These huge mammals are not meant to be kept in a tank. Of course he was probably depressed. One could probably compare it to a person living his life in a small closet.
I absolutely agree! As much as I regret the death of his trainer, and as much as I'm feeling sorry for her loved ones, I guess this is just another proof that mankind's going way too far by using other forms of life for its own entertainment. Accidents like this should be an eye opener for future generations to treat animals with more respect.

Of course I know it's not that simple. And maybe I don't even have the right to judge as I have pets, two indoor cats, prisoners of my house, so to speak... Where's the difference? Where should the line be drawn? Is it a crime to have pets at all? Or does that go only for some special breeds? Are all zoos evil? For many years, I refused to visit any zoos, because I just thought that animals don't belong there. Meanwhile, I changed my mind a bit. In this world of ours, the natural environments for animals are fading, life in the wild is no fun for many of them. So zoos and wildlife parks may be a safer environment for some animals. And, after all, many zoos these days try to provide better, more natural enclosures for their animals. And, last but not least, zoos may have another mission: "Men are willing to protect what they know and love". By having the chance to see these beautiful animals, men will become aware of their problems and may feel the need to protect their environment, and their lives.

But no matter how you put it, in the end, you'll always come to the point that it's been our own species that brought everything out of balance. We should be ashamed of that instead of referring to us as "creation's crowning glory" (always hated that term anyway).

Incidents like the one in Orlando are reminders to us to reconsider the ways we're treating this planet and everything/everyone on it.

Kirsten