...Ever since I was a little girl I have always had a love for marine animals. When asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I always answered with a SeaWorld trainer. Of course I never realized how controversial captivity was. This topic has raised some eyebrows of officials and even me. After seeing the “Blackfish” documentary, my opinion about Killer Whales and Sea World in general have completely flip flopped. I believe it is selfish for humans to keep killer whales in captivity where they don’t belong. There are many differences between Killer Whales in captivity compared to those in the wild. According to “Sea World of Hurt” Killer whales in captivity have shorter life spans and many complications. Killer Whales in the wild have a life...
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...spectacular stunts that are performed by the killer whale and his trainer may leave you speechless. Killer whales have spent more than 50 years in captivity, and has caused much controversy as to whether they should be freed. What some people don't think about is what the effects are of having killer whales in captivity versus keeping them in the wild. Some things that differ wild killer whales from captive killer whales are how much they travel, the diet of the whales, amount of injuries, and their family dynamics. Killer whales that are in the wild travel many miles every day alongside their families, also known as pods. Infact, “Southern Resident Killer Whales travel on average of seventy five miles a day.” (“Center for Whales”). They can also reach speeds as fast as thirty miles per hour. Killer whales in the wild are free to roam wherever they desire with their families. On the flip side, killer whales that are captive are trapped and ripped away from their families. Also, killer whales have a lifespan in the wild of about fifty to eighty years, while in captivity the killer whale’s lifespan is much shorter, being twenty to thirty years. This is caused by stress and not being cared for the...
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...Killer Whales are not Pets Why are humans keeping killer whales in captivity when people know the consequences? Keeping killer whales also known as Orcas in captivity is wrong. In captivity killer whales life spans are reduced, cut in half or even less. Killer whales are very social animals and live in pods and they are basically what a family is to humans. Killer whales in captivity live very low quality lives in captivity. This not only harms them but also the people caring for them then why do we continue to keep them in captivity. Killer whales should not be held in captivity because they are meant for the wild, there health is greatly affected, and leads to dangers. Killer whales are not meant for captivity. They are huge animals and live very socials lives in the wild. Michael McCarthy says that killer whales are very intelligent and even have their own communication system (Mccarthy). They become very lonely and distressed when they are alone. An example of this is when In 2002 Keiko the whale that was in the Free willy movies was released but was never able to find a pod to live in and died 18 months after off the coast of Norway (Mccarthy). The only reason undomesticated animals should ever be in captivity is for their own safety if they are...
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...Killer Whales: Abused & Mistreated While many people have experienced the majestic showcasing of trained orcas in public displays at recreational parks such as SeaWorld, few have heard of the tragic events that these killer whales go through while in captivity. It is ironic that such family oriented companies like SeaWorld, who pride themselves in giving families experiences that they will never forget, can just tear families of killer whales apart and abuse them while training them. And although these public displays of trained orcas seem extraordinary through the audience’s eyes, it is time that the untold stories of these whales and the true dangers of training whales comes out into light. Killer whales are the most intelligent marine creatures, due to their perceptive senses of sight and hearing, and also their heightened emotional behavior. But many of these killer whales that have been held in captivity have had limits on their freedom and enjoyment of life. In captivity, many orcas suffer from poor mental and physical health. In their natural habitat, killer whales can easily travel 50 to 100 miles a day. However, in captivity like the whales at SeaWorld, a typical tank is only twice their size, forcing these animals to swim in small circles or drift aimlessly. The stress of captivity can drive killer whales to display neurotic behaviors that can lead to tragic consequences. Science has even confirmed that in captivity, whales suffer from high mortality rates...
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...November 2013 Is Killer Really the Right Word? “1961 first orca is captured and taken to the Marineland of the Pacific Park in Los Angeles. She dies a day later after repeatedly swimming around her pool at high speed and ramming into the sides” (Smith). Killer whales are a very large and powerful animal like any other wild animal, they can be unpredictable. Killer whales are beautiful creatures. The experience of seeing a killer whale for the first time is breath taking. My grandparents took me to SeaWorld in Orlando was I was 8, and after seeing a killer whale I was hooked. After going back many times it influenced me to want to become a whale trainer. As years have gone on I have learned killer whales in SeaWorld means they are in captivity. Why are these amazing animals spending their whole lives in a small swimming pool? Killer whales have been taken out of their habitats and put into captivity for research to be done on these amazing animals. An associate director of the Environmental Group Earth Island Institute Mark Berman says trying to incarcerate an animal as large as a killer whale or an animal with a large brain it’s proven it does not work (Pete). These killer whales need the freedom to travel wherever they’d like, not to have a routine day after day for the whole lives. The killer whales swimming in pools of aquariums builds frustration and aggression. Lori Marino is a neuroscientists says when whales in captivity are thrown with other whales that are no in their...
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...Since 1964, killer whales; also known as the orca, (Orcinus orca) first to put in a cage for the world to see. The view of the killer whale has shifted from a dangerous killer to a cuddly animal. Theses whales have gone from a sea creature shot at by humans, to the star money maker at theme parks. Both images become one-sided, putting the creature into stereotypes. Orcas resemble humans, very complex, intelligent, and also taken advantage of. As of today, they stand as the largest animal and predator to be put in the smallest captivity. The killer whales beauty has mesmerized humans for years, but captivity not only breaks down the physical and mental health of these creatures, and also puts others in danger. Studies have shown the life expectancies of an orca in captivity remain well below the life of a wild counterparts. Industries claim that the achievements in veterinary care and nutrition have made a life of orca far better, but studies prove that the whales act much better in the wild. In 2007, SeaWorld responded to questions asked by KGTV and stated “We have often said that 30 years is a good estimate of average killer whale lifespan as we can exceed that age, as evidence by one of ours, Corky. She is at least 40 and perhaps as old as 42. Biology of Marine Mammals said that female killer whales in their studies group had a mean life expectancy of 31 years and males just 19 years”(Rose). The average whale can live up to 100 years old in the wild. In captivity the average...
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...November 2015 The Triumphs of Orcas Kept in Captivity Through the decades of the recent past, orca whales have been taken from their original homes in the wild and forced to live and perform in various amusement facilities spanning the United States. The business revolving around these killer whales has grown into a multi-billion dollar industry; this is an industry which possesses many flaws in the way these animals live and thrive together with each other. Orca whales kept in captivity in various amusement parks should be released back into their natural habitat due to the improper conditions in the parks, increased death rates in captivity, and the higher risk of attacks on humans inside...
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...up we would see commercials of SeaWorld, showing us Killer whales entertaining the crowd by performing tricks never seen before. Tourists can leave the park being reassured that killer whales in captivity in fact enjoy performing and are living the lavish lifestyle. Their living standards are far more superior to anything found in “dark, scary ocean.”( a term used by SeaWorld’s executives to defend okra captivity.) Yet when the doors are closed we do not see what really goes on. “Blackfish” documents and exposes the inhumane treatment of Orcas and their trainers inside SeaWorld’s corporation. This documentary talks about a major incident that occurred in 2010, the death of...
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...of all ages were seated in Shamu Stadium waiting and watching for their star to give its world famous performance. His name was Tilikum and the 12,000-pound killer whale had performed the same routine with the same trainers many times before. However, on that day in February, something was different. News reports claimed that it was “trainer error’ that caused Tilikum to grab his trainer, Dawn Brancheau’s, ponytail and drag her into the water with him. It took the other trainers 45 minutes to extricate Brancheau’s body, which Tilikum held in his mouth and would not let go. All the trainers in Sea World, located in Orlando, Florida, as well as other locations throughout the United States, agreed that Tilikum was well behaved, easy to work with and always eager to please. So what exactly made Tilikum act so violently and take the life of his trainer? There is a reason that there have been no documented deaths of humans by killer whales in the wild – it is obvious that being forced to live and perform in captivity is the reason behind it. It has been argued and scientifically proven that no human being has ever been killed by a killer whale, or orca, in the wild. On the other hand, there at least a dozen documented deaths due to killer whales throughout the world. The main reason this is said to be true is because killer whales, which can grow to be more than 30 feet long and weigh up to 6 tons, are not meant to be kept in tanks and modules that are 20 feet wide and 35 feet deep....
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...Killer whales – a deadly entertainment Killer whales, also called orcas, are one of the world’s most powerful predators. They’re highly intelligent whales with a very acute sense of sight and hearing. Killer whales can weigh up to 6 tons and 32 feet, which makes them the largest member of the dolphin family. The beautiful animal has been admired by humans for many years; over last 5 decades killer whales have been kept in captivity and trained by humans to become stars in various aqua shows around the world. In the wild, killer whales can travel more than 70 miles a day. I find it horrible to think about the orcas that are kept in tanks, some only twice their own size, where all they do is swim around in little circles. This is damaging to...
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...Captivity Breeds Aggression Lucas Terry Colorado Technical University March 1, 2015 In human history, captivity, slavery, and colonization resulted to uprisings, revolts, and revolutions elsewhere in the world. The numerous human histories on this matter can be equated to how animals in captivity resort to aggressive actions that even escalate to killings. In the documentary movie entitled “Blackfish,” no matter how the lawyers and spokespersons of Sea World argue against the idea that the killings of trainers were caused by the aggressiveness of the killer whales, it always boils down to the philosophy that the oppressed creatures naturally fights back. And if the killer whales fight back, pitiful are the trainers who will get victimized. “Blackfish” is a documentary of how ORCAs like Tilikum were captivated in various environments and put to captivity to be trained for animal shows. The documentary presents the owners of the animal show businesses like Sea World as the villains while the former trainers of Sea World who disclosed issues about the killings of their colleagues, and all the informants who told the truth are the heroes. The good thing about the documentary is that they have variety of sources. They even spoke to the diver that who explained how ORCAs are captured. That person was even one of those who captured Tilikum. The documentary also put in the film how the killer whales were trained and tamed by specialist who used their knowledge on psychology...
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...mindset can be related to the corrupt place we have come to known called SeaWorld. February 24, 2010 was just another regular day for whale trainer, Dawn Brancheau. Today was another highly anticipated Shamu show displaying the training and talents of the biggest killer whale in captivity in SeaWorld’s history, Tilikum. What Brancheau and Seaworld did not know was that this day would infamously impact the “brand name” that Tilikum had begun for SeaWorld and that this event would trigger the movement to end killer whale captivity. The Birth Of A Murderer In 1983, a huge killer whale that would be known as Tilikum was caught in Iceland. After being captured in Iceland, Tilikum then spent...
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...Free Orcas How much do you really know about whales in captivity? Do you think the whales at sea world enjoy being there? Imagine you're walking down the street with your family when out of nowhere you're trapped in a net and being taken away from them. This happens to young whales almost everyday and is very unnecessary. Orcas should not be kept in captivity because it causes premature death, anxiety, and violent behavior. Many people would consider these results to be animal abuse. It has been confirmed that whales in captivity have higher mortality rates than those in the wild and these rates have only worsened over the years. According to the report “Killer Controversy: Why Orcas Should No Longer Be Kept in Captivity,” "Captive female orcas give birth too young and too often, leading to both high adult and high infant mortality." Also, the chronic stress of being confined weakens their immune system which leads to infection. This is the most common cause of death for captive orcas. The average life expectancy of a wild orca is 30-50 years. Orcas who have died at Sea World have an average age of death of 13 years old. The shocking fact is that over 161 whales have died in captivity, and it can easily be prevented by leaving them in the wild where they belong. Another outcome of the confinement is anxiety. Orcas who are not compatible with one another are placed in relatively small tanks which results in anxiety and tension. This tension often leads to brutal fights...
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...animals, whales and dolphins, that would be better off in the wild than trapped in tanks and forced to perform. The safety of both the humans and the animals would be better if separated. SeaWorld shouldn’t be able to have whales and dolphins in their parks because it hurts the life expectancy of the animals, the peoples safety is in danger, and the health of the animal can be affected greatly. The life expectancy of orcas in captivity is nowhere near the wild life expectancy. The life expectancy for an orca is very low compared to in the wild (wild male, about 30; female, about 50). The orcas are losing their lifetime in captivity as for orcas in the wild are trying to live life to the fullest. Out of 160 whales that died in captivity,...
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...change the world's view of whales. He has killed three people. Tilikum is a male Orca, more commonly referred to as a killer whale, with a complex background. In 1983 Tilikum was violently captured in Iceland and then illegally sold to 'Sealand of the Pacific' aquarium in Canada. He was two years old when this happened, ripped away from his family and cruelly sent to foreign waters. In the wild, Tilikum was used to swimming over 100 miles every day; in 'Sealand of the Pacific' Tilikum was used to floating in a concrete prison only ten feet longer than his body. When Tilikum was not confined in these small spaces, he was taken into a pool where he would perform tricks for audiences in order for him to receive food. The food was frozen fish which deprived the Orca of his necessary nutrients and food was withheld from Tilikum if he did not respond to the trainers' instructions. Tilikum was a highly intelligent whale and due to this he seems to have noticed his mistreatment. Tilikum began to become restless, frustrated with being trapped in a concrete box and performing tricks for slivers of food. The trainers registered Tilikum's agitation but they did not see it as being significant. It was too late when Sealand of the Pacific finally realised that Tilikum's emotions were important. In February of 1991 a part-time trainer at Sealand fell into the pool whilst Tilikum was performing with two female Orcas. Tilikum, along with the other whales, began to drag Keltie Byrne...
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