Shamu, Your Tank Makes Me Blue (no, I didn't get splashed)

The water parted left and right as the whales sailed through the water. Endless waves seemed to tower over the crowd when they pounded their tales into the blue pond. I was amazed at how wild creatures could be tamed and trained to do flips, twists, turns, and how they could soar.

When the dolphins launched themselves over fifteen feet in the air I was flabbergasted.

I saw Polar Bears up close; I fed Flamingos, flinched at the sight of eels, and stood under sharks, but despite all of my wonderful experiences and delightful company, something was wrong…

I’ve never been a crazy animal lover who only eats mushrooms and other vegetables but I’ve never been Kitler either, so writing this may be slightly shocking to my readers, and even me.

Did you know that Shamu’s tank is only 36 feet deep? This seems terribly small when considering that an adult orca can be up to 30 feet long and weigh more than a few tons?

Remember that scene in “Happy Feet” where Mumble is in the zoo exhibit and he keeps hitting the glass walls and he constantly runs into the arctic backdrop? Well this isn’t a classic Hollywood over exaggerated reenactment, it is so true! Today, when looking at the penguin exhibit I saw not one, but two penguins have the same “Happy Feet” moment minus the dancing.

I am torn at this point. I love seeing animals up close and personal, but when I consider the facilities provided for these animals, specifically the acute dimensions of these facilities, I am disgusted.

Who decided that these tanks and ponds were large enough for these animals? When was swimming in circles and sleeping on fake ice considered humane?

If these parks charge sixty dollars and over for each ticket and have thousands of people showing up every day why cant they spend the extra money to ensure that these animals have more space? Why wont they?

I had a great day today all things considered. I love seeing all of these exquisite creatures so you wont see me being some obsessive vegetarian-animal rights activist, or even protesting the owners of Seaworld and Bush Gardens. However fellow representatives you can bet that when I start writing bills this year there just might be one about expanding these animals’ habitats and I would hope you all vote to pass them.