Welfare Of Animals In Captivity Essay

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Recommended: Marine mammal captivity

How does captivity effect the welfare of Whales and Dolphins?
It is often debated on whether or not marine mammals should be in held in captivity. Some say the captivity of these animals is great for educating the public while others say it is destroying the physical and mental health of these creatures. Kelly A. Waples and Nicholas J. Gales have put together an academic journal discussing the health effects captivity has on dolphins. Waples is a member of the Marine Mammal Research Group and attended the Graduate School of the Environment Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. Dr. Gales is the Chief Scientist for the Australian Antarctic Division. Together they give a large amount of information on the studies done on the negative effects …show more content…

They tell guests that the killer whales and dolphins live much longer in captivity than they would in the wild. In realty the mortality rate for whales in the wild is three times higher whereas SeaWorld's whales die prematurely due to depression and stress. It is not uncommon for the animals to be prescribed daily medication to help with their depression. A tell-tale sign of depression and stress in orcas is a collapsed dorsal fin, which 100 percent of male orcas have. Whereas in the wild only 1 to 5 percent of male orcas have collapsed dorsal fins. The sociality of whales and dolphins is extremely high in the wild. They're very aware of who their families are and genuinely care for one another. When they're captured and taken away from their families to be put in a marine mammal park for people's entertainment their spirits are broken. This is why these creatures get depressed and become ill so often in captivity. Going from swimming in the vast ocean where they can swim for miles and males and then being held captive in a giant bathtub is one of the worst things you could do to these magnificent animals. "No amount of money can recreate an orca's natural environment." (pg. 2) (Marine Mammal Captivity: The Truth Is in the Facts by the Oceanic Preservation

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