Today, while I was waiting for Dear Husband at the doctor’s office, I was watching local news on the television. At least three times, they showed video of a child at Sea World, feeding the dolphins, and what can go wrong when you do not pay attention.
This eight year old girl and her parents had paid to participate in the Dolphin Experience, where she would have the chance to feed the dolphins. Her parents were busy video taping their daughter for posterity. The girl had given her fish to the dolphins. She had been warned NOT to pick up the white tray the fish came in, but she picked it up. As she turned to her parents, a dolphin lunged to get what it thought was more fish, wrapping it’s mouth around the girl’s hand. When it realized there were no fish, the dolphin released her and slid back into the water.
Of course, her parents have shared the video with ABC, and it’s gone viral. I have stopped listening, but by dinner time, I expect to hear of a lawsuit that will put Sea World out of business.
Personally, I think the parents should have been paying closer attention to their daughter. If they have a child who is incapable of following instructions at eight, perhaps this was not the experience they should have signed up for. The video I saw showed the girl’s hand following the “bite” and it looked as though there were marks, but very little damage otherwise. I don’t think her skin was broken.
Prior to feeding the dolphins, instructions were given to all the participants, and they were clearly told, “Do not pick up the tray. Leave the tray on the edge.” The dolphins know that their meal arrives on these trays, and they will help themselves when they see the trays.
I’m sure opinion will be divided on this issue, but I think the parents needed to be more responsible for their daughter. Here’s the link to the video so that you can decide for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd_1Oyz_MPs
According to the news report (if memory serves!), skin was broken in three (that’s what I remember) small places. However; I think that letting the public feed any animal at a zoo or other such place (Sea World qualifies) is irresponsible – not only toward the children, but toward the creatures. Since we know that a child of no age (and few adults) can be expected to remember the “rules” in times of high excitement, I would give the child a “pass” and the adults and Sea World a “you could have done much better”. Then, I’d chalk the whole thing up to being a learning experience and move on.
We say the news story on that and immediately thought that the parents should have known their daughter well enough to know if this was an experience she was capable of participating in. Either they did not know her well enough, or did but figured they would police her – and then became too busy getting a “moment” on video to do so. Either way, this is squarely on the parents.
Cop Car, I agree with you. It’s a learning experience, now move on.
Bogie, I agree with you, too. The parents need to take responsibility for the child’s actions Hopefully, Sea World will rethink what they are doing, in the face of this situation.