Shamu Stadium - One Ocean Show - Killer Whales

September 2014. This show features killer whales. Behind the show tank are 4 holding tanks, one of which is called Shamu\'s Underwater Viewing and it is open to visitors during all park hours. It also has a large sheltered terrace on one side of the pool with tables for the upcharge Dine With Shamu. It is this holding tank that is slated for demolition, to be replaced with a much larger habitat that will feature 40-foot high viewing windows into a pool that will be up to 50 feet in depth, 350 feet in length, and occupy 1.5 acres.

So the trainers still go on a platform with the whales, even though they are no longer allowed in the water with them?

Arizona Docent said:

So the trainers still go on a platform with the whales, even though they are no longer allowed in the water with them?

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And when they get down on their knees with the orcas in front of them they must have a ridiculous metal bar between them.

Moebelle said:

And when they get down on their knees with the orcas in front of them they must have a ridiculous metal bar between them.

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Which is nuts.

It seems to me that people who have no experience with any kind of large animal whatsoever are making the decisions about what people who do work with large animals can do.

wensleydale said:

Which is nuts.

It seems to me that people who have no experience with any kind of large animal whatsoever are making the decisions about what people who do work with large animals can do.

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The absence of waterworks is ruining the bond between the animal and its trainer and it's falsely proving that, as Blackfish and the anti captivity community tries(d) to put it, the orcas do not want to be our companion.

Moebelle said:

The absence of waterworks is ruining the bond between the animal and its trainer and it's falsely proving that, as Blackfish and the anti captivity community tries(d) to put it, the orcas do not want to be our companion.

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I went Whale Watching once in Stellwagen Bank. There was a particular whale, a Humpback with a calf, the first animal we encountered that wasn't a seagull or another homo sapiens. She came right up to the boat as soon as she realized we were coming, and looked straight at us, as did her gigantic bundle of joy. We were told she does this every day. Eventually we each went on our merry way, and promptly encountered some fin whales (who I'm sure were lovely individuals once you got to know them, I just found them a bit dull compared to the Humpbacks, which we saw more of.)

She met us on the way back too. It was like she was waiting for us.

Kalina apparently liked to swim around with multiple trainers holding on to her, liked to snuggle, would have 10-15 trainers interacting with her all at once, and thought of games to play with them. Kotar liked to play tricks on park guests. Trua will spend hours at a stretch watching humans through the glass. Takara is incredibly interactive. Lolita prefers to have her trainers in very close contact, especially in the water with her. There is also photographic evidence of her working the crowd before shows. Of course they want at least some level of companionship with us.