“I specifically remember Tilikum lying on the bottom of the neighboring pool masturbating. I’m right next door vacuuming the pool and watching him through a gate, humping the bottom of pool and climaxing. That stuff’s everywhere.” Three former SeaWorld employees on their unrivaled access to the animals — and the challenges of captivity. (I’m just glad my kids wanted a cat, not a whale.)

+ Slate: The strange, disturbing world of Koko the gorilla and Kanzi the bonobo.