As of September 2015, there were 58 orcas held in captivity from Orlando to Russia to Japan, in 15 different locations (These facilities are keeping orcas captive). Seaworld is home to a majority of these orcas, holding 23 of the 58 in their three different locations, Orlando, San Antonio and San Diego (WDC). Many experts and professionals feel as if the orcas are being held in conditions that are unacceptable for both the physical and mental health of the whales. The captivity of orcas is inhumane and should be discontinued.
The captivity of the orcas is detrimental to their health and lifespan. Many of the whales face a variety of health problems, such as more broken and degraded teeth, nonspecific inflammation and a variety of diseases. …show more content…
In captivity, the whales live from to a maximum of fifty years and the oldest …show more content…
The orcas are structured in a matriarchal society, called matrilines. It is lead by the oldest female orca, who is responsible for teaching her young everything, from travel patterns, hunting strategies and parental behavior (Orca Spirit Adventures). This means that if a young female orca is taken from her family before she is able to fully mature, then when she has her own child, she is likely to reject her calf. Rearing children and maternal behaviors isn’t an innate behavior in orcas, but rather a learned one, which has been passed down from generation to generation (One Green Planet). This rejecting of calves is not a normal phenomenon which happens in the wild, but it is almost exclusive to orcas in captivity. The pods also play an important part in the mental health. When the orcas are in their pods they are happiest. Corky, the oldest whale in captivity, has been played sounds of her former pod in the wild, and became distressed and made noises that trainers hadn’t heard from her. She was calling to her family using long range calling signals. She continues to do so ever since she heard her family 's calls
The captivity of the orcas is detrimental to their health and lifespan. Many of the whales face a variety of health problems, such as more broken and degraded teeth, nonspecific inflammation and a variety of diseases. …show more content…
In captivity, the whales live from to a maximum of fifty years and the oldest …show more content…
The orcas are structured in a matriarchal society, called matrilines. It is lead by the oldest female orca, who is responsible for teaching her young everything, from travel patterns, hunting strategies and parental behavior (Orca Spirit Adventures). This means that if a young female orca is taken from her family before she is able to fully mature, then when she has her own child, she is likely to reject her calf. Rearing children and maternal behaviors isn’t an innate behavior in orcas, but rather a learned one, which has been passed down from generation to generation (One Green Planet). This rejecting of calves is not a normal phenomenon which happens in the wild, but it is almost exclusive to orcas in captivity. The pods also play an important part in the mental health. When the orcas are in their pods they are happiest. Corky, the oldest whale in captivity, has been played sounds of her former pod in the wild, and became distressed and made noises that trainers hadn’t heard from her. She was calling to her family using long range calling signals. She continues to do so ever since she heard her family 's calls