"It's important for kids to know that wild animals are wild. Sometimes things will happen that will scare you, but you have to give them another chance."

That sounds a lot like what I teach my children: Sometimes things will happen that will scare or harm you, but you have to shoot the animal (and possibly eat them [mmm...fried gator tail]) before they have another chance to harm you.

You had me at "[whistle, five clicks]". For some reason that cracked me up.

I grew up in Tampa, where Busch Gardens had (still does?) a dolphin show. I was being given the behind the scenes tour by friend who worked there. While she was talking to the dolphin trainers, I had my chance to pet a dolphin.

Three of them were swimming right at the edge of the huge circular tank. There was a sign that said not to touch the dolphins, but I could see the very fine print that said it was ok for me.

Dolphins are much bigger in person than you might imagine, and way, way faster. I touched one of the dolphins as it swam by, and before I could perceive any motion it had my hand in its mouth.

Dolphins have big sharp teeth, lots of them, and I have no doubt that thing could have taken my hand off. Instead, it just let me go. The trainers laughed at me, and said I should not have tried to touch the male.

I remember thinking "Sir, excuse me, Sir, I apologize, and thank you, Sir."

Hah, Pwyll.
Both incidents happened at Dolphin Cove in SeaWorld. Seriously, maybe the dolphins are just fed up with the petting deal.