Girl bitten while feeding dolphin at SeaWorld

ALPHARETTA, Ga. The family of an 8-year-old Georgia girl said she suffered minor injuries after a dolphin bit her hand at SeaWorld in Orlando, Fla.

Jillian Thomas of Alpharetta was feeding fish to the dolphin as part of a SeaWorld attraction and was bitten when she held up the paper fish container to where the dolphin could grab it. That's something SeaWorld warns guests not to do.

Jillian told an Atlanta TV station she feared the dolphin would "eat my hand off."

Instead she suffered three small punctures.

Her father, Jamie Thomas, has posted video of the Nov. 21 incident on YouTube, to show other parents that feeding dolphins can be risky.

The girl's mother told CBS Affiliate WGCL that she wants other parents to hear their story so other children don't get hurt.

Despite her scary experience, Jillian told WSB-TV that she still loves dolphins, and wants to be a dolphin trainer when she grows up.

Her family told CBS Station WKMG in Orlando that the family says it's more concerned about Jillian's emotional well-being. Her parents say the 8-year-old was depressed for a few days after the incident. She even prayed for the dolphin, which she thought would get sick from eating the paper tray.

SeaWorld says it hasn't reviewed the video but is committed to the safety of its guests.

In a statement to WKMG SeaWorld 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."

[bill2011]

Since the trainer was killed at Sea World Orlando another trainer almost drown because a Killer Whale dragged him into a tank and now the girl was bitten by a Dolphin at Sea World Orlando. When is Sea World going to adopt a look but don't touch approach when it comes to animals. I/e let the people look but don't let them get close enough to touch the animals or have the animals touch them.

[tr0094]

People are generally stupid. i.e. Sign at zoo on lion cage says "Do Not Stick Hand or Arm in Cage"; man sticks arm in lion cage; man looses arm; man blames lion and zoo for his actions.

When people can not follow simple directions and don't take personal responsibility for their actions, suddenly it can't be their fault when they get injured.

[joep4040]

First of all this was an accident and the dolphin was just going for what it thought was food. It is sad that the parents are taking the incident as a way to get their 5 minutes of fame. For those of you that love taking this story and making it an issue of animals in captivity, have you ever even been to Seaworld? All of their animals are either born in captivity and would not survive in the wild or they are rescue animals that were hurt in the wild. Please understand your facts before commenting.

[semily21]

Why should non-domesticated animals, born in captivity or rescued, be subjected to thousands of people a day "petting" them or having to PERFORM for thousands more people each day with such a loud volume of music and continuous clapping and screaming? Talk about traumatizing! I think it's awesome when organizations rescue animals that are injured, but an environment like this is not enough of a peaceful, safe haven for them.

[Lady_C4]

A friend and I were just talking about this yesterday. It seems that people have become so dumb they need written warnings on everything and everywhere. I read about a mom complaing that her 2 yr old had eaten a tide pod and she was upset because kids thought they looked like candy. How is it the manufactures fault that she is not responsibile enough to keep stuff out of her daughters reach? They were verbaly told how to feed te dolphins but they feel there should have been signs,because they weren't aware of what could happen, so now the instructions on feeding the dolphins will take 10 hours because people like them feel they need to be babysat. Bottom line your kids are your responsibility.

[bobbynorwich22]

Why, why are they letting people feed the dolphins. That's a likely source of germs, hence illnesses for the dolphins. Stupid.

[AMYLARUE]

I AM SORRY BUT THIS IS CLEARLY ALL ON PARENTS, YOU TAKE KIDS TO SEA WORLD YOU LET KIDS FEED ANIMALS WHY THE HELL WERE THEY NOT SITTING BEHIND THEIR KID AND IF THEY WANTED TO FEED ANIMAL ALSO THEY COULD OF TAKEN TURNS. I SEE KIDS DO THIS ALL THE TIME NO PROBLEM, WE KNOW ITS A WILD ANIMAL ,TWO WE KNOW THEY HUNT FOR FOOD NORMALLY THREE THEY ARE TRAINED TO DO TRICKS AND UP IS ONE. THEY KNOW WHERE THE FOOD IS THATS WHY THEY SAY (DO NOT PICK UP TRAY HOPEFULLY THE PARENTS DONT HURT IT FOR THE PARENTS AND KIDS THAT DO IT RIGHT ,SEAWORLD WILL HAVE TO PUT A SIGN UP PLEASE SIT WITH YOUR CHILD!! WHILES ARE WILD ANIMALS!!! OR SHOW THE THIS VIDEO ON DAD AND MOM NOT WATCHEN CHILD.HAVE ON WALL THIS CAN HAPPEN.( BUT MOST PEOPLE DO KNOW THAT)

[Jaylah54200]

So, in other words, the dolphin didn't actually bite the girl. It was expecting a fish. As soon as it realized that wasn't what was in it's mouth, the friendly dolphin let go.

When I was very young and out walking my dog, I inadvertently stuck my ankle in my dog's mouth while he was barking. His canine tooth grazed my ankle and -- although the cut was very small-- I do still have a tiny scar from it if I look closely enough. Since it was considered a "dog bite" my poor dog was required to be quarantined (not to leave our property) for 14 days, and I felt very sorry for my dog. I knew his intent was never to bite me.

This could be a very valuable lesson to Jillian, IF her parents will let it.

[beantownace]

These parents are a total joke. Getting their 10 minutes of fame, I am sure thought hey could sue Seaworld make a big stink. How about more properly watching your child or listening to the rules. Even if it was not a tray and the girl is sticking out her hand with a fish, she still was not paying attention to the pool area looking at the parents camera. Unreal some parents. You know there are parents that actually truely enjoy the interactive dolphin area and it is a educational adventure for their children. The only difference is we understand it's a wild animal and you have to pay attention to your child as well or at least not blame a fish for doing what it naturally is going to do. Pay attention to the environment and stop complaining you tools.

[TRoss1985]

It's clear that the dolphin went for the food tray which is CLEARLY why they are warned and the parents admitted to being warned several times about holding the food tray when done. If it was acting in an aggressive manner, it would not have let go and would have dragged her in to the water. Family admitted to fault and SHOULD NOT be trying to damage SeaWorld's reputation by deterring people from the attraction. I don't like animal captivity, but I also don't agree with the parents trying admitting to their fault but STILL trying to paint the dolphin/SeaWorld as the wrong doers here.

[Patrickdh10]

Zoo's and and animal prisons are abhorrent. They deeply pervert the animal being imprisoned according to Jacque Cousteau. I believe him.