How Blackfish inspires

How Blackfish inspires

Like a year ago, I never heard of SeaWorld or Tilikum. But on Twitter I noticed that one of my idols posted pictures, video’s and articles, all about the protest against captivity. I saw them and knew that such activities were wrong. I started to post pictures as well and while doing that, I discovered hash tags like #BoycottSeaWorld and #SeaWorldKills. And of course there was #Blackfish. I actually used them without any knowledge of their true meaning.

After like a half year of protesting, I finally watched Blackfish. I was shocked by what I saw. The way they stole the calves out of their habit, away from families. Then put in a box during the night and let them perform in afternoon in a damn swimming pool for the rest of their life! During the documentary, I tried to be strong and not to cry. I saw the birth of Kalina and then heard the former trainers saying that it was very crucial that the mother-child bond would not be broken. After four years using the calf as a dollar magnet, SeaWorld send her to Florida and separated her from her mother. The moment I saw Katina (the mother) in that corner, like crying for her baby really broke my heart. From that moment, I couldn’t hold my tears any more.

Watching the interviews of the former SeaWorld trainers reminded me of the time I was like 8 years old or so. This was my dream job. Working with dolphins and seals… it looked so cool to show the people you and the animal know each other and have a bond. And that was the thing that holded in my hate for SeaWorld.

I can’t blame the former trainers and certainly not the ones who died because they loved them. Taking care of Tilikum and the other Killer Whales was their life. They dreamed of them when they were young after watching a show in places like SeaWorld. They felt a bond between humans and animals. The ones who saw the money and the entering visitors with the amount in their hands, they who only cared about Tilikum’s sperm, they aren’t the ones who die in that pool while everyone is watching. It’s the people who DO care, really care! It’s not them who will have to live their entire life inside of a tank. It’s the whales!

So please, stand with me and help me #SupportTheProtest

Merel Reyntjens