It is no secret that I am obsessed with animals and their well-being, but I am often torn between my love for animals and our dependency on them as humans.
I loathe factory farming. Yet, I am not a vegetarian. I do, however, try to limit my meat intake, and try to only purchase from local farmers. We actually talk to the farmers, about the animals diets, their habitat, etc. As a result, we pay twice as much for our meat, which is another reason we eat less of it.
I have always had a problem with animals in captivity, and animals in zoos and marine “pools” that confine them and prevent them from living their lives fully, even knowing that some of these efforts are not in vain, and for conservation purposes. But the tragic death of a SeaWorld trainer reminds me again why animals, such as Orca whales, should not be in captivity.
I don’t doubt that SeaWorld and their marine biologists do some great things for wildlife conservation and education, but I can’t help but hope that these entertainment zoos and parks will soon become a distant memory. Animals who live in captivity often get sick and killer whales, on average, live 20 years in captivity, as opposed to a female in the wild who will live into their 50s. These are highly intelligent creatures who are stressed because they are forced into spaces that go against their instincts — no natural social groups, chemically treated water, inability to travel freely in an ocean. I read one article that talked about the killer whales need to travel in straight lines as opposed to being forced to swim in circles in a tank. Most animals in captivity have breeding problems, emotional distress, problems eating and behaving as they would in the wild. It is not our place to interfere.
This also applies to “swim with dolphins” in Hawaii, and any of the those “feed sharks” adventures in South Africa I’ve seen. It just isn’t right for us to manipulate animals for our entertainment, and I don’t think it is entertaining. It all makes me sad.
But, then again, I am a little animal crazy.
uggg..the moral dilemma. I want to swim with the dolphins…but now I must think twice.
What about sushi?
Jay, I totally know how you feel. I dream of swimmng with them as well. I guess we will have to find them in the wild to get that dreamy experience and hope they don’t kill us. Shall we plan a trip to Hawaii? Fiji?
There is documentary I want to watch but think I am too emotional about dolphins to see called The Cove. You should see it and tell me how it is.
Sigh…sushi is tough. All in moderation, right?
As you know, I am not totally animal crazy but I fully agree with you. Well said!