Whats to be done with Tilly?
February 26th 2010 00:54
Id like to say upfront that I know absolutely very little about marine animals.
Having said that, I am an animal trainer. I have trained budgies and cockatiels to do tricks, train and break horses, trained dogs and even to an extent, cats.
This is my first thought.
A horse will never weigh five tons. Some horses may reach a ton. The average horse is 600kgs. My horses weigh in between 400 and 600kgs. When a horse is a little foal, he can barely hurt you. When his sharp baby teeth come in, he can bruise you, but he cant close his jaw with enough strength to sever anything or take out a chunk like an adult horse can. He can bump and barge, but at his little age, he cant really knock you down. A little baby hoof on your toe doesnt hurt. He can kill you with a kick to the chest, but thats really the only way.
From this tender age all horses are taught one thing. RESPECT. You respect humans. Never hurt them. Playing is ok, even encouraged, but all horses have it drilled into them never to 'lose control'. Still, accidents happen, horses are wild at the core, but if training is done correctly a horse is as safe to be around as a labrador. My gelding Magnus is a big fellow, about 600kgs, and even in play, never, ever hurts a human. If he is upset, and kicks out, it is half hearted. If he wants a treat, and nips, he doesnt use his teeth. My stallion is the same.
Magnus' full brother Shakir is the only horse I am truly afraid of. I never trained him properly, as he was my 'first baby'. I recently met an experienced trainer that made the same mistake and has one like Shakir. Oh, he will be caught, lead, have his feet picked up, even wear a saddle and work, but if he's playful or angry, he will let fly full force with both feet aiming to kill. He will lash out with his teeth trying to tear out a good chunk of you. I think its important as a trainer to have these 'mistakes' in full view, to remind you never to do it again. When my stallion was a foal, he was so little and cute I never wanted to discipline him, but I would chant my mantra - "I will not have another Shakir" and put him promptly on his ass if he backtalked me. The result is a polite and well mannered horse who is a joy to work with and to own. Even now, full grown, at 600kgs and rippling with muscle, if I narrow my eyes, he submits and says sheepishly, "Jeez. Sorry mistress. Dont put me on my bum eh?"
People often talk about the intelligence of whales. Its why we can train them, live with them and get close to them. That they seem to have a type of intuition, not unlike what we subscribe to our horses, and understand their people. That true friendship between man and animal can occur - a deep understanding that works both ways.
This in mind, it seems ridiculous to me that whales are not trained like horses are. While reading about the attack I saw a photo of the now dead trainer with a young girl on the edge of a tank - they are talking to a baby killer whale. If we interact and train at this age, can we not also instill in them a respect for our fragile bodies? Like I said, I dont know marine animals. I dont train them. But it seems ridiculous to instill a 600kg herbivore with respect and not do it to a potentially 5 ton carnivore. Especially if you want a working relationship with the animal! The respect must be mutual and constant in the form of a bond. Although we do punish our horses, it is because this is what occurs naturally within the herd when establishing pecking order. Surely a similar method could be applied when training whales?
The next thing I found out about dear Tilly is he is their BREEDING MALE. Oh lord. Whether its a Stag, a Stallion, a Bull, a dog or a cat, breeding males are only ever used for BREEDING! When a stallion is at work, he has no mares and is at work. When he is breeding, he rarely works, only breeds. We understand that breeding males are agressive and closed minded. As far as Im concerned, this was utter folly from the start. Amoungst deer breeders, it is known you do not enter the stag's paddock when he is breeding. Even if you raised him from a fawn and in the off season this same stag will eat out of your hand, you do not go near him in breeding season unless you have a deep yen to be skewered by his antlers. We all know the stories of raging bulls, over excited breeding dogs, and stories of agressive stallions are told from one agistment property to the next. Yes, a whale is not any of these land animals, but surely, the standard rule of not splitting his mind still applies?
Having a breeding male in a confined space is not new, and its something that we are only just beginning to realize is not on. In cat breeding places, the boys live in tiny cages away from the girls. Dog kennels apply the same logic. Stallions on most studs have a small yard or only a box. We are only just beginning to realize that a male is more pliable when allowed room to move and express himself.
All that being said, I do not think Tilly ever meant to actually harm his trainer. Thats why Im saying what Im saying. Because I think he loved her, he wanted to play with her because he was bored, and just got 'carried away'. Hence, it led me to my first thought of....Well, why not teach him as a baby how to NOT get carried away?
At least, as her mother said, she died doing what she loved. We can all only hope we could do the same.
Having said that, I am an animal trainer. I have trained budgies and cockatiels to do tricks, train and break horses, trained dogs and even to an extent, cats.
This is my first thought.
A horse will never weigh five tons. Some horses may reach a ton. The average horse is 600kgs. My horses weigh in between 400 and 600kgs. When a horse is a little foal, he can barely hurt you. When his sharp baby teeth come in, he can bruise you, but he cant close his jaw with enough strength to sever anything or take out a chunk like an adult horse can. He can bump and barge, but at his little age, he cant really knock you down. A little baby hoof on your toe doesnt hurt. He can kill you with a kick to the chest, but thats really the only way.
From this tender age all horses are taught one thing. RESPECT. You respect humans. Never hurt them. Playing is ok, even encouraged, but all horses have it drilled into them never to 'lose control'. Still, accidents happen, horses are wild at the core, but if training is done correctly a horse is as safe to be around as a labrador. My gelding Magnus is a big fellow, about 600kgs, and even in play, never, ever hurts a human. If he is upset, and kicks out, it is half hearted. If he wants a treat, and nips, he doesnt use his teeth. My stallion is the same.
Magnus' full brother Shakir is the only horse I am truly afraid of. I never trained him properly, as he was my 'first baby'. I recently met an experienced trainer that made the same mistake and has one like Shakir. Oh, he will be caught, lead, have his feet picked up, even wear a saddle and work, but if he's playful or angry, he will let fly full force with both feet aiming to kill. He will lash out with his teeth trying to tear out a good chunk of you. I think its important as a trainer to have these 'mistakes' in full view, to remind you never to do it again. When my stallion was a foal, he was so little and cute I never wanted to discipline him, but I would chant my mantra - "I will not have another Shakir" and put him promptly on his ass if he backtalked me. The result is a polite and well mannered horse who is a joy to work with and to own. Even now, full grown, at 600kgs and rippling with muscle, if I narrow my eyes, he submits and says sheepishly, "Jeez. Sorry mistress. Dont put me on my bum eh?"
People often talk about the intelligence of whales. Its why we can train them, live with them and get close to them. That they seem to have a type of intuition, not unlike what we subscribe to our horses, and understand their people. That true friendship between man and animal can occur - a deep understanding that works both ways.
This in mind, it seems ridiculous to me that whales are not trained like horses are. While reading about the attack I saw a photo of the now dead trainer with a young girl on the edge of a tank - they are talking to a baby killer whale. If we interact and train at this age, can we not also instill in them a respect for our fragile bodies? Like I said, I dont know marine animals. I dont train them. But it seems ridiculous to instill a 600kg herbivore with respect and not do it to a potentially 5 ton carnivore. Especially if you want a working relationship with the animal! The respect must be mutual and constant in the form of a bond. Although we do punish our horses, it is because this is what occurs naturally within the herd when establishing pecking order. Surely a similar method could be applied when training whales?
The next thing I found out about dear Tilly is he is their BREEDING MALE. Oh lord. Whether its a Stag, a Stallion, a Bull, a dog or a cat, breeding males are only ever used for BREEDING! When a stallion is at work, he has no mares and is at work. When he is breeding, he rarely works, only breeds. We understand that breeding males are agressive and closed minded. As far as Im concerned, this was utter folly from the start. Amoungst deer breeders, it is known you do not enter the stag's paddock when he is breeding. Even if you raised him from a fawn and in the off season this same stag will eat out of your hand, you do not go near him in breeding season unless you have a deep yen to be skewered by his antlers. We all know the stories of raging bulls, over excited breeding dogs, and stories of agressive stallions are told from one agistment property to the next. Yes, a whale is not any of these land animals, but surely, the standard rule of not splitting his mind still applies?
Having a breeding male in a confined space is not new, and its something that we are only just beginning to realize is not on. In cat breeding places, the boys live in tiny cages away from the girls. Dog kennels apply the same logic. Stallions on most studs have a small yard or only a box. We are only just beginning to realize that a male is more pliable when allowed room to move and express himself.
All that being said, I do not think Tilly ever meant to actually harm his trainer. Thats why Im saying what Im saying. Because I think he loved her, he wanted to play with her because he was bored, and just got 'carried away'. Hence, it led me to my first thought of....Well, why not teach him as a baby how to NOT get carried away?
At least, as her mother said, she died doing what she loved. We can all only hope we could do the same.
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