Whale

[msfedxx]

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A killer whale who grabbed her trainer by the foot and pinned him to the bottom of a tank was back performing at San Diego's SeaWorld show on Thursday but whale trainers stayed out of the water while trying to figure out what went wrong. http://today.reuters.com/news/artic...WHALE.xml&WTmodLoc=NewsHome-C3-domesticNews-3 So sad,what it comes down to I feel is we have to remember these are still wild animals.

 

[swimjenni]

I have been backstage with the whales and trainers in the Orlando SeaWorld several times. The trainers and whales really have a special bond and spend most of the day together. Its a little surprising the trainer didn't catch that the whale was having a bad day. They normally have several killer whales trained to do each of the shows, so they would have been able to just switch them. This is extremely rare case. The good news is the trainer will be ok. The trainers can hold their breath for long periods of time underwater. Part of the pre requirements for the job and something they have to keep practicing is swimming underwater the length of the tank or down and back (I can't remember which) with no wetsuit. The water is very cold and many want to be trainers don't pass it.