Life-span of an OrcaIts been recorded that Orcas can live up to fifty years in the wild where a males max lifespan can range all the way up to eighty years and a female Orca can live up to one-hundred years. SeaWorld was a place for learning and research the intent to make a better life for sea creatures.

Orcas are beautiful, intelligent creatures of the sea. There is still an endless amount of information that we dont know about Orcas even after years of research.For years now weve had the privilege of getting up close and personal with being within an arms reach of them. SeaWorld San Diego received its first Orca in the 1960s from the waters of Seattle. The female Orca was housed with a young male named Namu.

The female version of Namu is now a common name everyone associates with SeaWorld is now Shamu. SeaWorld first opened its gates in 1964 with a goal to become an education facility for the communities and to provide a research facility to help both animals in facilities and in wildlife.

Get to know some unknown facts about Wild vs. Captured Orcas. FactsHistoryBe involed and make a difference to enhance the life of Orcas. Making a ChangePage 5Page 3Page 2A brief overview of the history of Orcas and SeaWorld. By Monique BiancoBeautiful CreaturesThe Start of a not so great New EraOver the years SeaWorld has taken a different path and has lost sight of their main goal. One of the most famous wales currently of SeaWorld is Tilikum. He was captured in 1983 as a 2 year old. He eventually was transferred from Iceland to Sealand in British Columbia. It was here that the tragic tale of Tilikum began and the movie Blackfish comes into play. To begin with the life of an Orca held in captivity compared to the life of an Orca in the wild drastically different. In SeaWorld captivities, Orcas have been recorded to live up to nine years. SeaWorld has an abundance of resources to provide medical assistance and all the necessities these animals need to live long, fulfilling lives. SeaWorld neglects the most basic needs of the animals. Orcas for instance are incredibly smart, sensitive creatures. For instance, when Orcas even dolphins try to communicate they send off sound frequencies that are meant to travel long distances through the deep sea. However, in captivity these frequencies bounce off the walls and eventually drive them crazy.

Be the ChangeWe shouldnt be familiar with seeing Orcas behind a glass shield or performing tricks. We should be familiar with seeing a calf swimming in the wild with its mother by its side.

A male Orca jumping out of the sea with its dorsal fin held high and we should see Orcas in their natural pods instead of forcing certain ones to live together. Take a family trip out to Seattle and take a boat tour to see these majestic animals living their lives the way they should be living, that experience will be more memorable then just another day at a theme park. Children can learn from expert tour guides all while the whales remain unharmed.

Breaking the Social NormAnother tragic example is when baby orcas were originally taken from the wild, their pods would desperately try to protect the infants and further more swim after them. The mothers would frantically let out calls to their babies trying to locate them in order to be reunited. That kind distress can cause not only emotional harm but physical harm as well. Being distressed about trying to find your infant will drain the orcas physically, weakening them and their ability to survive. Blackfish the documentary, despite its negative connotation about being propaganda brought up this argument even showing a female orca that was separated from her infant. The cries she let out were tones care takers and researchers had never heard from this particular orca before until she was cruelly separated from her baby.

In the picture shown to the right, thats on Orca being held in a holding cell at SeaWorld whenever its not performing. One would think that with all the resources SeaWorld can provide for their animals, these animals would leave pleasant lives. On the contrary they in fact lead unfortunate lives. In particularly male Orcas experience dorsal fin collapse that is caused by unnatural living conditions. Its unethical to keep the animals in essentially swimming pools when they were meant to roam the vast sea. SeaWorld once focused on being a humane place for animals but now they have become more concerned with profit and breeding. Tilikum one of the most famous wales has tragically been the perfect example of being taken from the wild at a young age, having his dorsal fin collapse over, being used for breeding and entertainment purposes and further more in his life has been involved with the death of 3 trainers. When Tilikum was at Sealand he was held with two other Orcas he didnt get along with. That Orcas were Haida and Nootka. Although a lot of speculation has been circulation about the move Blackfish, it does hold some truth to it. Whenever Tilikum didnt perform a trick properly trainers would with hold food from him. After not receiving his food and being paired with two other Orcas who would violently attack him, Tilikum became very frustrated. On February 21, 1991 Sealand trainer Keltie Byrne fell into the pool where she was enclosed by Tilikum. After this Sealand closed and Tilikum went up for sale where he was bought by SeaWorld for breeding purposes despite his violent past. 54% of SeaWorlds Orcas have Tilikums genes. Throughout Tilikums time at SeaWorld he has been involved in multiple aggression incidents. SeaWorld ignores signs of distress like when Tilikum chews on metal or concrete. These are all points Blackfish touches on that we need to consider. Due to Tilikums frustration and aggression the lives of two more trainers were lost. Daniel P. Dukes in 1999 and Dawn Brancheau in 2001 where he crushed and dismembered her body before he drowned her, and this is the DNA more then 50% of SeaWorlds Orcas currently have. These tragic events could have been prevented and future events can prevent. SeaWorld once was a good place and they can be once more, they just need to be guided in the right direction again. SeaWorld forces their animals to perform unnatural tasks as a form of entertainment for profit. As a result of these animals living in artificial conditions their lives are dramatically affected both mentally and physically. SeaWorld needs to stop breeding animals for entertainment purposes and use their facilities for good. SeaWorld should just take in animals that truly cannot survive with human interference and then from there educate people about these creatures without causing harm to the whales. Many people argue that without SeaWorld generations after generations wouldnt be able to learn about these brilliant animals. They would be able to see them and all their glory. While yes, SeaWorld does provide you undeniable convenience of seeing these animals, that doesnt mean the way weve been educating our children about these creatures is the right and only way. Scientific and technological advances have provided our society with so many great opportunities weve sadly forgotten what true freedom looks like.

ContinuedContinued1. SeaWorld will change if they know thats what the public wants. 2. Inform SeaWorld through letters or petitions saying to stop using these animals as entertainment, to open up their facilities as a rehabilitation center. 3. Tell them dont breed Orcas or other sea creatures for profitable purposes anymore. 4. There are other options. Wildlife tours and research can inform future generations. 5. STAY INFORMEDBecome apart of the Movement

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Change Can Happen

If a time comes when a dolphin or whale needs human interference like if it were to get washed up onto shore or caught in some kind boat accident, then let us take them in, nurture them and let them live the rest of their lives in peace while providing the most naturalistic environment humanly possible. We have to be the voice for these animals for they cannot speak against our wrong doings or tell us what they need. Its our job to speak for them, to think ethically for these animals that are defenseless against modern day technology. Sadly, sometimes our actions are intended for the good of others but for our own selfishness like SeaWorlds thrive for increasing profit. SeaWorld could be a brilliant place if they focused their attention back onto the animals, until then its the peoples obligation to stand against them.