Messing with nature - The case of the killer whale Tilikum

Jean-Michel Cousteau, the older son of Jacques-Yves Cousteau, and the president of a marine conservation organization called Ocean Futures Society, made an important statement about the tragic case of the orca trainer that was murdered last week by a killer whale named Tilikum (click here to read the report of the BBC) at the famous Sea World scenario in Orlando, Florida. In the video statement released on the official YouTube channel of Ocean Futures Society (you may watch the video below), Cousteau said:

"I know that these trainers are dedicated to the care of these orcas, and inspired by their passion for them, but this tragedy causes us to think. Maybe we, as a species, have outgrown the need to keep such wild, enormous, complex, intelligent and free-ranging animals in captivity, where their behavior is not only unnatural, it can become pathological."

I agree totally with Cousteau. Besides, there must be a reason why these animals are called "killer whales", and this may be the third person killed by this particular whale alone, according to an article of the Orlando Sentinel. What is even more questionable is that according to this last article, Sea World is thinking of eventually reintegrating Tilikum to their show, despite of the three killed persons. I wonder if they still will be able of selling this show, or a father or a mother ready to bring their kids to this "spectacle". Are we humans that stupid? I hope not. Thilo