Through the work I do as an advocate for animals (specifically captive wildlife), I’ve come to realize that there are very few people who can truly understand a relationship you can establish with a particular animal you’re championing for and exactly what that entails.
Today we learned that Tilikum is gravely ill. SeaWorld has stated that he has an apparent “untreatable” condition. I must admit, I’m a little bit ignorant to his situation but do know his tragic story. We have all learned it through the wonderful film “Blackfish.” That film has opened a multitude of blind eyes to the truth behind the vile captive whale industry and through Tilikum’s plight, we saw that. We clearly saw that.
We all know about the film and the circumstances surrounding it, but I wanted to discuss something most people do not thoroughly understand………
As you’re aware, my fight is for our girl here in Ontario, Kiska. I’ve sat there for hours with her. Watching her bob up and down in her chlorinated concrete tank. Watched her for countless amounts of hours while she swims her obsessive path, over and over and over and over and over again. I’ve watched people pointing at her through a glass wall. I’ve watched people laugh at her when she has to relieve herself. I’ve watched Marineland masturbate her. I’ve watched them shove instruments in the gaping holes in her teeth while she flinches. And I’ve watched her do this for several years now. Alone.
I’m not an overly emotional person. Can’t be, given what I do. Suppose I may be a bit numb. But that animal……there was something about her. It was an immediate connection that very few could ever understand and since the day I first laid eyes on her, I knew there was nothing that could stop me from doing everything in my power to help her. Sound familiar? The sleepless nights. The worry. The tears. The work involved. The meetings. The constant thinking and analyzing your next move………..all of that and then some…..All for HER. Every single second……
Today when I found out about Tilikum, my first thought was something I have often said to myself as well as publicly several times regarding Kiska……..”He’s better off……sometimes dead is better….” And then I thought about it. I thought about it for a long time………For the first time, the news of Tilikum’s deteriorating health made it real for me. And through that, the thought of loosing Kiska was actually terrifying…..
When I said, “Tilikum’s better off,” do I truly mean that? Then my first thought was of the numerous times I’ve said that about Kiska. Do I mean that or is it something I just say because I know it’s right? Am I being selfish in wanting her to continue? Do I REALLY want her to die? I mulled over all the possibilities for her and I came to the conclusion that no. I don’t………and then I started thinking, “But that’s selfish of me. How could I possibly want her to continue like this?” I then started comparing the situation to a friend or family member…….if you have someone you’re close to that you care tremendously for that is ill or perhaps not living in appropriate conditions, would I really want them to die? We may say it to make ourselves try and feel better but no. We don’t actually want them to die……..we would want them to get better. We want their situation rectified.
I think, when dealing with a situation like this, a main component for activists dealing with a similar issue is the aspect of defeat. You fight so damn hard…….so hard …..and there is a light approaching at the end of this very dark tunnel for these animals. There really is…….and that light has plenty to do with what Tilikum has taught us. So, for me (and I’m positive for others as well), we want what’s best for them. That’s it. Nothing else matters and that day is coming!
Something else that went through my mind today was this concept humans have established at funerals. The concept that a funeral is to “celebrate one’s life.” This is another enormous hurdle I think we tend to face as championing for these animals. How can you possibly celebrate their lives when they didn’t have one? It’s not like your family pet where you can make yourself try and feel better by telling yourself “They had a wonderful life though……” This is simply not the case for these animals. I grieve for their lives and they are not even dead yet.
However, that is why we do the work we do. We want a world where we can celebrate their lives and that world is quickly approaching……
I don’t know many people who have taken Tilikum’s terrible plight on their shoulders and made it their life’s work to fight for him personally. But I am aware of a select few who I know have lied awake all those countless nights worrying about him just like I have for Kiska.
Tilikum is the poster whale for all captive orca and through the film “Blackfish” we all got to know him and his horrible existence well. He made us all take a stand and his “life” was NOT in vain……far from it! So for that, THANK YOU TILIKUM. THANK YOU……
To the select few of you who made it your life’s work to help this animal, I get it. I know how you must be feeling but in saying that- I PROMISE YOU, through Kiska’s equally tragic existence, we will continue the fight. If she can do anything from her tank in solitude, this animal can teach. She can continue to teach just as Tilikum did and we will continue to be her voice to do just that!
THANK YOU TILIKUM-
So sad when we can not even see the preciousness of life, and fail to love the sweetness that we should be taking care of in a way that will not cause suffering…I don’t think people realize the amazing intelligence that cetaceans have….they have deserved better than we have given them. Polluted and depleted oceans, or a life of captivity without family.
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Words of wisdom and yet so sad. I am in Ontario not far from Kiska. I am here to help in any way I can.
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We hurt because we are human. I find a little bit of peace that Tilly will know freedom. Solitary confinement is over. She was a slave let go.
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You are so on the mark. I hope Tilikum’s suffering ends soon is all I can say and thank you for doing all you do…thank goodness for people like you..
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Thank you Julia. Means so much….
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Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Honest and inspiring words from a compassionate and determined soul. This resonates strongly with me (and will with many, many others). Thank you. We will continue fighting – and we will win freedom for Kiska and others.
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If Tilikum is gravely ill with an untreatable condition, I wish they would just release him into the ocean. Even if he only survived a short time, he would remember who he was supposed to be instead of what captivity did to him. Do you think he would have the swim of his life with his fin up?
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Hi Lisa, Because of his medical condition, you can’t release an animal into the ocean as it could effect the wild population unfortunately. …I wish that for him too though. Wish it could happen for him so badly. ..,
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I know what you mean … this was a question I asked myself when I heard he was dying. At this point, over thirty years of pain, I can’t imagine. I can’t even begin to imagine. So I just wish for him to find peace, whether that’s by some miracle, or only by death. It does keep me awake to think about it. I wish there was something I could do for any of them … I don’t care if no one ever knows I tried, I don’t care if it’s not easy, I just want to lift some of the pain, the terrible confinement, that they’re going through. And for some reason he’s close to my heart. Of all the creatures it could have been, it was him. And more than a few people thank you for writing this.
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I pray all these creatures misery has brought to light what truly happens when we humans get our hands on them. Born free….stay free! That simple.
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