Orca Whales in Captivity

How Orca Whales are Caught Orca whales are caught by seperating the males from the females and children. They are often chased by a boat or plane around a cove and then the juveniles are lured away from the females so they can be caught in nets. At least 150 orca whales have been taken into captivity since 1961. Seaworld has not captured orca whales in 35 years, instead they began to breed them in captivity. In 1970, more than 90 orca whales were herded and caught. They used explosives, speedboats and planes to herd them into a three acre net. The orcas searched for a way out and frantically cried and tried to escape. Pender Harbour, BC, April 1968. Photo: the Vancouver Sun

Other Animals in Captivity Tigers Tigers in captivity can experience abnormal trauma. They lose many of their natural instincts. Zoo or park workers can abuse the animals long before anyone finds out and before anything can be done about it. Keeping tigers in captivity can also be for their benefit if a certain breed is becoming extinct. These animals are sometimes kept in enclosures to protect them from poachers.  Elephants  Elephants in captivity are kept in much smaller enclosures than they are used to. Typically, elephants roam for 18 hours a day and travel about 30 miles each day. Elephants are typically pack animals and travel in large groups although in captivity, they are kept in smaller groups of two or three.  Exotic Animals Exotic animals are typically more violent and tend to lash out more. Animals like this are hurt during transport and most often kept in enclosures that are too small and do not meet their needs. When people realize they are no longer able

Orca Whales at Seaworld Blackfish In 2013, a documentary was realized that highlighted the harm that Seaworld does to the Orca Whales. The movie's main focus is on one specific whale named Tilikum who was involved with the deaths of three people. Tilikum's home was at Seaworld Orlando beginning when he was transferred there in 1992.  The First Death The first death related to Tilikum was in 1991 at a theme park in Victoria, British Columbia called Sealand of the Pacific. Tilikum and two other orcas dragged and kept a part time trainer underwater after she slipped and fell into the pool. Shortly after, Tilikum was moved to Seaworld Orlando and Sealand of the Pacific closed down shortly after the incident.  The Second Death The next death happened in 1999 when a man snuck into Tilikums sleeping pool at night and drowned, an autopsy report found abrasions and wounds that were thought to be caused by Tilikum. Although Seaworld had previously stated they had security

Below is a list of the reasons why orca whales should not be kept in captivity. When kept in captivity, they have a decreased life span They never die from natural causes The small environment ives them a limited amount of space to roam Echolocation causes insanity They break their teeth on the cement walls They become aggressive and anxious They are taken directly from their families  Orca whales in captivity are often seen with a collapsed dorsal fin, like in the above photo. This typically only occurs in captivity and is due to the unnatural diet they are fed and  the lack of space for them to swim and roam freely.  Shocking Facts The deepest orca dive on record is 35,000 feet but the deepest orca tank is only 35 feet deep.  When in the wild, orcas can travel 140 miles each day, in captivity, the longest tank built is only 140 feet long.  In the wild female orcas live an average of 50 years but in captivity, most rarely make it past 30.  An orca wha