I have a friend in San Diego who is a former reporter. Very connected, trustworthy guy. He can help you get your story out and will totally watch your back. How can I connect the two of you?

I hope if this story is true that this happens

humans do worse to humans, but at if its an animal, people will get super pissed.

Humans by NO means whatsoever do worse to each other than we do to non humans. Not even close. This is not to belittle what we do to each other or to say that we are not absolute, barbarous cretins to one another, but as many wars and as much violence and rape and mayhem and death as we are responsible for toward one another, it doesn't even begin to hold a candle to what we do to other species.

Can't we all just agree that humans treat most things like shit?

Yes. Correct. I certainly agree with that. However, relative to this truth, we treat everything that's not human like quite a bit worse shit than we treat ourselves and each other.

To be fair, I've seen people give preferential treatment to animals, and be absolutely vile towards humans. I guess ultimately it boils down to the individuals.

To be fair, I've seen people give preferential treatment to animals,

Of course. Me too. I'm actually one of the type that tend to give preferential treatment to non-human animals over human animals.

Doesn't matter though. I and people like me are WAAAYYYY in the minority, and most of us in the human species kill and torture non-human animals incessantly.

and be absolutely vile towards humans.

Being absolutely vile toward anyone is not a good thing. That is, however, besides the point that's being made here that, by and large, the human race overall acts pretty despicably toward the non-human race.

I guess ultimately it boils down to the individuals.

On one level, it definitely seems to - yes. On another level, there really is just SOOOO much negativity that human beings are indeed responsible for toward non-human beings, that I would imagine that any being who isn't human and doesn't know much about humanity and who is on the outside looking in on human civilization might think "These beings seem to regularly kill everything that is not them. There seem to be some that don't do that, but there are definitely more members in this race that do engage in this despicable activity than there are those that don't."

As such, I wouldn't think it too unjustified if this hypothetical being came to the conclusion that humans "overall" were just aggressive, violent things that killed everything in their path.

Show your friend this post. If he's that well connected maybe he can get the ball rolling on this story, even without OP.

Is there any proof? I'm trying not to be a douche but, the Internet is full of lies my man.

In all seriousness what proof would there be? I'm certainly not saying to blindly accept the story at face value, I just don't want people to be discouraged from posting their stories because they can't prove them. Maybe a little something like "I can't prove this so take it as you will" or whatever.

I know that's not a very good standard to set on the internet, but at the same time this sub is special in that it might be one of the only places someone can share stories like this and at least be heard, whether we believe them or not.

*Yeah, I'm with the people below.

Proof he worked their. At that time or at all even. Anything. I know if I worked in his shoes. I would have a picture of the animal at least.

Come on man, why would someone go on the internet and tell lies

Abe Lincoln here, can confirm no one comes to the internet and lies.

Source : Honest Abe

ya really think someone would do that?

Any sort of evidence? Why dont you just come out to the press?

It's pretty obvious this is real, what the fuck does he get from making this story up?

Some people just want to watch the world burn?

I'll get the popcorn

Yeah nobody fabricates stories on the internet.

Perhaps some people do it for the Lulz?

Visit /r/quityourbullshit

Blackfish Documentary

So the real news is that there is a 70 year old on the conspiracy subreddit.

Not sure how you got that number.

Well it was 45 years ago. If you actually believe this is true then put yourself in the position of park president... you would need a fellow shamu-rderer that you have grown to trust over time, who was also some sort of partially trained marine biologist type, which would mean at least mid twenties.

You can't undo it; but what have you been doing to atone for it? And I mean that in the cosmic balancing sense, rather than the self punishment it has come to mean. Living a life of regret is just another wrong.

I did some Googling, and some of the details check out:

A female model was indeed injured during a promotional video shoot in April of 1971.

http://www.insideedition.com/headlines/265-anne-godsey-survived-1971-killer-whale-attack

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc7rynj6kc8

Apparently they didn't want to pay her compensation because she was "just" a secretary and the job she was doing had nothing to do with her job title even though she was trained in on the stunt. That's fucked up SeaWorld.

Something about the tone in the video is just creepy

Well, this was a very unfortunate introduction to what corporate america has become. There is no concern other than the bottom line. I hope (if this story is true) that you have been able to make peace with yourself, take a step back and realize it is life and our relationships through life (human or animal), that truly give us our riches. Do what you can to foster that in yourself and the others around you and you will find that the death of that magnificent animal was not all in vain. Good luck in your journey

Nice sentiment :)

Exactly how many Shamus were there?

I'm wondering the same thing... Pretty sure I saw Shamu at sea world in Orlando Florida 20+ years ago..

There have been around 50 shamus... and 1 shouldve been enough in 20 years easily..they have much shorter lifespans in captivity.

this is verifiable in the Marine Mammal Inventory Report put out by NOAA

Perhaps they have shorter lifespans when captive because this is routine. The thought of that is damn depressing.

they have shorter lifespans because the needs of these animals..mentally, emotionally and physically just cannot be adequately met in captivity.

what seaworld type park do with these animals is nothing more than experimentation.. they are giant ass guinea pigs being exploited for profit.

Only one, which is the one mentioned in OP's story. All the whales at SeaWorld have their own individual names, but for some reason it's just easier for SeaWorld to give them all the stage name of Shamu.

I love how he hasn't responded to any comments here or posted any evidence but some people still believe him.

I private messaged him yesterday but haven't heard back. I have connections to get this covered in the media.

Baffled about the downvotes. There is no opinion here, just statements of fact.

Well, I thought it was a very lovely story, and you tell it so well.

Would you like to see a picture of Lieutenant Dan?

a troll post, from a user who likely wasn't alive, or was a small child in 71......upvoted 91% with 225 votes.

WOW. Come on, guys.

Wow...just, wow.

God! I hate marine parks!!

[deleted]

There is a reason that many animal advocates support zoos. While many animals in zoos are not as content as they would be in nature, the education and advocacy that the public receives through zoos is invaluable. Zoos are often involved in conservation efforts and as long as the animals are not mistreated to a significant degree its pretty much a net positive for the animals.

Thank you, zoo PR rep.

depends on the zoo. The one near me hs enough open space for the animals that they can roam about

Yeah I feel bad for ever wanting to go to sixflags when I was younger. Horrible people running those places.

should xpost to /r/offmychest

If true: Hope you have all your personal shit squared away for the sake of all concerned!

Dayummm!

Wow, the only other page he frequents is r/vandwelling.

It's not always what you think.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lg37Cbx-kak

/r/vandwelling

Or the more populated: /r/vandwellers

Perhaps I might want to be mobile, if I were taking responsibility for the death of Shamu...

http://espn.go.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/12420393/top-blue-jays-prospect-daniel-norris-lives-own-code

while i appreciate a good story... i like evidence.

if its true, thats horrible and you should turn yourself in. But your lying so ... nobody cares.

Need proof. But still, thanks for sharing.

Holy hell, I thought I was in /r/copypasta

How has this been on the sub for 12 hours and this guy hasn't even come back to comment or give proof? This doesn't meet my standards for proof.

Why not release it into an ocean?!

Animals born and raised in captivity usually don't re-integrate very well in the wild. But it was probably easier to say it died from natural causes.

Keiko.

the original shamu was not born into captivity..

she was captured...

So lets just kill it? At least it would see the ocean before it died.

But OP mentioned, they had to do so in secret. It was obviously easier to poison it and said it died of natural causes than have to transport it all the way to the ocean... in which case, they would have to explain the rationale to the public who probably wouldn't buy it.

so if this was indeed the case isn't there like some sort of testing after the death? so the poison would have been found in the body because of the fish?

dunno if they did a lot of necropsies back then.. these animals werent protected as they are now with the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

The current shamu is an imposter.

I heard once that for continuity reasons they would get a new "lassie" each year for the tv show lassie, and they would take the old one up in a helicopter and throw her out into the desert. I don't think this is true, just one of those urban legend things.

Yes!

you would be surprised.. there were over 5 flippers too...no one ever knew when one died and a new one took over..

I don't believe you. In 70 and 71 they were still paying a small fortune for orcas to be captured from the wild, why would they kill a orca that was trained just to replace it with an orca that might not be trainable or might be just as aggressive? Why wouldn't they just sell off Shamu to a smaller venue?

The truth shall set thee free...

why is this upvoted 144 times and nobody has requested any proof relating to the matter? This could easily be someone from conspiratard trolling us.

So you murdered a woman to make a profit?

Cetaceans are in many ways more evolved and intelligent than human beings.

. . .

cool story, bro

I wonder who else is drugged so they'll be easier to control?

[deleted]

No kidding?

a lot of them actually

Ex-SeaWorld Trainers: Here's A List Of The Drugs We Fed To Orcas

SeaWorld Admits To Giving Orcas Anti-Anxiety Drugs

I was alluding to the relationship between US citizens and their gov., but that'll do.

:D

How much volume was injected?

o.0

:O

Great story.

According to this quote from the book Death at SeaWorld Shamu died from pyometra, a problem with hormones.

LOL. You retards will upvote anything.

you sick fuck

you sick fuck human

I wouldn't post to /r/conspiracy if you're actually posting a real story. Just saying. Go to the media or something.

So you're like 65, 66?

Who cares? If you did that to the female performer, I'd be horrified. But a dangerous animal? No.

Animals don't have rights, folks.

Dangerous animal? There has never been a reported orca attack in the wild..this behavior is specific to captivity and maybe dont take apex predators and turn them into water poodles and people wont die..

Tell that to all the dead seals!!

oh..you mean their natural food source :D they ARE a predator..you want them to hunt seaweed? i was referring to orca attacks on people..not their natural prey.

and only some orca hunt seals by the way..

Oh I know. Was just being, well, silly. (I use that word all the time with my kids...but its kind of of to type it to who I presume is an adult.)

I always love a 3 day old account trying to debunk a story.

[deleted]

Read the post.

Keiko.

the original shamu was not born into captivity..

she was captured...

So lets just kill it? At least it would see the ocean before it died.