, was brutally attacked and killed by one of the park’s oldest residents, an orca named TILIKUM.
