Whale Sharks n such...

How many have they killed?

 

Ga. aquarium probes 2nd whale shark's death - Technology & science - MSNBC Wire Services - msnbc.com

FWIW the Home Depot guy (Bernard Marcus) put up $250 million

 

Sorry.. "died under their control" is what I should have said.

 

oh, right, I didn't mean 'killed' either... just wondering on what the count was.


Reading the article (and nothing further) appears they've lost only 2 in how many years? I don't know, maybe five years. And the last death was over 3 years ago... Both of the 2 were within the same year (was it connected?)

Not to trivialize "only 2"... but it's not exactly terrible given the big picture IMO... Was it more than that? Anybody know?

 

Only two, but two of 4 kinda changes the facts to they lost 50% of the first batch, that's no trivial number.

I truly feel the best place for them is in the ocean, but I feel the same with most sharks, dolphins, orcas, whales, etc.

 

Its sad to see any animal die. how many people have a small aquarium and throw in a few fish to cycle it and they die? I am meaning this not in a crazy way but on a large scale they are trying to keep something amazing just as we are and if its a learning process nobody knows how they are captive? Its like dwarf cuttlefish have not been bread in captivity until only a couple years ago and I have a few of this species that a friend bred? its a learning curve and nobody wants a single creature harmed but how do we know how they will do? I have a trip planned from Maine where I live to fla with a stop in atlanta aquarium in 4 weeks and hope to see this amazing tank along the way.

 

There is no need to use a fish to cycle an aquarium and even less of an excuse to kill them in the practice. I stopped recommending that 10 years ago and I don't know anyone that actually recommends that practice anymore. Dropping a fish into a tank with elevated ammonia is simply cruel. A dead shrimp or even dosing ammonia is much more suitable for cycling an aquarium.

Comparing a hobbyist killing fish that number in the millions if not billions is FAR different then ones that the population amount is unknown. They simply should not be kept in an aquarium. The current environment in P.A. is to out do the last guy.... given this, the next thing will be large whales as there really is no other place to go. Blue whale at G.A.? It may not be such a crazy thing to type.

Some things are best left in wild.

Elephants in cages, apes in cages, etc, etc... we all have seen what that does for them, but hey, it's OK since people are learning about them.... /sarcasm off

Dwarf Cuttlefish (S. bandensis) life cycle was closed in 2005/2006 but most likely do to the scientists/researchers lack of interest and the lack of availability (until recently). They also only live for six months to 3 years (species dependent) while whale sharks live ~70-100 years. The ones they killed were just babies at 2 years old. Apples to steaks comparison.

This kinda gets into the animal testing category as well.... or the keeping of elephants in small cages, etc, etc. Where do you draw the line?

Ask them about the dead ones and what they have learned from the experience.

 

Kind of the point I was making! Dont attack me for it I was meaning this in a way that said its not right but if its going to happen its one thing they learn about. I dont want to see any animal harmed from the fish people use in a new tank to a whale shark! Just sawing how do they learn and study this animal?