For many years now SeaWorld has provided people with an opportunity to see many sea creatures and Killer Whales perform. These creatures have been trained over the years to perform various times throughout the day. Sea World, however, took these killer whales (orcas) away from their families and home. Throughout the years this has caused damage to the orcas causing rebellion and other forms of defiance. There have been many incidents following the rebellion of these orcas and yet nothing is done about the issue. Sea World should not keep killer whales against their will or keep them captive. Orcas are sea creatures, meaning they belong in the ocean. So why is it that they ended up in large fish tanks held against their will? SeaWorld claims to people that killer whales are better off under their care (Black Fish). Indicating that by taking the orcas from their families, it is rescuing them and giving them better help. Stating that they took them to show others how caring and talented they can be. The park implies that people will learn a lot about life in the sea. Many think that if they come to the park, they are doing a good deed and will be educated on life in the ocean. The employees working on the tours are also obligated to say all these lies to the guests about the park. For instance, a commonly asked question is why some whales have their fins bent, in other words, have a dorsal fin collapse. The park answers to guests that it is normal, but in reality that is not supposed to happen and is caused by the tanks (Black Fish). Orcas were not meant to live in big tanks they were meant to live in the ocean with other orcas. People being misinformed on what is really going on to the orcas is a huge problem that contributes support to the continuation of the park. The fact that trainers are often times also misinformed on many things that go on in the park makes you wonder what else they could be lying about. Trainers like anyone else want a job that they love and feel passion for. The trainers come to SeaWorld to learn more about the creatures and build a relationship with these mammals. Many times trainers get in the water with the killer whales not knowing the back story. Going into the job they are warned not to go into the tank alone with certain killer whales (Black Fish). They then wonder what it is that everyone is so scared about. They are just as misinformed as other guests. Sometimes they have to find out through others, but tend to stay because they have grown an attachment to them. The trainers often grow such an attachment to these whales that after finding out how they are feeling they still decide to stay. They think that no one else is going to care for and understand them the way they do. They don’t know that some of the whales in the park had been captured when they were very young. The killer whales at the SeaWorld theme parks have been captured when they were young and taken from their families (Black Fish). These orcas were too innocent and young in age to be taken from their families. They took these baby orcas and put them in large tanks for others to come and see for entertainment. Tilikum is a popular killer whale that had been taken at a young age. He reacted as any child being taken away from their family would. In the film Black Fish we see that the family of killer whales are watching people take away their baby while it is crying (Black Fish). Tilikum has been in SeaWorld for a long time now and his anger has grown. These creatures have feelings just like anyone else and over time this anger begins to build up. These orcas also become depressed, as in Black Fish we see a child being taken away from its mother (Black Fish). As all these emotions begin to pile up the orcas begin to rebel against their trainers. It’s like a switch turn is turned on and they begin to go against the ones that truly care about them. There is no telling when these orcas can suddenly turn against the trainer and begin to attack. Having these mammals in captivity has led to several attacks in the park. Some of the best trainers have lost their lives while working with the orcas. Sometimes the orcas know during a performance that the trainer is running out of food and become angered by it. If the orcas see that they are beginning to get less fish and ice, that is when they can tell that food is running out (Black Fish). This is when they begin to feel angry and begin to rebel against the trainers. Back in 2010, a case in Florida, where a trainer had been killed, was all over the news. This trainer was said to be one of the best trainers out there to train these killer whales (Boniface 1). Then there was another trainer alone in the tank with a killer whale. The killer whale had the trainer’s foot in his mouth and wouldn’t let go as he brought him down underwater (Black Fish). Luckily, this trainer was able to survive and quickly escape from the whale. This comes to show that no one is safe working with these orcas. Even the best trainers have no idea what these animals are capable of doing. They are not able to read minds, even if they do think they have a strong relationship with these creatures. There is just no way of knowing what can happen in a performance with these huge creatures. They are not meant to be performing, let alone performing various times throughout the day. Given that orcas become depressed and angry stuck in these tanks, it is reasonable to infer that attacking the trainers, is their way of indicating that they are fed up. Orcas are not meant to live this type of life; they are to be set free in the ocean with their families. This is their way of communicating with humans that they hate the lifestyle they are living. They are sick and tired of being trapped where there is nowhere to go but in circles. Realizing this, the park seems to do nothing about it but letting it go on. Sea World tends to not do much about the attacks, as they continue on with various performances. This is indicating that they do not care about the trainers or the orcas. Orcas are doing everything in their power to be set free but no one seems to listen to them. They have hurt many people as a statement as what they are capable of doing. Instead of acknowledging what the orcas are doing is wrong they simply brush it off as an accident. SeaWorld trainers do not deserve to get hurt from the mistakes the park is guilty of by allowing to keep these dangerous creatures around. SeaWorld has never really confronted the attacks. They don’t want people to look down on the park or their creatures. They want people to think that what they are doing is amazing and that they care so much about these creatures. However, they know what is really going on but refuse to admit it. They want people to believe, just like their show, that the attack was in fact an accident. Instead of owning up to the truth, they lie and back up the accident story. For instance, there was an attack reported in Florida where Dawn Brancheau had been attacked and killed by Tilikum in the park (Boniface 1). This had everyone talking about the killer whale and horrific scene at SeaWorld. Dawn Brancheau was one of the best trainers at SeaWorld, so it was a big surprise to hear that she was killed. When the park was asked what had happened, they said that Tilikum’s teeth had gotten caught to Dawn’s ponytail (Boniface 1). To then find out that this was not Tilikum’s first attack. He has reportedly attacked three other people (Boniface 1). SeaWorld had kept the fact that there had been previous problems with Tilikum a secret from many people. Many were surprised to find out that Sea World had kept this a secret from many. It stunned many to find out this information about Tilikum and that they still put many trainers in the tank with him. Knowing what they know, SeaWorld still had the audacity to put trainers in danger by putting them to work with Tilikum. So why keep these killer whales captive? It is pretty obvious why SeaWorld hides these little secrets; for the money of course. Sea World is going to keep going through with this business as long as they have money coming in. They clearly do not care about how these killer whales are feeling after so many years of performing. They see all the damage they have caused too many trainers and yet they hire more trainers to put in the tank. They know it is dangerous to keep Tilikum but they don’t want to lose money, so they keep him. It is reasonable to infer that the reason why they haven’t released the orcas is because they are making money. Although they might think they are keeping the trainers safe by not allowing them to swim with Tilikum, they still let him out during the performance. Keeping Tilikum captured and letting him out for a bit in the performance isn’t helping anyone. They might as well release him into the ocean where killer whales belong. It’s wrong to keep these creatures captive for as long as they have for their own benefit. The park is trying to make it seem as if they are caring for the mammals when they really aren’t. If they really cared for these creatures they would have set them free. They would not have waited until the third attack to separate them from the trainers. The SeaWorld Park has been cited for many safety violations that have been ignored (OSHA 1). This illustrates that the park cares more about the money than the safety of their workers. Since all of the attacks, Sea World has come back with more false advertisements to attract more people to come to the park. From this research I hope that more people will become aware of this subject. Maybe then people will stop taking their kids to SeaWorld creating less business for them. I know that after my family found out about the various attacks and hidden secrets, they no longer wanted to go back to the theme park. This just comes to show what a difference getting informed can make in everyone’s lives. The more people are aware of the problem going on in Sea World the more customers they lose resulting in no other choice but to close down all SeaWorld Parks. This will force them to return all Killer Whales along with all other sea creatures back to their natural habitat. Sea World should not keep killer whales against their will or captive. Keeping them captive all these years has caused so much damage to not only them, but their employees as well. Trainers have died and yet they continue on with the business as if nothing happened. Instead they hide attacks and misinform people in order to receive business. They would much rather keep the orcas trapped knowing they are fed up with it than release them and actually help them in preventing more deaths. To keep them captured in the tanks is a cruel and unusual punishment. The creatures deserve to be in the ocean with lots of room surrounded with other orcas.

Works Cited/Consulted
1. Boniface, Susie. "Psycho Killer of SeaWorld: Humans Messed with His Mind and Tilikum the Orca Took Savage and Bloody Revenge. What Next for This Giant of the Deep? [Eire Region]." The People, (2013): 30.
2. Kryukova, N., E. Kruchenkova, and D. Ivanov. "Killer Whales ( Orcinus Orca) Hunting For Walruses ( Odobenus Rosmarus Divergens) Near Retkyn Spit, Chukotka." Biology Bulletin 39.9 (2012): 768-778. Academic Search Premier. Web. 3 Nov. 2014.
3. "2010 - 08/23/2010 - US Labor Department's OSHA Cites SeaWorld of Florida following Animal Trainer's Death." 2010 - 08/23/2010 - US Labor Department's OSHA Cites SeaWorld of Florida following Animal Trainer's Death. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Nov. 2014. .
4. SeaWorld Theme Parks in Orlando, San Antonio and San Diego." SeaWorld Theme Parks in Orlando, San Antonio and San Diego. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Nov. 2014. .
5. Blackfish. Dir. Gabriela Cowperthwaite. Perf. Tilikum, Dave Duffus, Samantha Berg. Sundance, 2013. Film.