Brooke Roethlisberger

Mr. Gross

English 12 B (3)

14 May 2015

End Orca Captivity

An orca would have to swim 1,900 laps a day in their pool to equal approximately the

distance of 100 miles they would swim in the wild (8 Reasons 1). Orcas must no longer be kept

in captivity for human entertainment. The tanks captive orcas are kept in are not large enough to

suit their needs. The whales face frequent health problems they would not likely have in the wild.

Captive orcas are forced to break their family bonds. Pro captivity supporters say shows are

intellectually stimulating for the orcas, but this is false. Ending orca captivity starts with there

being no more wild captures and building ocean sanctuaries for whales who cannot be returned

to their families.

The tanks captive orcas are kept in are not large enough to suit their needs. The whales

are not able to move, swim, or hunt in the ways natural to the species. The tanks are the

equivalent of throwing five people with no common language or culture into a ten by ten room,

locking the door, withholding food, and expecting them to get along (5 of the Worst 1). If

humans were forced to live in the same conditions as the killer whales, it would not be tolerated.

Orcas cannot get the proper amount of miles to satisfy their swimming needs in the small show

tanks. The average wild orca swims approximately 100 miles a day, while a captive orca will

spend a majority of its time floating motionless until they are forced to perform the shows (8

Reasons 1). Wild killer whales have been noted diving hundreds of feet under the water and

spend a majority of their time there (Detailed 1). Orcas in captivity do not have the chance to

experience this natural behavior. The average show pool is 27.6 feet (1). Because of the tank

depth, most of a whale's time is spent on the surface and always visible to the public and trainers.

Typical captivity pools are about less than 1% of their normal habitat size (1). The size of the

tanks drive the orcas insane because they are to social and intelligent creatures. There are many

examples of whales going mental in captivity and turning aggressive. Tilikum is a thirty­four

year old whale who was captured at the age of two off

the coast of Iceland (Seeing is Believing 1). He has

been in captivity for thirty­two years and it has driven

him insane and caused him to become very aggressive.

He is responsible for three deaths to date, all of them

because of his aggression. Here Tilikum is being held in

a medical pool isolated from the other orcas. Next to him is the body of Dawn Brancheau, a

seaworld trainer that he dragged into the water and killed. He has spent a lot of time in separate

holding tanks since the killing of Dawn on February 4th, 2010 (1). He is considered a dangerous

whale that has potential to kill, yet he is still allowed to perform in shows to please the public.

Seaworld Orlando could not afford to lose Tilikum’s effect, so they waited some time after

Dawn’s death and then put him right back to performing. Tilikum is the perfect example of the

tank size in captivity driving an orca insane. The tanks they are living in are too small for them to

live a natural life. The whales are forced to swim in shallow circles while in the wild they would

be able to swim in all directions, shapes, and depths. Killer whales do not have large enough

tanks to dive, swim, or perform natural behaviors.

The whales face frequent health problems they would not likely have in the wild. These

health problems eventually lead to death in the killer whales. Collapsed dorsal fins, raking,

drilling of their teeth, unhealthy weight, and early death are all health problems that captive orcas

endure. All male whales in captivity have collapsed dorsal fins. It is directly caused by the size

of the tanks they live in and their unhealthy diet of dead

frozen fish (8 Reasons 1). Raking is the scraping of one

whale’s teeth on anothers body. It often causes deep marks,

bleeding, and potential scarring. Orcas do this to each other

because they have no way of communicating and they have

the need to show their dominance (Problems 1). Also, the whales are forced to be in such close

proximity that they get annoyed with each other, just like humans do. Early death in captive

orcas is the worst health problem that they endure. Of the 160 captive killer whales that have

died, more than 70% did not make it beyond 10 years in captivity (Life Expectancy 1). The

average whale in the wild exceeds that number by at least 40 years. The orcas in captivity are

still in their adolescence when they die. The early death of the whales is caused by health

problems that are not common in the wild. Death by things such as bacterial infections and

pneumonia is common in captive orcas but not in wild whales (Deceased Orcas 1). Captive

Killer Whales face health problems that must stop. Captivity is the direct cause of their early

death because of their living conditions and the higher likeliness of dying from insanity,

aggression, and other unnatural causes.

Captive orcas are forced to break their family bonds. This is especially true for mothers

and their calves. Killer whales are extremely social creatures. The pods of wild orcas stay

together for their whole lives (Orca 1). Generations of related whales all interact and become

close to one another in the same way humans do. The largest bond made in these pods is between

mother orcas and their calves (1). Even after the calves are fully grown, they stay with their

original pods. Captive calves are separated from their mothers when they are still dependent

(Yes, Seaworld 1). When the separation takes place it literally breaks the mother’s heart. The

mother orcas are known to ram themselves into the tank walls and emit extreme vocalizations,

doing anything to find their calf (1). Seaworld separates mothers and calves when their

relationship starts to interfere with shows; Typically the age of the calf at the time of separation

is 4 years old (8 Reasons 1). Kasatka and Takara were notorious for making shows fail. Kasatka

would often get agitated in the middle of a show and stop the performance because she could

hear her baby calling for her from a holding tank (Baby Orca 1). Seaworld eventually sent

Takara to another park because “the show must go on”. This was a heartbreaking experience for

her and her mother, Kasatka. Proof that captive orcas are forced to break their family bonds is in

all 17 recent mother­calf separation (17 Orcas 1). Killer whales in captivity, such as Kasatka, are

separated from their families for the benefit of seaworld. A mother orcas is the main source of

food, knowledge, and companionship for a calf. Without the mother, the calf is lost in captivity.

Young and dependent whales are left to grow up on their own.

Pro captivity supporters say that shows are intellectually stimulating for the orcas, but

this is false. Seaworld says that their shows are enough to fight the whales boredom, but

unfortunately this is a lie. Captive orcas are bored. The average whale performs in shows for

only a few hours a day, so what do they do in their free time? They are re literally going insane.

In the most recent documents released from seaworld it is obviously stated that they administer

psychotropic drugs to their whales (A Look 1). Psychotropic drugs are used to calm the orcas

and stabilize their mental health (1). The drugs cause the whales to move slower and float

motionless in their tanks for hours. Seeing a whale perform in a show makes anyone believe they

are mentally stimulated because it is a huge comparison to what they do outside of the show

tanks. The orcas mental health issues are a direct result of their captivity (Seaworld Puts Its

Whales 1). The bottom line is the whales are so bored and stressed that they have to be put on

drugs to reduce the severity of their insanity. Captive killer whales are not being intellectually

stimulated by shows.

Ending orca captivity starts with there being no more wild captures and building ocean

sanctuaries for whales who cannot be returned to their families. There have been wild orca

captures as recent as July 2014 (Aquariums and Parks 1). Ending the captures would be stopping

more orcas from dying during capture, transportation, or in captivity. Building ocean sanctuaries

will be the most successful solution to helping the whales. The sanctuaries, also know as sea

pens, allow for the orcas to live out their lives in the most natural way (The Monumental Plans

1). They will be in real ocean water with live food to catch. The most important part of the sea

pens is the amount of space it will give the whales. Captive orcas are driven insane by the tiny

tanks they live in and sea pens will allow these animals to swim the amount of miles they need to

stay healthy. Every orca must be allowed to transition into the ways that come natural to the

species. All captive whales must be released from their tanks and put in sea pens.

The captivity of killer whales must come to an end. The whales are living in unsuitable

environments. They suffer health issues that would be avoided in the wild. Orca failed are

heartbroken every time seaworld separates a calf from its mother. Pro captivity supporters say

that the whales get brain stimulation from shows, but in reality they are so bored it's driving them

insane. The solution to saving captive orcas is simple: end capturing and set them free into a safe

and natural environment. More people are becoming aware of the horrific and abusive treatment

treatment of killer whales. Captivity of these beautiful creatures must stop.

Works Cited

“17 Orcas Who Can't Celebrate Mother's Day, Thanks To SeaWorld ­ SeaWorld of Hurt.”

SeaWorld of Hurt. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2015.

<http://www.seaworldofhurt.com/features/seaworld­unhappy­mothers­day/>

“5 Of The Worst Ways To Die.” All That Is Interesting. N.p., 2014. Web. 24 Mar. 2015.

<http://all­that­is­interesting.com/worst­ways­to­die/2>

“8 Reasons Orcas Don't Belong At SeaWorld ­ SeaWorld of Hurt.” SeaWorld of Hurt. N.p., n.d.

Web. 18 Feb. 2015.

<http://www.seaworldofhurt.com/features/8­reasons­orcas­dont­belong­seaworld/>

“Baby Orca Born Into Troubled ‘Family’ at SeaWorld.” DEATH AT SEAWORLD Shamu and the

Dark Side of Killer Whales in Captivity. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2015.

<http://deathatseaworld.com/?p=563>

“Deceased Orcas By Date.” The Orca Project. N.p., 2011. Web. 14 May 2015.

<https://theorcaproject.wordpress.com/killer­whale­orca­database/killer­whale­orca­dead­

date/>

“Detailed Discussion Of Laws Concerning Orcas in Captivity.” Detailed Discussion of Laws

Concerning Orcas in Captivity. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2015.

<https://www.animallaw.info/article/detailed­discussion­laws­concerning­orcas­captivity>

“Life Expectancy of Orcas in Captivity.” Life expectancy of orcas in captivity. N.p., n.d. Web. 14

May 2015. <http://www.orcahome.de/lifeexpectancy.htm>

“A Look Into How Life For Captive Orcas Differs From Their Wild Counterparts.” One Green

Planet. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2015.

<http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/a­look­into­how­life­for­captive­orcas­

differs­from­wild/>

“The Monumental Plans That Could Set Captive Orcas Free.” The Dodo. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May

2015. <https://www.thedodo.com/the­monumental­plans­that­coul­479028620.html>

“Orca (Killer Whale) ­ National Wildlife Federation.” Orca (Killer Whale) ­ National Wildlife

Federation. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2015.

<http://www.nwf.org/wildlife/wildlife­library/mammals/orca.aspx>

“Posts Tagged With: Seaworld.” World Wide Waves. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2015.

<https://worldwidewaves.wordpress.com/tag/seaworld/>

“Problems With Captivity.” Orca Friendz. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2015.

<http://orcafriendz.weebly.com/problems­with­captivity.html>

“SeaWorld Puts Its Whales On Valium­Like Drug, Documents Show.” BuzzFeed. N.p., n.d.

Web. 14 May 2015.

<http://www.buzzfeed.com/justincarissimo/seaworld­puts­its­whales­on­valium­like­drug­

documents­show>

“Seeing Is Believing: Tilikum's Lonely Life after Dawn.” The Orca Project. N.p., Mar. 2010.

Web. 25 Mar. 2015.

<https://theorcaproject.wordpress.com/2010/09/03/seeing­is­believing­tilikums­lonely­life

­after­dawn/>

“Yes, SeaWorld Does Take Orca Calves From Their Moms. Here's Proof.” The Dodo. N.p., n.d.

Web. 14 May 2015.

<https://www.thedodo.com/seaworld­separates­orcas­1057282183.html>

“A Look at Killer Whales in Aquariums and Parks.” Captive Orca Statistic. N.p., n.d. Web. 14

May 2015. <http://www.orcahome.de/orcastat.htm>