On the main page for my book, I feature the last few notes from my research. They are always very brief and express a singular thought. Some of these are hot takes and others are just plain nerdy, so enjoy!
A short story titled "Rocket Ride" in Craig Davidson's book Rust and Bone was adapted into a motion picture under the same name in 2012. It features a killer whale trainer and a freak accident that results in leg amputation. This is a rough, punches-thrown sort of story. The animal plays a bigger role in the written version, but in both, it helps reflect our human existence.
There has been a recent Tik-Tok video circulating about a dolphin attack at SeaWorld Orlando. While this may be disturbing to watch, it is important to note that whales and dolphins use physicality as a form of communication. The narrator did a good job at handling this situation. A general note: animals in captivity are observed more than animals in the wild, especially in public spaces like marine parks. It's important to acknowledge the inherent availability heuristic before making any claims of animal mistreatment.