Love Story

Shutting down Marineland of the Pacific in Palos Verdes, Calif., for renovations two months ago has had a bad effect on some of its aquatic performers. While the walruses have largely kept their cuddly cool, the dolphins and killer whales have shown signs of sorely missing their human audiences. Curator Tom Otten reports that they have become short-tempered, stare balefully at strangers and deliberately make mistakes when doing tricks with their trainers. Says he: "It's like a kid who slams the door, knowing that his mother will ask what's wrong and show him some sympathy." This watery form of anthropomania doubtless is an acquired trait, since in their natural habitat none of the mammals are aware of humans. Indeed, Trainer Tim Desmond suspects that his charges have come to love the roar of the crowds too much. With the park closed, he says, "I think they have become afraid that their livelihood is disappearing."

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