The Effects of Orcas in Captivity Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes of the killer whale shows at SeaWorld? So much preparation goes into the shows at SeaWorld. This causes frustration within the whales that can result in whales acting out on other whales and SeaWorld trainers. 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. That is not a good factor when it comes to training them to act a certain way during
…show more content…
The first marine aquarium that Tilikum went to was Sealand. For two-thirds of his life he was locked up in a holding tank. The tank was only twenty feet deep and twenty-eight feet in diameter. Tilikum was four at the time and was already bigger than 11.5 ft long. That tank was too small to be holding three orcas, especially when Tilikum had nowhere to flee when Haida and Nootka would gain up on him due to the size of the tank and his size. Orcas swim up to one-hundred miles a day in the wild, but in captivity they have to swim the circumference of the tank 1,900 times just to equal that. Life in a cramped tank also leads to stress, boredom, and depression. These traits can cause orcas to demonstrate repetitive harmful behavior, such as banging their head on landing platforms. The tanks weren’t just a bad fit for orcas at Sealand; they’re also a bad fit for orcas at SeaWorld. “Orcas in captivity gnaw at iron bars and concrete from stress, anxiety, and boredom, sometimes breaking their teeth and resulting in painful dental drilling without anesthesia.” (“SeaWorld of Hurt”). Since the orcas break their teeth, it causes the tanks to be a hazard. Tilikum’s teeth are worn down to the nubs from gnawing on the metal bars. The tanks at SeaWorld are also a hazard to the trainers. According to PETA, “…areas surrounding the orca performance tank were in disrepair and contained cracked and crumbling concrete and rusty beams that could pose a threat to the health and safety of both the animals and workers.” (“SeaWorld of Hurt”). If a big enough piece of concrete crumbles off into the pool then the orcas could ingest it. SeaWorld also does not, “…facilitate cleaning and disinfection.” (“SeaWorld of Hurt”). SeaWorld needs to start cleaning their tanks otherwise their animals and trainers are prone to catching
The first marine aquarium that Tilikum went to was Sealand. For two-thirds of his life he was locked up in a holding tank. The tank was only twenty feet deep and twenty-eight feet in diameter. Tilikum was four at the time and was already bigger than 11.5 ft long. That tank was too small to be holding three orcas, especially when Tilikum had nowhere to flee when Haida and Nootka would gain up on him due to the size of the tank and his size. Orcas swim up to one-hundred miles a day in the wild, but in captivity they have to swim the circumference of the tank 1,900 times just to equal that. Life in a cramped tank also leads to stress, boredom, and depression. These traits can cause orcas to demonstrate repetitive harmful behavior, such as banging their head on landing platforms. The tanks weren’t just a bad fit for orcas at Sealand; they’re also a bad fit for orcas at SeaWorld. “Orcas in captivity gnaw at iron bars and concrete from stress, anxiety, and boredom, sometimes breaking their teeth and resulting in painful dental drilling without anesthesia.” (“SeaWorld of Hurt”). Since the orcas break their teeth, it causes the tanks to be a hazard. Tilikum’s teeth are worn down to the nubs from gnawing on the metal bars. The tanks at SeaWorld are also a hazard to the trainers. According to PETA, “…areas surrounding the orca performance tank were in disrepair and contained cracked and crumbling concrete and rusty beams that could pose a threat to the health and safety of both the animals and workers.” (“SeaWorld of Hurt”). If a big enough piece of concrete crumbles off into the pool then the orcas could ingest it. SeaWorld also does not, “…facilitate cleaning and disinfection.” (“SeaWorld of Hurt”). SeaWorld needs to start cleaning their tanks otherwise their animals and trainers are prone to catching