Check out this picture which someone just sent me (not sure where it comes from; apologies in advance to any potentially outraged photographer).
I’m posting it as a follow-up to my post on SeaWorld whale interaction protocols, because it really captures the fact that the safety bars which are required for head tactile in shows really wouldn’t offer much protection to a trainer if a whale decided to go after the trainer.
It also illustrates that “close contact”–even with a barrier–can mean, well, REALLY close.
The Earthist Chronicles 