SeaWorld's 'Day In The Life Of Tilikum' Video Is Super Depressing

<p> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-AtzPCfSOA">YouTube/SeaWorld® Parks & Entertainment</a><span></span> </p>

SeaWorld thinks you might like to know how famous orca whale Tilikum, star of "Blackfish," spends his time nowadays. So on Friday evening they tweeted this:

So just what does Tilikum do all day? We watched the video, and we'd like to talk about a few things they said.

4. Tilikum hangs out with ONE other whale.

YouTube/SeaWorld® Parks & Entertainment

"A lot of people ask me, 'Does Tilikum spend his days alone?' Absolutely not!," the trainer says. "Tilikum spends a whole lot of time with Trua, his grandson."

It may be true that Tilikum plays with his grandson, but orcas in the wild don't spend their time with just one other whale. When swimming freely in the ocean, a whale can interact with one of the other 40 unique, socially stimulating individuals who make up their pod.

3. Tilikum plays with his toys.

YouTube/SeaWorld® Parks & Entertainment

When you're trapped in a small pool with nobody to talk to other than your grandson, even a rope tied to a small object could pass as a toy.

Do whales in the ocean need toys to satisfy their intellectual curiosity? Or is the entire underwater world their oyster?

2. Tilikum rests.

YouTube/SeaWorld® Parks & Entertainment

"[Audiences at SeaWorld] might see him at rest, because, you see, like all animals, killer whales do rest," says the trainer.

Yes, all animals rest in some way - thanks for that important insight, SeaWorld.

But when orcas get severely stressed from being in captivity, they may end up simply floating, which isn't natural behavior for a wild orca, who's almost always in motion.

And court documents show that you have even given them drugs to calm them down. How's that for rest?

1. Tilikum performs.

YouTube/SeaWorld® Parks & Entertainment

Yes, SeaWorld, you're so right on this. Tilikum does frequently splash "so much 55-degree salt water into [the audience's] laps." Unfortunately, you continue to disregard the fact that Tilikum performs these tricks because you force him to live captive in a tiny pool - not because he's enjoying it.

SeaWorld, next time you release a video about the daily life of Tilikum, or any other whale, please consider comparing his life in captivity with the life of a whale who is free to swim across the oceans and interact with a pod of many whales.

Watch the full video here:

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