SeaWorld defends its employees after dolphin bites Georgia girl's hand - Polidicks

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXZ8fiBVPHk[/media] [quote]SeaWorld is defending the actions of its employees in Orlando, Fla., after an 8-year-old girl from Georgia was injured by a dolphin. Jillian Thomas of Alpharetta was participating in the feeding at the dolphin facility Nov. 21. When she held a paper fish container up so the dolphin could grab it, the animal lunged at her and bit her hand. Her father, Jamie Thomas, captured the attack on camera. The video shows the girl’s face contorting in pain as the dolphin briefly grabs her left hand. Jillian suffered three puncture wounds, but her mother said she didn't think park employees took her injuries seriously. In a statement, SeaWorld officials said they addressed the incident appropriately. "Nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of our guests, employees and animals," the statement said. "Educators and animal care staff were at the attraction when this happened and immediately connected with the family. In addition, a member of our health services team was in the area at Dolphin Cove and quickly responded and treated the young girl. "The video had not been previously shared with us and we have not had a chance to assess it, but certainly take the situation seriously." Food for the dolphins comes on small trays. In a video from the exhibit, an announcer warns visitors not to hold them up, as the dolphins will reach for them. In the video, Jillian can clearly be seen picking up the tray, but her mother claims she never heard the warning. SeaWorld said guests are given clear instructions on how to feed the dolphins, including specific directions not to pick up the paper trays.[/quote] [url=http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/03/15643336-seaworld-defends-its-employees-after-dolphin-bites-georgia-girls-hand?lite]SOURCE & VIDEO REPORT[/url]

Wow the parents in that video are fucking dicks.

Barely a fucking scratch, the dolphin just wanted some food. And they handled it pretty well, calling in the medic and everything if you ask me. Asshole parents.

"we're not gonna show it to anybody" - hah!

Things like this happens all the time in theme parks. The parents get ignorant, the child gets hurt or killed, the parents claims that its the parks fault for their own ignorance.

I'm with SeaWorld on this. An animal in an exhibit is still an animal and they're unpredictable and I'd imagine places like zoos and aquariums take safety very seriously. This doesn't mean that visitors shouldn't rely on the employees to constantly remind them that they are in fact dealing with an animal and not some disney-esque smiley cutsey dolphin.

Yeah, going to go with Neo there. Also the worst part is that the dad starts filming her getting bitten and her arm when she already had enough for one day.

Just another case of parents looking to blame someone else instead of just admitting that shit happens. What they should have taken from this is "Do not hold food out of a dolphin's reach and instead toss it into its mouth."

[QUOTE=RetaDepa;38696823]I'm with SeaWorld on this. An animal is still an animal and they're unpredictable and I'd imagine places like zoos and aquariums take safety very seriously. This doesn't mean that visitors shouldn't rely on the employees to constantly remind them that they are in fact dealing with an animal and not some disney-esque smiley cutsey dolphin.[/QUOTE] Agreed, even when it doesn't involve animals. When I worked at Disney World, we made sure that safety is the number one thing that we enforce. However, people do stupid things when we weren't around, and even when we're around, they still tend to do things that were against safety. Ignorance...bleh.

[QUOTE=Steamjunke;38696838]Yeah, going to go with Neo there. Also the worst part is that the dad starts filming her getting bitten and her arm when she already had enough for one day.[/QUOTE] He was probably filming it for evidence if he decided to take legal action against SeaWorld.

[QUOTE=RetaDepa;38696870]He was probably filming it for evidence if he decided to take legal action against SeaWorld.[/QUOTE] Most likely, though it ain't going to do much if the video includes evidence that the family didn't listen to the employees words. Even so, that filming of the tray will be used against the family.

"...her mother said she didn't think park employees took her injuries seriously." Hmm...maybe because they're not that serious! Put a princess band-aid on it and get over it. :suicide:

[QUOTE=King Tiger;38696785]Wow the parents in that video are fucking dicks.[/QUOTE] I love how the mother instantly jumps to the story that the park is in the wrong and that her family could not make a mistake... I have been to stuff like this and they ALWAYS have very clear instructions and never "forget" to mention something. Just because she didn't hear them say don't hold the tray up doesn't mean they didn't say it. Stupid mom.

Throw some dirt on it.

This reminds me of Louis Ck's bit: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mexxt5kb3Po[/media]

Wow. She was barely injured. I mean, the article calls them "puncture wounds", but if that dolphin had wanted to do any serious damage (not that it wanted to do any damage at all, it was going for the fish carton), her hand would be fucking [b]GONE[/b]. Not only that, but I honestly believe that kids that young, or at least kids that can't follow simple fucking instructions, shouldn't be allowed to interact with the animals. [h2]PERIOD[/h2]

[QUOTE=Squad;38696943]I love how the mother instantly jumps to the story that the park is in the wrong and that her family could not make a mistake... I have been to stuff like this and they ALWAYS have very clear instructions and never "forget" to mention something. Just because she didn't hear them say don't hold the tray up doesn't mean they didn't say it. Stupid mom.[/QUOTE] Its clearly ignorance. Sure its okay if it happened for a moment, but pursuing it.... Not a good thing for the family's reputation, clearly.

The dolphin's stomach was making the rumblies that only hands could satisfy.

Parents have no reason to be upset about this. It's was their daughters fault and Seaworld had signs posted up not to raise the plate up because it might make the dolphin think it's food

[QUOTE=ZenZill;38696907]"...her mother said she didn't think park employees took her injuries seriously." Hmm...maybe because they're not that serious! Put a princess band-aid on it and get over it. :suicide:[/QUOTE] She could get infected or sick, they are animals and you have to be careful when they open a wound no matter how small.

I mean for the kid it could have been bad. Just because there is a few scratches or punctures does not mean her hand could have been broken/crushed/whatever. Obviously it hurt it enough to the point she couldn't ball her fist up. She was limp/babying it...you're all idiots for jumping to the conclusion it didn't hurt her and that she needs to "man up." What the fuck, she is a small child listen to yourselves. As for the park, it isn't their fault. They shouldn't be held liable (in civil court) - they should at least tend to the girls wounds and pay for any medical expense though, ultimately it was their property that hurt the girl. But they (both parents and employee) should have been a bit more cautious and more attentive. It was a simple accident, no need to make it complicated.

It was after the piece of paper in her hand that is used to wrap the fish in Sea World, and probably looked/smelled like fish that the dolphin could see. Heh.

[QUOTE=ZenZill;38696907]"...her mother said she didn't think park employees took her injuries seriously." Hmm...maybe because they're not that serious! Put a princess band-aid on it and get over it. :suicide:[/QUOTE] Animal bites are always a serious matter. Fortunately there were only small teeth marks, but dolphins are very powerful animals and could have easily severely wounded the girl. I don't think this incident warrants a lawsuit, but SeaWorld needs to re-evaluate how it approaches these feeding events so this doesn't happen again.

Not to go on any sides or defend anyone in the video, but I think a lot of you are kind of making it seem less serious than it is (or could have been). Yeah, there's barely any damage to her hand, but what if it didn't let go and pulled her in? Still though, an animal is an animal.

" In a video from the exhibit, an announcer warns visitors not to hold them up, as the dolphins will reach for them. In the video, Jillian can clearly be seen picking up the tray, but her mother claims she never heard the warning." So mommy doesn't pay attention and this woman thinks it's Seaworld's fault? I hate the way the article is worded too. The girl's face contorted in pain as the animal lunged at her? It's an eight year old dangling fish above a dolphin what the hell do you think it's going to do?

"Show daddy your hand, let him record it" "I don't wanna," crying "Show daddy your hand so we can sue SeaWorld and make lots of money dear. Oh you want a band aid? Let's record this before we get help."

Saw this on the news this morning. Sorry but slow news day much? Nobody was paying ANY attention to the animals and that's why she got bit, not only that but the Dolphin clearly realized it made a mistake and let go, what triggered it was it saw something in her hand from underwater, so consider what that looked like to the Dolphin. But you know, stuff and things are dangerous so nobody should do stuff and things. I just love how they went on and on about how she was badly mauled by the vicious Dolphin, bunch of idiots. Hurt myself worse than that stacking firewood... [QUOTE=Tippmann357;38697155]Not to go on any sides or defend anyone in the video, but I think a lot of you are kind of making it seem less serious than it is (or could have been). Yeah, there's barely any damage to her hand, but what if it didn't let go and pulled her in? Still though, an animal is an animal.[/QUOTE] It wasn't trying to hurt her, she was holding her hand out with a paper tray and it made a mistake thinking it was food. Entirely her fault and the parent's fault for not paying attention to the animals. I'm guessing the Dolphins are used to this sort of thing so they know the trays contain food.

[QUOTE=Tippmann357;38697155]Not to go on any sides or defend anyone in the video, but I think a lot of you are kind of making it seem less serious than it is (or could have been). Yeah, there's barely any damage to her hand, but what if it didn't let go and pulled her in? Still though, an animal is an animal.[/QUOTE] Except it didn't, this isn't a what-if scenario. But if you want to go off a what-if scenario, the parents shouldn't be letting their kids stick their hands in front of the dolphin's mouth because they are animals and can be unpredictable. I don't see how it's serious in the least bit. The dolphin let go before it did any considerable damage, and I'm sure it could have done a lot more to her arm if it wanted to.

She punched the dolphin in the face.

i like how the trainer told them to not hold food up because they will reach for it. what does the mom make her do? hold it up. and the mom says "i never heard that rule". so you openly said you didnt follow instructions and didnt listen.