Anyone see Blackfish last night?

Absolutely astonishing film. Here if you missed it, highly recommended - keep a hankie close by. Not for little kids though.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b03j49l6/Storyville_20132014_Blackfish_The_Whale_that_Killed/

 

Yep I watched it, unbelievable, how they can still be kept in captivity is beyond me, some of the scenes were shocking.

 

I didn't, but I've got a factoid about Killer whales.

'Killer Whales' is a misnomer. They're not actually whales, they're members of the dolphin family. They're related to whales, as are all dolphins, but they're just great big dolphins really. Paint one grey and that's exactly what it would look like, a huge dolphin. The Spanish called them whale killers, which is what some of them do, and we got it arse about tit in translation.

I probably got this from QI.

 

No. Have to say I have never heard of it. Will make sure I watch it. Was on BBC 4? They do repeat films. Would rather watch it on my tv than my old lalaptop.

 

It's repeated on Monday night 10-30 bbc4, it's definitely worth watching, it's a real eye opener mate

 

Watched on your recommendation Paul. Brilliant in a sad/angry sense of the word. Bit when they take the baby away from the mum, erm, just got something in my eye...

 

Cheers boss, will give it a look.

 

No worries ponty,

 

Yes mate, it was probably get a few airings on BBC4, check the link - it should tell you when it's scheduled. It is worth recording, I had to pause it halfway through and went back to the beginning, once I'd done a wee.

What Jay says is true, it is a species in it's own right - Orca, and there are variations in different parts of the world, literally speaking different languages. This is one of the reasons they fight in captivity. Nor are they killers. No more than any other predator. There is not a single record of an Orca attack on a human in the wild. But Tilicom, the big star of the film and Sea World in Florida, has now killed 2 of his trainers and is still performing.

The film is incredibly moving. Not just the human tragedies, but the treatment and abuse of the animals and the scenes of the separation of young calves from their mothers is absolutely heart-breaking. Like the old hunter says, it's like kid-napping a child, nothing less.

 

Thanks boss, I'll watch it on Monday.