UK & World News
- 3 December 2012, 20:03
Dolphin Bites Girl At SeaWorld Theme Park
An eight-year-old girl has had a lucky escape after a dolphin she was feeding bit her at a US theme park.
Jillian Thomas was holding out fish to feed to dolphins at Orlando's SeaWorld when she got an unexpected surprise.
While she was feeding the usually friendly mammals, a dolphin lunges at her and nips her hand.
The girl, whose parents posted the video on YouTube to make other people aware of the dangers, suffered three small puncture wounds.
Jillian's father, Jamie Thomas, told local media the family were angry at the theme park for not warning them of the dangers of dolphin feeding.
"We felt powerless," he said.
"We thought, look, we've got this video, let's make it public, and let's try to put some pressure on SeaWorld to make some changes."
A SeaWorld statement said: "Nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of our guests, employees and animals.
"Educators and animal care staff are always on-site at this area monitoring all interactions and are committed to guest safety."
what do you think?
shaun spencer
Please, i hope their not after compensation.still hope little girl recovers from this" accident"!
Mathew Turner
How is it any different to when yr dog nips yr hand.. Yr feeding an animal surely u might expect this could happen.. Most people are aware this could happen when yr hand feeding a animal with teeth..
Chris Price
This comment has been removed for violations of our Terms and Conditions.
hollywoodbowden
Serves people right for being stupid
stevie may
A nip isnt a bite is it. . . Dolphin didn't mean to cause harm. Just like when a shewolf grabs lower ranking male members of the pack by the scruff of their necks with her jaws. . Not trying to cause injury, just showing them she's the boss
ali baba
Exactly. Dolphin could have bit little girls arm off, if wanted to.
stewgwyn
As I've said before, never treat any animal with disrespect and never completely trust any animal. And as Krafty says, they shouldn't be kept in captivity to perform for the gratification of bored, and boring, human beings.
Paul Grice
Wild animal and easy food what for they expect you can never trust any animal 100%
Adj Jackson
I'm certain that if it meant to harm her it could of pulled the girl and the father into the pool and done whatever it wanted. They want money and fame this will bring on the american chat show scene
eastonandrea
Talk about a fuss for nothing, did it do it on purpose, no probably not. One minute it's being fed then it reaches to grab a "fish" to find it's a hand. Did it maul this girl NO! feed wild mammals/animals and expect the possibilities of being bitten/nipped. Don't give dolphines a bad name.
Andy Marriott
She was waving the box of food around. The dolphin went for the box and caught her hand. Still feel sorry for the family what a shock.
PinkyLilac
Orange get your grammar right: While she was feeding the usually friendly mammals, a dolphin lunges at her and nips her hand. You weren't there too were you??I thought not...
speller007
the video clearly shows the dolphin went to eat the fish, but unfortunately it grabbed the girls hand instead! i mean, how often does this happen at seaworld anyway? or, maybe it's just an evil dolphin who hatched a plan to bite a human while feeding...
lynchygt3
feed any animal by hand and there is a chance it will bite you... do people really need warned of this... next they will be after compo then they will have to stop everyone from being able to get close to these beautiful animals it was a little nip get over it.
Adj Jackson
What a load of rubbish ... Have you been on you tube to watch it she was waving the fish then moved her hand unlucky love stop teasing. And theres a few more too shame her daddy didn't check you tube for the ferocious dolphins !!!!!!
Mike
Many years ago (something like 60) I took my young son to a dolphin display on Clacton pier and a similar thing happened to him when he was invited to stroke a dolphin. His arm was nipped and he had teethmark indentations but no broken skin. We did not make a fuss about it. I think some of the previous comments about feeding (or even playing with) animals are quite correct in saying that there is bound to be some small risk.
PinkyLilac
Mum and dad obv after compensation from sea world :o/
Sally Jolly
A wonderful example, ORANGE, of why the press need censuring. "Attack" is a verb - it requires a deliberate action to harm on the part of the Attacker - whereas in this case the animal was only after the food the child was vacuously waving in front of its face. MOST people have noticed that Dolphins have jolly small pointy teeth - er what do they think they are used for then ...? EVERYTHING carries a risk - get a life parents of child - unless they are seeing dollar signs ... no change there then.
jones.emyr
And this is a stark warning to anyone who is thinking about opening a shark hand-feeding enclosure.
gregwconnelly85
YAWN! "we thought, look we got this video, lets make some money" is how it should be read.
Louisa Bennett Labigail
Not being funny but she was holding the food and not giving it to the dolphin of course its going to get it off her
krafty81
7:55am on 3/12/2012
It's a wild animal that should be released back in the sea where it belongs unless it is ill or injured. Wish they would stop using them to perform.