Juliana Chavez

English MO2
March 3,2018

Should Killer Whales be kept in captivity?

Killer whales are extracted from the ocean for breeding purposes and then trained for

entertainment. It is inhumane to cause innocent animals pain by removing them from their

natural habitat for entertainment (Wang). Restraining a 15-ton animal in a confined space is

clearly unethical(Wang). The way most Orca are obtained is by stealing them from the ocean.

Trainers have been risking their lives for decades, despite the multiple deaths from the same

whale (Wang). The article “Carnivores in Captivity- A question of Motive or Ethics” states, such

facilities cannot be considered ethical if there is any risk to human life (Parker). Clearly after the

first death was enough proof Tilikum was a risk to human life and Sea World still bought him

and bred him anyway which led to multiple deadly chain of events. A 15-ton animal should not

be sentenced to life in a pool away from its family. A killer whale should not be in captivity

because such complex animals can only live to their fullest potential in the wild.

Social activities are stripped away from the Orca while in captivity. Some can argue that

the aquariums are preserving the orca. But, that is not case here their current way of living in an

aquarium is being trapped in a pool all day. Orcas are only fed when they execute commands

correctly (Tomas, 204). Orca are born to swim hundreds of miles a day and genetically wired to

be social animals(Wang). Placing them in separate pools is to prevent the Orca from biting each

other and raking their skin. Separating the Orcas is a recipe for disaster because they become

frustrated, violent or depressed (Tomas 204). For that reason, there have been studies that show

Orca live up to 60 years in the wild versus 30-35 in captivity; The study reveals the Orcas in

captivity cut their life span in half (Wang). A common sign of unhappiness in an orca is

violence towards other orcas or even humans (Black fish,2013). Aquariums such as Sea World
Juliana Chavez
English MO2
March 3,2018

declared that their facility are meant to preserve the Orca when in fact, Orca are now considered

an endangered species (Tomas 204). Evidence shows the Orca are being mistreated by

performing unnatural tricks and are starved until tricks are done correctly. In addition, profits

earned seem to benefit the owners instead of using the money to make the Orca comfortable by

creating deeper and larger pools. It is not in the orca's best interest to continue being used to earn

profits for selfish reasons.

Orcas being stolen from the ocean is a cruel act and causes extreme emotional distress for

the whales. Air crafts, speed boats, and spotters are used to capture orca even bombs are thrown

in the water to lead whales into coves (Black Fish,2013). Since orcas had been caught before

they knew what was going on and that their young ones would be taken from them (Black

Fish,2013). Mothers and babies would split from the adult orca in attempt to avoid there young

from getting caught. Capture teams had air crafts and could easily spot them radio in the other

boats and inform them where the baby orca were coordinated (Black Fish,2013). The fishing

boats with seine nets would stretch across successfully to capture orca. Meanwhile, the parent

orcas would remain close and vocalized with their children who had been captured (Black

Fish,2013). The main goal was to pick out the young ones due to lower shipping costs (Black

Fish,2013). Orcas do not deserve to be torn apart from their family because it’s torture. Imagine

being ripped apart from your family at the age of six, it would be considered kidnapping and a

traumatic event. Just because it is an animal does not mean they will not feel pain nor should we

treat them unfairly because they can't talk and live under water.

Trainers have been killed due to orcas being held captive in small pools and deprived of

food to perform adequately (Black Fish,2013). Only eight years after Tilikum was captured,
Juliana Chavez
English MO2
March 3,2018

killed a 20-year old in 1991 at Sea Land. Sea Land public relations claimed she “slipped and

fell” into the Orcas pool as she was dragged to the bottom, bounced around and killed (Black

Fish,2013). She was an experienced swimmer and biology student but still made no difference of

the danger this trainer faced. Tilikum was then sold to Sea World from Sea Land in hopes they

could rehabilitate him and provide bigger pools better food and overall better treatment. Instead,

Tilikum was used for breeding purposes and segregated from the other orca. The only time

Tilikum engaged with the other orca was for breeding purposes. Tilikum, killed again in 1999,

27-year old Daniel Duke who was found dead in Tilikum’s pool at Sea World. Another fatality

blamed on the victim claiming he stayed after hours and decided to swim with Tilikum. Finally,

difficult to ignore an experienced trainer’s death on February 2010 the icon of Sea Worlds

trainers was pulled by the arm into the pool by Tilikum right after a show (Black Fish,2013).

Clearly money is the motive for irrational decisions and no consideration for the talented

trainers. It is unethical to keep animals against his/her own will just to earn profits. Given

Tilikum behavioral history it was clear when purchased from Sea Land he would kill again it was

only a matter a time.

When animals are removed from their natural environment, they become emotionally

distressed and result in violent acts leading to fatalities. It does not benefit anyone except the

owners collecting the millions of dollars. Consumers are misinformed purposely to continue

buying tickets and selling out shows. If the Orca could speak they would tell horrific stories of

how they are starved to perform well, ripped apart from their families and sentenced to life in a

confined space. Let’s discontinue our visits to Sea World and other aquariums who contain large

animals to reduce profits and therefore will be forced to shut down these unethical “breeding”

facilities.
Juliana Chavez
English MO2
March 3,2018

Works Cited

Carey, Jonathan. "Zoo-ology: the goals and practices of zoos are evolving as we measure their
impact." Natural History, Feb. 2016, p. 26+. Academic OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A443399180/AONE?u=moor85003&sid=AONE. Accessed
13 Feb. 2018.

"Carnivores in Captivity - a Question of Motive and Ethics [opinion]." Africa News Service, 31
Aug. 2015. Opposing Viewpoints in Context,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A427229896/OVIC?u=moor85003&xid=26cbb63. Accessed
18 Feb. 2018. Dan Parker

Thomas, Peter O. "Behavioral biology of killer whales." Science, vol. 237, 1987, p. 204.
Academic OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A5086281/AONE?u=moor85003&sid=AONE&xid=0a44e
2ef. Accessed 13 Feb. 2018.

Wang, Yanan. "Tilikum, the SeaWorld killer whale at the center of 'Blackfish,' is slowly dying."

Washingtonpost.com, 9 Mar. 2016. Academic OneFile,

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A445718794/AONE?u=moor85003&sid=AONE&xid=7f0cc

3e5. Accessed 1 Mar. 2018.

SeaWorld Ends Its Orca Theatrics in San Diego, But Critics Aren't Convinced

January 8, 20173:59 PM

Black Fish. Gabriela Cowperthwaite, Manny O productions, 2013

Juliana Chavez
English MO2
March 3,2018