Blackfish Essay

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The documentary Blackfish by Gabriela Cowperthwaite is a gripping documentary about orca whales in captivity at SeaWorld and other sea parks around the world that shows the disturbing effects that can be caused from having these animals in a place where they shouldn’t be. Gabriela’s message to the world is to raise awareness for whales and other animals in captivity and that they should be free to swim in the ocean. Her goal is to try to inform the public to not support the cruelty done to these animals. This message is aimed at people that do, or ever have enjoyed an animal or whale show, or to people that want to learn the truth about animals in captivity. This documentary was written after trainer, Dawn Blancheau, was dismembered and killed …show more content…

SeaWorld also claims that the whales being kept there are treated humanely and are in no way unhappy. Although Cowperthwaite’s film clearly explains that that is a far cry from the truth with many trainers saying that the whales were often bullied by others which left them with painful rake marks that are created by teeth scraping against the whales skin. If whales did not perform a trick properly they would not be given food which left the whales hungry and extremely agitated. Behind the scenes footages shows whales being attacked by others with one whale even breaking its own jaw which led to an artery becoming severed and the bled out and died shortly after. SeaWorld tour guides have also falsely told the public that collapsed dorsal fins are very common among orca whales, but specialist have identified that less than one percent of dorsal fins actually collapse in the wild. SeaWorld has also stated that the average lifespan of an orca is twenty five to thirty years but an orca can live approximately the same amount amount as humans which could be up to one hundred

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