Argumentative Essay On Orca Captivity

A trip to the aquarium to see an orca show sounds like every child’s dream. In the past decades, SeaWorld and similar parks had done a phenomenal job implanting the image of the adorable, human-loving orca in the minds of the general public. However, recent orca attacks, such as the fatal attack of trainer Dawn Brancheau at SeaWorld in 2009, has surged numerous debates over their captivity. Further research by experts have shown that orca shows and captivity is harmful towards the animals and does not contribute to conservation. The story of the orca is an exemplifying tale on the horror of animal shows.

First and foremost, the purpose of orca captivity needs to be weighted. This captivity is often mistaken as conservation, while in fact

it is solely for profit. This commercial experiment began in the early 1960s, when accidentally captured orcas began to be bought for showcase. The majority of the earliest captive whales died within the first year or two, not including those that died during the capturing process. Since then, orca shows had evolved into a million dollar business, lining the pocket of parks like SeaWorld, Seaquarium, and Loca Parque.
Orcas are highly complex and social animals. Similar to humans, they belong to unique groups with distinctive calls and whistles. These groups also have unique food preferences and behaviors. When orcas are taken away from their natural habitat and put into cramped environments with strange fish, as with the case at all parks, they will most likely be unable to communicate with each other, which is a potential cause for hostility among captive orcas. In addition, orcas in the wild swim hundred of miles everyday in the open ocean, while captive orcas have to circle around in pools around ten to twenty meters wide. In order to match the distance a wild orca covers everyday, a captive orca needs to circle its tank at least 1400 times per day.
Imagine being locked in a room with only strangers and having to walk around its perimeter 1400 times a day. A normal human has to become agitated, if not enraged, after a few hundred laps. Orcas have often reacted that way: venting their frustration through self-harm and violence against each other. For example, male orcas are susceptible to violence from female orcas in the same tank. Tilikum, the SeaWorld orca that killed trainer Dawn Brancheau in 2009, suffered constant attack by two female orcas when he was recently captured in 1985. When he was finally bought by SeaWorld, an American park famous for its orca shows, Tilikum health had deteriorated to the point that SeaWorld was allowed a permit to transport him on the basis of medical emergency (PBS). Those are only a few of the negative effects captivity has on orcas. Throughout the years, they had at various times appeared at shows bleeding, battered and/or sick.

Orcas’ attacks on human are direct result of their mistreatment. It is important to note that orcas have only killed human in captivity. In the wild, they have only been hostile to human when mistaking swimmers as one of their food source, but never had there been a case of fatality. According to expert--, the attitude of wild orcas towards human is a general sense of intrigue, and not of hostility ().
The attacks in orca parks were so surprising to the public because the industry had concealed the truth about captivity.

In the public eye, orcas are happy creatures who are protected in the safe water of SeaWorld, and love and have special bonds with their trainers. In reality, orcas don’t feel attraction outside of their natural social circles, and only obey humans in order to get food. The water of SeaWorld is cramped and their daily routines only brings them stress. The “happy” images are only part of the propaganda set out to exploit these animals for humans’ profit. For example, the website of SeaWorld claims it to be the leading institution for orca conservation and that its orcas live as long as they do in the wild, while in fact the life expectancy of captive orcas is 13 years, comparing to 30-50 years in nature ().
Since the Brancheau incident, many marine biologists and animal activists have reached out to educate the public about the nature of orcas and the state of their conservation. In 2013, director Gabriela Cowperthwaite released the documentary Blackfish, which tells the story of Tilikum and explores the dark side of orca captivity. The success of the movie brought a massive movement calling out for the end of orca captivity at SeaWorld. Facing immense pressure from the public, the park agreed to end its orca breeding program in March of 2016, making its current 23 orcas the last

generation.
Despite success in the US, there is still a long battle to fight in order to protect the world’s orca population. Around the world, there are 52 captive orcas in display and orcas are being captured in the water of Russia. The governments of China and Russia are still openly supporting orca captivity and animal advocacy are less influential in these countries since civil society is highly limited by the government. Furthermore, the story doesn’t only end with orcas, but also other species being exploited for entertainment. There’s still a prominent selfish mindset that allows humans to exploit other species for its extravagant needs.
We need to further educate ourselves about the difference between conservation and exploitation. For example, animal performances are almost always animal exploitation. By spreading awareness and boycott institutions that abuse animals, each individual can promote better understanding between humans and other species.