| In October of 1965, Ted Griffen and Don Goldsburry went out to attempt to capture a companion for Namu. They shot a harpoon into an adult female with a line and buoy attached. Early the next day the female and its calf were surrounded with nets. They then discovered that the adult female turned out to be a whale that had been previously harpooned in the stomach the day before. As they were beginning to tow in the orcas, the adult female died due to the first harpoon wound. Her calf was towed to Namu's pen, but did not want to associate with Namu. Regardless, Namu showed the calf how to eat dead fish by first breaking it up into chunks. The female still seemed unpredictable though, often ramming into Namu, and sometimes Griffen. So finnaly, a few months later, Griffen sold her to Seaworld San Diego. There she became known as Shamu. Shamu died in 1971, at around 8 years old. The trademark name still resides at seaworld. I often wonder if Shamu would still be alive had we let her be. To what purpose to we have so that we go and tear these animals away from there familys and force them to live behind bars? or glass walls, should i say. Then to shorten there lives dramatically. When are we gonna realize these animals have feelings and deserve there freedom just like we do?? |
