Go, PETA!

It's not likely to make a legal difference, but it's sure to generate discussions -- and that's the first step toward change.

The "it" is the lawsuit brought by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) against SeaWorld in behalf of killer whales. Five whales, or orcas, all involuntary residents of SeaWorld, are named as plaintiffs.

The killer whales "are treated like slaves for being forced to live in tanks and perform daily at the SeaWorld parks in California and Florida," PETA claims.

According to the Feb. 6 BBC story, the lawsuit "invokes the 13th Amendment to the constitution, which abolished "slavery or involuntary servitude" in the US.

While the whales are not expected to win their freedom, those involved with the case said they're happy it even made it into a courtroom. This may be the first time a US court has heard legal arguments over whether animals should enjoy the same constitutional protections as humans.

The five orca plaintiffs -- all captured in the wild -- were named: Tilikum and Katina, at SeaWorld Orlando; and Kasatka, Corky and Ulises, at SeaWorld San Diego.

The decision here is that these orcas and all non-human inhabitants of SeaWorld and other such marine parks should go free; that all such marine parks should be closed forever; that all animals living in captivity and forced to be displayed or to perform for human entertainment or profit be freed . . . that, in short, humans stop exploiting non-human animals.

Of course, alas, that decision is non-binding.
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Revolt at a revolting "life"

“The Cove,” a movie nominated for an Oscar in the documentary category, is about the repeated slaughter of dolphins by the Japanese. It occurs in a cove that has now become notorious for what happens there after the dolphins are lured to their deaths.

A man behind the movie recently talked on NPR about why he’s involved with the movie (he’s repenting for earlier involvement with dolphin mistreatment) and about dolphins and whales in general. One point he made was that both are sonar-reliant, but that in concrete pools – common in captivity – they experience sensory deprivation, they're thrown off kilter, they're not themselves. (my wording)

Both animals are thought to be very intelligent, with many other sterling traits besides. They should not be held captive in aquariums, SeaWorlds and other such places; they should be swimming free.

Which brings us to the death last week of an animal trainer who worked with killer whales. Which in turn reminds us of how still other humans working with animals in circuses, and zoos, have been killed by the animals in their “care.”

As if any sort of genuine “care” were possible in such circumstances, when animals have been ripped from their natural habitats [or maybe worse, born in captivity], deprived of social interactions with others like them and forced to perform degrading, unnatural tricks – or simply to live in concrete cages or pools, forever on view and often alone.

Little wonder they sometimes attack their “keepers” and “trainers.” Wouldn’t we do the same?
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