Blackfish Argumentative Analysis

animals, orcas in specific, should not be held captive, as it causes them psychological Orcas, better known as killer whales, have an average lifespan of fifty years. This is only if they are not in captivity. Orcas in captivity have an average lifespan of twenty years. This is an enormous difference! After the release of the controversial film “Blackfish” in 2013, Democratic State Assemblyman Richard Bloom, in the news article, “New California Bill Aims To Stop SeaWorld From Making Orcas Perform” (2014), argues that orcas should not be held captive for “entertainment purposes”. Bloom supports his argument by introducing a bill that will end orca performances, prohibit import and exports of killer whales, and ban captive breeding. The authors

The article, “Are Zoos Cruel? The Pros and Cons of Zoos and Wildlife parks”, discusses the advantages and disadvantages animals have being in zoos and wildlife parks. It states, “The physical and mental frustrations of captivity often lead to abnormal, neurotic, and even self destructive behavior, such as incessant pacing, swaying, head-bobbing, bar-biting, and self-mutilation. In other words, animals tend to become psychotic when held in captivity. Their psychotic behavior comes from the restriction of freedom they have. This is significant because it validates my argument that dysfunctions.

There they have the freedom they were destined to have instead of being locked up. The documentary, “Blackfish”, discusses the controversy over having orcas in captivity and the fatal encounters SeaWorld trainers have while interacting with orcas. It states, “Whale-on-whale aggression was just a part of your-- you know daily existence...In the wild, whether they have got thousands of square miles to exit the scene… you don't have that in captivity,” says John Jett PhD. This is significant to my argument because orcas are wild animals, therefore they are not designed to be held active in small, concrete tanks. The final reason I agree with Bloom's argument because often the proper care isn't given to to the animals. In my personal experience, orcas are highly intelligent animals. Their brains are even more complex than human brains. I don't believe SeaWorld, or any animal park, can recreate the exact natural environment an animal originates from. It is a very difficult task and animal parks often have a hard time fulfilling the needs of an