Girl bitten while feeding dolphin at SeaWorld
ATLANTA (AP) - An 8-year-old Georgia girl says it "really, really hurt" when a dolphin snatched her hand in its mouth while she fed the animal as part of an attraction at SeaWorld in Orlando, Fla.
Jillian Thomas of Alpharetta said she raised the paper carton she was holding, and "when the dolphin saw that, it leaped at me and bit me, ate the carton."
"It really, really hurt," Jillian said in an interview Monday with ABC's "Good Morning America."
Jillian suffered three puncture wounds to her hand. Her father Jamie Thomas, who was with her at the theme park when the dolphin lunged from its pool Nov. 21, described his reaction as: "Instant fear."
After his initial thought that he might have to dive into the tank to rescue his daughter, a SeaWorld employee offered to help.
"They asked if she wanted first aid, and I said 'she's bleeding' so yes, we want first aid," he recalled.
Jillian held two dolphin stuffed animals as she recounted the ordeal, saying she hoped the dolphin didn't get sick from eating the paper carton. She's prayed for the animal at night, she said.
The paper cartons are used to hold fish children and others feed the dolphins. Jillian's parents say park-goers may not realize the risk involved in feeding dolphins, which is why they posted video of the Nov. 21 bite to YouTube, so parents can decide for themselves whether it is safe.
SeaWorld officials said in a statement that the safety of their guests is paramount, and they are taking the situation seriously.
"Educators and animal care staff are always on-site at this area, monitoring all interactions and are committed to guest safety," SeaWorld said in the statement.
"Educators and animal care staff were at the attraction when this happened and immediately connected with the family," SeaWorld said. "In addition, a member of our health services team was in the area at Dolphin Cove and quickly responded and treated the young girl."
Jillian Thomas of Alpharetta said she raised the paper carton she was holding, and "when the dolphin saw that, it leaped at me and bit me, ate the carton."
"It really, really hurt," Jillian said in an interview Monday with ABC's "Good Morning America."
Jillian suffered three puncture wounds to her hand. Her father Jamie Thomas, who was with her at the theme park when the dolphin lunged from its pool Nov. 21, described his reaction as: "Instant fear."
After his initial thought that he might have to dive into the tank to rescue his daughter, a SeaWorld employee offered to help.
"They asked if she wanted first aid, and I said 'she's bleeding' so yes, we want first aid," he recalled.
Jillian held two dolphin stuffed animals as she recounted the ordeal, saying she hoped the dolphin didn't get sick from eating the paper carton. She's prayed for the animal at night, she said.
The paper cartons are used to hold fish children and others feed the dolphins. Jillian's parents say park-goers may not realize the risk involved in feeding dolphins, which is why they posted video of the Nov. 21 bite to YouTube, so parents can decide for themselves whether it is safe.
SeaWorld officials said in a statement that the safety of their guests is paramount, and they are taking the situation seriously.
"Educators and animal care staff are always on-site at this area, monitoring all interactions and are committed to guest safety," SeaWorld said in the statement.
"Educators and animal care staff were at the attraction when this happened and immediately connected with the family," SeaWorld said. "In addition, a member of our health services team was in the area at Dolphin Cove and quickly responded and treated the young girl."
This is one of the stupidest things I have read in a while. GMA decides to interview her after she got bit, and what a surprise - it hurt. Then, the parents post a vide on youtube, as if they are doing a public service for the rest of the parents out there. I have a better idea - stop using these animals as entertainment and release them back into the wild.
The girl should probably be put down and her brain autopsied for rabies.
 @joefuss She's 8 for cryin out loud, what an awful thing to say about a child.
@joefuss / Yeah, she's not the only one. You know what I'm talking about.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ typical parents
Humans are at times, very annoying.
It's her own damn fault. They were warned to leave the plates on the wall which she failed to do. It's not Sea World's nor the dolphins fault.
"The paper cartons are used to hold fish children" this cracked me up. Â I know what the sentence means, but my brain kept getting stuck on the idea of "fish children." Â
I wonder what that girl would do if she was taken from her family and placed in a concrete box the rest of her life, and some weird thing came up and tried to give her some food from a box, what her reaction would be. I would bite the whole hand off.
Lesson: Â Watch what the heck you're doing and don't hold out food while looking the other way.
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Would you saw a board with your other hand near the blade while watching TV? Â PAY ATTENTION and that could be avoided.
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I can just hear the coaching beginning...and the result being "great mental anguish and injury". SUE SUE SUE. It's what our society has become. The easy buck !
Don't bit the hand that feeds you... hopefully no lawyers convince them to sue.. it would ruin the fun for the rest of us. Would love to do this if I ever go I will definitely feed them... but pay attention to how they tell me to do it and what not to do...
In another acticle it mentioned that they were told not to touch the paper plate. The girl said she "Accidently picked the plate up." Hard to believe! Parents don't blame, use this as an opportunity to teach her about wildlife. You dont wave a dougnut in front of a bear and then blame the bear. Hope she is ok, it doesn't sound like she is angry at the dolphin.