Girl Bitten by Dolphin at Sea World!

[Escape Artist]

Yikes! Did you all see the video of the girl who got bitten by a dolphin at Sea World?

(It was on cnn.com - I don't know if it can be linked here.)

The girl is an 8-year-old who was feeding the dolphins. When she was done, she lifted up the empty paper tray, which she'd been told not to do. The dolphin went after the empty tray and got the girl's hand all the way across the inside of its mouth!

I think the girl was lucky to come out of that with only a few puncture wounds. As a mom, it had to be terrifying for her family to have that happen. As a Sea World fan, I hope they can do something to help prevent this kind of injury in the future without severely changing the dolphin feeding activity.

Just curious if anyone else has seen this video and what are your thoughts?

Sue in Texas

[Escape Artist]

Originally Posted by Escape Artist

(It was on cnn.com - I don't know if it can be linked here.)

Sue in Texas

Here's a link to the video her mom posted on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXiakfblpFs

Clearly, Sea World knows this can happen, and the mom is right, thank heavens it didn't pull her in! I think that would have been unlikely,though - the wall is pretty high, and the dolphin didn't want the girl or her hand, it only wanted more fish.

Still - a powerful image there!

Sue in Texas
...still taking her kids to Sea World...

[mom of2]

The girl didn't follow the rules and got bit. The parents weren't parenting her, and she got bit.

I took my then 3 and 6 year old to feed the dolphins. I made sure they listended to the instructions and then I made them repeat them back to me and I WATCHED them. No problems only a great experience.

One of the parents is quoted as saying they heard them say not to lift the tray but they didn't know why. So because you don't know why you don't make sure your kid follows the rules?

[sommergirl25]

Originally Posted by mom of2

The girl didn't follow the rules and got bit. The parents weren't parenting her, and she got bit.

I took my then 3 and 6 year old to feed the dolphins. I made sure they listended to the instructions and then I made them repeat them back to me and I WATCHED them. No problems only a great experience.

One of the parents is quoted as saying they heard them say not to lift the tray but they didn't know why. So because you don't know why you don't make sure your kid follows the rules?

^^ This, exactly. It doesn't matter why they have the rules just that they have them and are supposed to be followed. We have been to Sea World many times and listen to rules. We have always had an amazing time!

[Kristibo42]

I hate to say this but they told her not to do it. I think people need to start paying attention to instructions. Just remember these are animals.

[wiigirl]

Originally Posted by Kristibo42

I hate to say this but they told her not to do it. I think people need to start paying attention to instructions. Just remember these are animals.

Totally agree....

[trouttigger]

I do hope this does not turn into banning everyone from doing it just because ONE person DID NOT follow instructions and THEREFORE had an accident.

We'll find out in 12 days.

[tazlikesrobots]

Originally Posted by Kristibo42

I hate to say this but they told her not to do it. I think people need to start paying attention to instructions. Just remember these are animals.

Completely agree!

[reelmom]

There goes anybody else getting to feed the dolphins. I guarantee OSHA gets involved and shuts down this experience. People are stupid.

[Escape Artist]

Originally Posted by reelmom

There goes anybody else getting to feed the dolphins. I guarantee OSHA gets involved and shuts down this experience. People are stupid.

I certainly hope it doesn't go that far. The child was in the wrong, but she is a child and it's human nature to do the wrong thing sometimes. That said, I hope Sea World doesn't end up paying off this family just to avoid or settle a law suit. They shouldn't have to pay for this - nor should all of us who would end up paying for it thru higher ticket prices.

If they do have to make changes, I hope it's something along the lines of:
- stop using those paper trays. Find some other way of distributing the fish that won't encourage the dolphins to lunge after them, or
- build a little ledge underneath the top of the wall around the dolphin pool. Make it very clear that the trays have to stay under the ledge.

Hopefully the little girl will heal up just fine, life with go on at Sea World as normal, and this won't happen again.

Sue in Texas

[Belle & Ariel]

Originally Posted by Escape Artist

I certainly hope it doesn't go that far. The child was in the wrong, but she is a child and it's human nature to do the wrong thing sometimes. That said, I hope Sea World doesn't end up paying off this family just to avoid or settle a law suit. They shouldn't have to pay for this - nor should all of us who would end up paying for it thru higher ticket prices.

If they do have to make changes, I hope it's something along the lines of:
- stop using those paper trays. Find some other way of distributing the fish that won't encourage the dolphins to lunge after them, or
- build a little ledge underneath the top of the wall around the dolphin pool. Make it very clear that the trays have to stay under the ledge.

Hopefully the little girl will heal up just fine, life with go on at Sea World as normal, and this won't happen again.

Sue in Texas

We know someone whose child slammed a door on a ride and broke a finger. Universal gave the family free passes for life with front of the line privileges. This doesn't really "cost" alot and saves expensive litigation and settlement.
The park wasn't really at fault--those doors are closed on thousands each day and this is not a common problem--but kept the peace. Same thing could easily happen with the dolphin situation at SW.

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Originally Posted by Belle & Ariel

We know someone whose child slammed a door on a ride and broke a finger. Universal gave the family free passes for life with front of the line privileges. This doesn't really "cost" alot and saves expensive litigation and settlement.
The park wasn't really at fault--those doors are closed on thousands each day and this is not a common problem--but kept the peace. Same thing could easily happen with the dolphin situation at SW.

What a sad world we live in, though, where the party who is not at fault is compelled to provide restitution to someone who didn't follow the rules (which were clearly stated) and was harmed as a result.

SeaWorld was not in the wrong. The young child made a mistake, and suffered the natural consequences of her error. Life lesson here......or should have been.

I don't think it matters what kind of safety measures or rules are put into place, people will abuse them, circumvent them, or, in this little girl's case, let their excitement take over and simply forget them. Whether intentional or not intentional, why should SW (or any other park) end up compensating for an action they counselled guests NOT do do?

[Belle & Ariel]

Originally Posted by Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina

What a sad world we live in, though, where the party who is not at fault is compelled to provide restitution to someone who didn't follow the rules (which were clearly stated) and was harmed as a result.

SeaWorld was not in the wrong. The young child made a mistake, and suffered the natural consequences of her error. Life lesson here......or should have been.

I don't think it matters what kind of safety measures or rules are put into place, people will abuse them, circumvent them, or, in this little girl's case, let their excitement take over and simply forget them. Whether intentional or not intentional, why should SW (or any other park) end up compensating for an action they counselled guests NOT do do?

I totally agree with you. Unfortunately we have an extremely litiigious society which has been taught that nothing is ever their fault and they are entitled to something.

There are similar events on cruise critic where someone jumps overboard and the ship should have nets to protect, should not have served alcohol, should have cameras and someone manning 24/7 to catch someone, etc. Never the person who chose suicide's fault but the ship's. Last week someone jumped off a ship and a lawyer site announced the disappearance and gave the number of overboards that were not solved in the last few years, pointing blame on the cruise line. They have now been retained by the family. Makes me sick.

[RabFlmom]

Originally Posted by Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina

What a sad world we live in, though, where the party who is not at fault is compelled to provide restitution to someone who didn't follow the rules (which were clearly stated) and was harmed as a result.

SeaWorld was not in the wrong. The young child made a mistake, and suffered the natural consequences of her error. Life lesson here......or should have been.

I don't think it matters what kind of safety measures or rules are put into place, people will abuse them, circumvent them, or, in this little girl's case, let their excitement take over and simply forget them. Whether intentional or not intentional, why should SW (or any other park) end up compensating for an action they counselled guests NOT do do?

Yep, it was excitement on the girl's part and I am thinking maybe had the mom or dad been standing next to and watching over the girl to make sure she followed the rules, this would not have happened. We always stood next to each our sons to make sure they didn't lift up the tray or dangle the fish to make the dolphin come out of the water. I would have been there making sure she didn't have to pick up the empty tray to show me she didn't have fish. I would have already known. But then I was a mom who held their hands walking in parking lots which doesn't always happen in this day and age either.

[trouttigger]

Originally Posted by Belle & Ariel

We know someone whose child slammed a door on a ride and broke a finger. Universal gave the family free passes for life with front of the line privileges. This doesn't really "cost" alot and saves expensive litigation and settlement.
The park wasn't really at fault--those doors are closed on thousands each day and this is not a common problem--but kept the peace. Same thing could easily happen with the dolphin situation at SW.

I think the Universal response is more than generous.