Killer Whales, their name alone makes a bold statement, and it is no surprise that people flock to areas that showcase these majestic animals. Spectators watch in awe as these animals put on a show with their trainers. Venues, such as Sea World, take claim to the idea that these shows support education, research and conservation of killer whales12. Alternatively, many state that the use of killer whales for our entertainment is not only dangerous to people, but that it violates the five freedoms…
Killer whales should not be forced into captivity because of the orca's intelligence, what conditions are needed in order for orcas to be happy, and the lack of education that aquariums like Seaworld provide. For example, the director of the movie Blackfish responded to claims that a Seaworld trainer made about the issue of whale capacity. The trainer stated that “we as humans should not differentiate based on the intelligence level” and the director came back saying “the evidence on animals intelligence…
In the wild, whales travel and hunt in pods, which are considered to be their family units. Although there are different groups, the resident, transient, and offshore killer whales, these animals most commonly remain with their family unit for most of or all of their lives. Every pod has its own unique sounds, closely resembling a form of language (National Geographic). Being brought into captivity, whales are put into confined spaces with other whales from different places, different pods, and different…