Please watch the video first
I made sure to get in touch with phil before i decided to share this particular story. In essence not only is smooshi his baby but in effect it was HIS story and no one else's. His imprint experience with this walrus is special to say the very least!!
From what limited footage is available it seems clear to me that smooshi basically said your my father, and the rest ensues like a love story between trainer and walrus. Yet what seems obvious is that no one was prepared for the depth of the connection between human and family member. For when i look at phil and smooshi on footage, i am blown away by the connection between them that is so clear. Whatever form it assimilates, Its not how you identify the relationship, its how you acknowledge it for what it clearly is. Love, pure and simple!
Imprinting for wild birds is crucial to their immediate and long-term survival. For example, precocial baby birds (such as ducks, geese, and turkeys) begin the process of imprinting shortly after hatching so that they follow the appropriate adult, providing them with safety.
https://www.wildlifecenter.org/news_events/news/human-imprinting-birds-and-importance-surrogacy
As far as i can tell the same thing happened between Phil Demers and smooshi. An amazing connection was somehow fabricated between human and mammal, to the point that it transcended what we fathom or misunderstand about creatures of the water. I once read a book about how elephants on the coast of Zimbabwe seemed to be communicating with whales on a sonar level off-shore. Who the hell are we to judge who can talk to whom, what an amazing world we as humans fail to comprehend if elephants can in fact talk to whales in the ocean??
Some hard facts for you of the soft heart!
As a wise friend once told me - marine life in captivity is atrocious
http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/captive_marine/facts/marine_captivity.html
Marine Mammals in Captivity
Dolphins, sea lions and other marine mammals are taken from the wild for public displays
The Humane Society of the United States
The public display industry captures many species of marine mammals from the wild, especially whales and dolphins. The Humane Society of the United States believes that these animals should not be taken from the wild simply to entertain and amuse people, for a number of reasons.
Life in the wild
The very nature of these animals makes them uniquely unsuited to confinement. In the wild, whales and dolphins live in large groups (called pods), often in tight family units. Family bonds often last many years. In some species, they last for a lifetime.
Whales and dolphins travel long distances each day, sometimes swimming in a straight line for a hundred miles, other times remaining in a certain area for hours or days, moving several miles along a coastline and then turning to retrace their path. These marine mammals can dive up to several hundred meters and stay underwater for up to half an hour. They spend only 10 to 20% of their time at the surface.
The sea is to whales and dolphins much as the air is to birds—a three-dimensional environment, where they can move up and down and side to side. But whales and dolphins don't stop to perch. They never come to shore, as do seals and sea lions. Whales and dolphins are always swimming, even when they "sleep." They are "voluntary breathers," conscious of every breath they take. They are always aware, and always moving. Understanding this, it is difficult to imagine the tragedy of life in no more than a tiny swimming pool.
Life in captivity
Life for captive whales and dolphins is nothing like a life in the sea. It is almost impossible to maintain a family group in captivity. Tanks only allow a few strokes in any direction before coming to a wall. Because tanks are shallow, the natural tendencies of whales and dolphins are reversed—they spend more than half their time at the tank's surface.
This unnatural situation can cause skin problems. In addition, in captive killer whales (orcas), it is the probable cause of dorsal fin collapse, as without the support of water, gravity pulls these tall appendages over as the whale matures. Collapsed fins are experienced by all captive male orcas and many captive female orcas, who were either captured as juveniles or who were born in captivity. However, they are observed in only about 1% of orcas in the wild.
In a tank, the environment is monotonous and limited in scope. Sonar clicks, the method by which individuals define their surroundings, have limited utility in such an environment. These animals, who are perpetually aware, have nothing like the varied stimulation of their natural environment. In perpetual motion, they are forced into literally endless circles. Life for these animals is a mere shadow of what it was in the wild.
In conclusion its really simple, Phil had the guts to identify what clearly was a bad situation and stand up and fight against the powers that be. This is a massive understatement of how the wildlife at "ahem" were being abused. The government, the crappy lawyers filling their pockets, the people in power that were more than happy to look the other way whilst innocent creatures of the sea were abused, murdered and taken advantage of.
https://www.thespec.com/news-story/7495864-all-animal-cruelty-charges-dropped-against-marineland/
These times are long gone im telling you now, you are now dealing with a very aware and pissed off society! Too long has evil flourished while good PEOPLE do nothing. Be careful how you tread big brother - we are watching YOU more than ever.
A personal message to Phil Demers, you are never alone! This disgraceful action will not go unpunished. You have fought a valiant fight for over 5 years now. I never thought of myself as a social justice warrior, but i always knew when a cause was there to fight i would fight no matter the consequences. Army +1 KJ - and those i bring with me.
Peace, love and the equality of everything!
You have my utmost respect sir!
Question 1: Would you risk everything to stand up for your beliefs?
Quesiton 2: Have you ever witnessed cruelty and done nothing about it?