Dolphin Dies in Freak Accident at Sea World
Monday, April 28th, 2008
A 30-year-old dolphin at Sea World has died after colliding with another dolphin while performing aerial tricks, the Orlando, Florida, amusement park said Monday.
The incident occurred about 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the Discovery Cove area of the park, according to a statement by a Sea World spokesperson.
The animals were in the center of the lagoon and not near guests, she said.
The dolphin who died was named Sharky. The other dolphin, Tyler, is being watched by veterinarians but appears to be fine.
R.I.P. Sharky!
[source]
Just great….a dolphin dies while performing an unnatural ‘trick’ so that Sea World can line its pockets. WONDERFUL. We need to put a quick end to animal exploitation and zoos – this is case in point.
Ah, shucks Sharky, RIP buddy…
Its very upsetting. I wish we didn’t have trained dolphins.
I am glad this impostor is dead. I can assure you that the real Sharky is alive and well.
SeaWorld spokespeople called Sharky’s death an “unfortunate, random incident.â€
Random? Baffling, maybe. I have never heard of dolphins colliding with one another under any circumstances-much less mid-air. To say such a thing is “random†is to imply that it could happen anytime; that it is part of some probability distribution-one of many events in which all outcomes are equally likely. But Sharky was in the process of performing a presumably human-crafted aerial maneuver in a concrete pool for the pleasure of human onlookers.I suppose under these circumstances crashing into your acrobatic colleague isn’t something to be too shocked about, but I can’t help but think about the tremendous athleticism, awareness, grace, intelligence, and agility of free-ranging dolphins in the open sea.I just can’t imagine something like this ever happening there.
Unfortunate? Are they kidding? Unfortunate is locking your keys in your car. Unfortunate is mistakenly hitting the send button before you actually finished typing that email. Or perhaps I’m being to loose with the word. Unfortunate is waking up with a big pimple on your wedding day. Anyway, you get my point. The violent death of a sentient, sapient creature who was kept by humans, for the pleasure of humans, and perished whiled performing tricks for those who were charged with providing his care and safety is nothing less than a tragedy.
Maybe I’m writing this too soon. Like an email dashed off in the heat of disgust, perhaps I’m pushing the send button too soon on this. But I got the news and thought it important that I share it. If I’m not as articulate as I might have been after a cooling off period, that is unfortunate. But Sharky’s death is so much more than that.
Am I making too much of words? I don’t think so. Words are powerful things. “Random and unfortunate” is what you call a paper cut or a big zit. It happens. It’s too bad. It is not this. In my view, SeaWorld screams a callouse disrespect for Sharky, the other animals under its care, and all dolphins with its words as well as its behavior.
Sharky’s death was, at the least, baffling and tragic.
Well said, Kris Stewart!
Geez I’d like to see that video. ~SMACK~
Kris said it best. In addition to the tragedy the event smacks of irony and hypocracy. We so revere and respect these animals, yet some see fit to put them in little pools and subject them to our ignorant whimsy. It reminds me of “bird lovers” who keep caged birds. The special thing about a bird is it FLIES. Imagine you could fly and some asshole put you in a cage.
S3 I love what you said “Imagine you could fly and some assholeput you in a cage” Love it. Kris, way to write! well said.
when i was at sea world i went swimming with the dolpins and i went swimming with sharky and ever since then sharky was my best friend sharky did die i was at that show i was booked to go swimming with sharky again i dont think i can forgive seaworld after all it is their folt sharky is dead its like a merder. They merderd my best friend. Sharky may rest in peace.
good bye best friend
ohh i am so sorry for your loss WHY SHARKY.
And SHARKY ofiosly sharky is dead.
I seriously hope none of you have pets that you derive any companionship or pleasure from having around and that you CERTAINLY don’t ever lock or leash them. And feel free to take your children into the jungle or the ocean any time you want them to see any of nature’s creatures – hope none of them get bittn or eaten since that opens the door to a whole different group of people to comment on child endangerment and whether the safari company made any money on the trip.
I guess we should just allow animals who are injured or beached just die off and rot where they are rather than allow Sea World to at least attempt to rescue and rehabilitate them. Perhaps we should use some taxes to pay for this instead, foregoing some form of education, of course, instead of allowing an industry to make enough money to mount animal rescue efforts. Or, if we’re going to leave the animals to themselves, perhaps we should go back to caves or grass huts and foraging for food so that we don’t disturb the natural order while we’re at it. Good plan, folks, lets do it.
By the way, if a tree falls in the woods (or a dolphin collides with another in the ocean) does anyone hear it? Just because you haven’t seen it doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened. Gravity works even though not everyone understands it, after all.
that poor sharky i fell really bad about what happen
i feel bad for that dolphin. im 11 and im doing a ocean life project on dolphins. seeing my favorite animal look like this makes all people feel sick. i call this animal cruelty.dolphins should swim freely in open water, not in sea world. just because humans have power doesn’t mean we control nature.i hope to boycott all animal places.i hope to change the world
crycrycry!!!!!
Coming from me(I have a 14y.o best friend /like a sister)Grace and she loves animals&mammals and etc .which makes me feel the same way.this is very sad:’(.a couple years the original free willy whale (keiko)died when it got caught in nets out on the shore which was very sad&now this ..no words can describe how this hurt us..ppl at seaworld must be really sad as well
thats fkkn retarded……how duz a dolphin die by crashing into another dolphin!!!??? MORE IMPORTANTLY AT SEAWORLD!!! thats gay…they probably fedthe damn dolphin a poisinous friken fish…..goddammit!!!
R.I.P sharky
why is it that when your writing something important you run out of sp
feel bad for that dolphin. im 11 and im doing a ocean life project on dolphins. seeing my favorite animal look like this makes all people feel sick. i call this animal cruelty.dolphins should swim freely in open water, not in sea world. just because humans have power doesn’t mean we control nature.i hope to boycott all animal places.i hope to change the world.so rest in peace to all the animals that die at sea world. It is cruel to this cruel.
oh my dear dolphin i loved ya sooo much R.I.P luv ya so much!!=(
We need to stop the exploitation of humans for entertainment purposes and but them back in their natural environment so they can’t afford computers to make stupid comments. I guarantee everything you buy didn’t show up on a donkey cart from fare trade, unharmed animal shampoo factories or the last thing you would be concerning youself with is some seaworld accident. A 30yr old dolphin? easily could have ended up with a plastic bag crammed in its blowhole and died. If we really wanted to save the world we would all kill ourselves because humans are going to be the end of life on earth as we know it. But are we going to stop? no, casualties of luxury, and you’re all gulty of it. How many animals die in the oceans so you can get gas for your hybrid? Where does all of this toxic crap humans produce end up? Human nature is to destroy nature for luxury, and you’re all guilty, even I am and I’m fine with it. If you’re reading this, you are going to kill fish with the toxic crap in your computer when you throw it out when it breaks. screw it, sharkey was better off in a pool and he died a quick death and he made plenty of kids happy.
are bless sharky it sometime goes wrong bless him but i hope the other dolpin is alright that would have been trouble.
RIP (Sharky)
x
sorry to hear about your dolphin
rest in peace sharkey u were a great entertainer now u will be in the sky
oh come on its sooooooo sad
a fish jst dies like this and how many people had she entertained !!
its a world of nu rules man !!!!!