Orcas are the kings of the Sea. Their massive size, brute force, and profound intelligence place them on the top of the food chain in oceans across the world. Orcas are the only known animal who prey on all sharks, seals, dolphins, polar bears, sting ray, fish, and other whales, hence the nick name, Killer Whale. Their sheer beauty and power has captured the hearts of humans, and in return, we captured the ocean’s top predator and turned them into circus animals.
In the 1960s, SeaWorld purchased their first killer whale, and named her Shamu. She was bought from the Seattle Aquarium, who had acquired her from the Puget Sound, in Washington State. Immediately, people recognized this as immoral and brutal. Congress passed the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 which, “prohibits, with certain exceptions, the take of marine mammals in U.S. waters and by U.S. citizens on the high seas, and the importation of marine mammals and marine mammal products into the U.S." This act, however, did not stop SeaWorld’s corrupt ways. They simply netted whales off the coast of Iceland. Curiosity lured people into Sea World’s parks, to see the animal who never stops smiling.
Behind their grin lays something much more than one would expect. “Orcas have a limbic system far more advanced than Homo sapiens, suggesting killer whales have a highly developed emotional concept.” A killer whale's bond with his family is unique. Orcas travel in pods, generally around the size of 40 whales, working together to survive, much like a wolf pack. SeaWorld claims, “on the rare occasion that a mother killer whale cannot care for herself, we have successfully hand raised and reintroduced the calf." In the documentary Blackfish, it is clearly shown that SeaWorld ships whales wherever they are needed, in order to make the most profit. Separating these whales causes a traumatic effect. Since they are a species revolving around emotions and families, removing a whale from its pod creates separation anxiety and depression. We see that these can lead to mood swings and aggressive behaviors. SeaWorld has a highly capable staff of veterinarians who know this, yet SeaWorld continues to do what benefits their checkbook, not their orcas.
By tracking several pods closely and recording their vocalizations, marine biologists have concluded that each pod has their own form of communication. Take these massive killers from several different pods, who do not speak the same language, as SeaWorld has done, throw them into a miniscule tank, and conflict will arise. One orca in particular is known for his violent behavior, and his name is Tilikum. He has rightfully earned his name as a Killer Whale. His “aggressive tendencies” can be found on his report at SeaWorld. The report states, “Please be advised that this whale was involved in the accidental drowning of a trainer at Sealand of the Pacific in 1991 and involved in an incident with a guest in his pool at SWF." The document then describes an incident with a trainer stating,“Grabbed ponytail, pulled in water, held trainer underwater, carry/tow trainer." What it fails to mention is this "Behavioral incident" is what killed 40 year old, Dawn Brancheau. It fails to mention the cause of death was drowning and traumatic injuries. It fails to mention the complete avulsion of the scalp and associated galeal and subgaleal hemorrhage, the fracture of the seventh vertebrae, the posterior aspects of the ninth through eleventh left ribs, the fracture of the sternum at the level of the second rib insertion, the liver lacerations, the hemoperitoneum, and the complete avulsion of the left upper extremity with associated fracture of the proximal left humerus. It fails to mention, he has been the cause of three human deaths. Dawn’s death could have been avoided if SeaWorld had learned their lesson after Tilikum slaughtered his first two victims. How many more people have to die? SeaWorld director of animal training Kelly Flaherty Clark later admitted, “Every safety protocol we had failed." Holding these whales captive endangers the lives of helpless people.
Future humans are in danger as well. Tilikum is now the father of fourteen killer whales in captivity. Knowing there are over a dozen calves to a beast that ruthlessly slaughtered three humans is uncanny. There is a chance these orcas could live up to their name as killer whales, as their father has. Many believe it is unethical to hold these whales captive as it is unethical to hold a child prisoner simply because they were born into a prison—especially when the best place for it is in the ocean.
The recent documentary Blackfish gathered footage of numerous attacks at marine parks, along with former SeaWorld trainers who, “indicate the company had taken pains to hide those events both from the public and from their own trainers." This brings up the question, why would SeaWorld hide this if they didn’t find anything wrong with it? SeaWorld deliberately lies to the public and their staff frequently in order to better their reputation. The trainers are unknowingly placing themselves into a much more dangerous situation than what they were told. Trainers are making uneducated decisions that can cost them their lives through this corrupt system.
Not only is SeaWorld sacrificing the lives of their trainers, they are harming the whales. A rapid decrease in captive orcas physical health is astonishing. 100% of males’ dorsal fins have collapsed. In the wild, less than 1% of male orcas have collapsed dorsal fins. Wild whales spend their lives in constant motion, travelling vast distances underwater in a weightless environment. The water current against the fin helps to shape it into an erect position. On the other hand, captive whales spend most of their time floating at the surface of their small tanks. Because they do not spend their time in motion, the majestic fin, the pride of the male orca, slowly begins to droop and fall over.
SeaWorld claims an orca’s life span in their care is equivalent with those in the wild, when in reality, the median lifespan of their orcas are 9 years old, and in the wild, on average, they live to be 60 years old. This clearly demonstrates the harm these whales are going through. It is simply unhealthy for orcas to be in captivity. Although SeaWorld has made progress in regards to ending their breeding process, they are still lying to the public. On January 6, 2017, SeaWorld posted to their website, "Tilikum became a part of SeaWorld’s family 25 years ago. Estimated to be about 36 years old, Tilikum was near the high end of the average life expectancy for male killer whales according to an independent scientific review." The oldest orca in the wild just died at the age of 105 years old, just three days before SeaWorld posted this blatant lie.
Sea World argues that since the orcas they have now were not born into the wild, they may not survive if released into the wild. While this may be true, it does not mean that whales have to live in concrete tanks where they face many health issues. Sea World could build sea pens that would provide a better life for the orcas. Recently Sea World has claimed that the whales "could not survive in oceans that include environmental concerns such as pollution and other man-made threats." However, I would like to point out that they cannot survive in their man made tanks either.
Theatrical orca shows will end at SeaWorld San Diego in 2017 and in Orlando and San Antonio in 2019. This is not good enough. Orcas need to be released into Sea Pens where they can live their lives in a similar environment to the one they have been designed to thrive in. The only reason to lie to the public about the care of their whales is to warm the hearts of parents bringing their children to the park. No one would feel comfortable enough to throw money at a company that is honest about their ruthless action against our precious kings of the sea. If the truth was known throughout the world of the horrific problems captured orcas endure, SeaWorld would never have another customer.
Open the tanks.
