Tilikum Imagine being captured and taken away from your family at a young age to live in captivity. This is exactly what happened to an orca whale named Tilikum. Tilikum was born in 1981 and lived at SeaWorld of the Pacific in South Oak Bay, British Columbia. He currently is located in SeaWorld Orlando, Florida. He is the largest orca living in captivity.…
Orcas in Captivity vs. Orcas in the Wild The roar of the crowd, the splash of cool water, and the spectacular stunts that are performed by the orca and his trainer may leave you speechless. What some people don't think about is what the effects are of having orcas in captivity versus keeping them in the wild. Some similarities may include things like the diet and nutrition in the wild and captivity. On the other hand, things like their lifespan, the posture of their dorsal fin, and being torn away from their family are just a few differences.…
Due to the living conditions, and mental health of their orcas, SeaWorld should be shut down. At…
The scientists believe that this is what led to his and other whale’s erratic behavior. There is no documentation of orca attacks in the wild, but there is an extensive list of attacks in captivity. This should signal to these zoos and parks that they have no business detaining these animals and using them for their own…
They don't want to let go of Tilikum the whale because of breeding reasons. Moreover, the orcas should be free because they become aggressive towards the trainers and has killed many while trying to entertain the audience, they're not to be kept…
Why Seaworld’s Orcas Should Remain In Captivity Many people may argue that it is wrong for Seaworld to take orcas from the ocean and their families, but seaworld hasn’t captured a wild orca since the late 1970s for anything other than for rehabilitation purposes! The controversy over Seaworld’s captive orcas has been going on for decades. Seaworld ended its iconic orca shows due to the massive outcry of the public. Many feel that these animals have a right to be free, but others believe that releasing the orcas would mean certain death. Captive orcas should not be freed despite the outcry of the public; if they were to be freed, they would be socially isolated, they would not know how to survive on their own, and they wouldn’t be used to the ocean’s environment.…
At least 161 orcas have died in captivity at Seaworld due to the small enclosures and dangerous training. Seaworld is a marine resort that captives water related animals such as orcas, dolphins, and flamingos. They train the animals to put on shows and do tricks that they would never naturally do. Tilikum, a 22 foot, 12,500 pound orca, was captured in November of 1983 when he was just a calf. Trainer Keltie Byrne was pulled to the bottom of a tank by Tilikum and drowned.…
The inadequate living conditions for the orcas affect them physically and mentally. Sea World, the amusement park, has been profiting off of the giant mammal since 1965. Even though abnormal behavior from the orcas has been witnessed and there have been deaths to trainers - the show must go on. Should SeaWorld be able to continue their shows despite new information about how these mammals are living?…
The act of holding wild animals in captivity, specifically for the purpose of entertainment has led many people to associate their abnormal behaviors to psychological suffering. Local zoos and aquariums seem to draw most of the attention from the general public about captive wild animal rights and welfare; however, many forget that traveling circuses are just as much at fault. Coming into one’s hometown once or twice a year, the traditional circus puts on a ‘spectacular show’ using wild animals as part of the main attractions. In essence, they serve as the living props for the actors and actresses that run the show. Among these animals, the most iconic of them all, are the Asian and African elephants.…
So, is captivity good for the orcas? Despite the fact that millions of people go to SeaWorld every year to see the killer whales, the animals are actually mistreated. If SeaWorld doesn’t change their ways, then orcas shouldn’t be in captivity any longer. Four powerful arguments prove that captivity is not suitable for orcas. First, orcas in captivity are very unpredictable.…
The documentary Blackfish brings to the public attention the aggressive behaviors displayed by killer whales in captivity. In particular, they focus on an orca by the name of Tilikum held in captivity, by Sealand and later SeaWorld, for close to three decades. Tilikum has caused the death of three people, during his time in captivity--- the most recent being that of Dawn Brancheau, an expert trainer for SeaWorld Orlando. Dawn’s death has sparked increased controversy for the popular entertainment park, most of it revolves around the conditions that the orcas live in.…
SeaWorld. We have all heard the name, considering they were once one of the most successful amusement parks in the world. Everyone wanted to come see Shamu, the huge majestic killer whale, do tricks so close to us we could get soaked. The whales always seemed to be in sync with the performers; we thought nothing could top getting splashed by gallons of water by a humongous whale. Unfortunately, in recent years, the saying “all press is good press” has not seemed to apply to SeaWorld.…
Animal cruelty shouldn’t be entertainment for anyone. Seaworld tends to capture the Orcas from the ocean to put them in tanks that aren’t the right size, separating them from their family. The Orcas get trained to look happy in front of the audience daily, even though they live a miserable life. Being held in a tight place can cause a person or animal to go crazy. There was an Orca named Tilikum who was captured in Iceland in 1983.…
Orcas demonstrate indications of unhappiness at SeaWorld not only through collapsed dorsal fins, but also by “floating listlessly in the water for hours at a time” which is “a behavior never seen in wild orcas” (Over 30 Years). If these orcas were free, they could live their lives naturally and happily. SeaWorld should not imprison these animals who have just as much of a right to happiness, healthiness, and this Earth as humans…
In one case of Keiko, a whale that was introduced back into the wild, he was able to try to get himself back used to wild life and survived for 15 months on his own before passing of pneumonia (Kirby). What I would suggest as a solution to this issue is already in progress for the beginning part. Sea World has started a program to prevent any further whale breeding (Pedicini). The Orcas in captivity now will be the last set of Orcas. I would suggest a huge rehabilitation center for these whales.…