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December 6, 2018

Orcas Gone Mad: Effects Of Captivity

Orcas, also known as killer whales, are the largest among the dolphin family. They are intelligent predators, feasting among marine mammals such as seals, sea lions, and even whales. With the assistance of razor sharp teeth and a superior intelligence, the orcas hunt in deadly pods. In family groups of up to forty, the whales use effective cooperative hunting techniques that model those of a wolf pack. Although they are fierce predators, the only danger these powerful creatures pose to humans seems to be when they are used for human entertainment and placed into captivity. In captivity, there have been over 100 incidents between human and whale, and a total of four deaths, while in the wild, no deaths have ever been recorded. Additionally, captivity causes damaging mental and physical effects on these magnificent creatures.1

On the morning of November 18, 1961, the first orca was captured in Newport Harbor, California. Millions watched as chaos consumed the harbor. Fishermen from Marineland of the Pacific scrambled to capture the distressed whale, and finally after many failed attempts, succeeded in capturing the animal. After being plucked from her natural home, Wanda was placed into a 100 by 50 by 19-foot oval tank. Immediately, she began to run into walls and swim restlessly in her new unnatural environment. Less than two days following her capture Wanda was found dead in her jail cell of a tank. Many biologists believe her death was a suicide. After reaching great speeds, she would strike her body against the walls until the last breath left her body and she was free from human confinement.2

This behavior of self-harm is not a natural behavior associated with orcas; however, it is very common among whales in captivity. Many captive orcas inflict pain upon themselves because they are bored and frustrated with their environment. One of the most common ways of inflicting self-harm is through dental destruction. Whales in captivity often chew on mental enclosures, causing extreme pain and damage to their teeth. Captive orcas often exhibit broken and worn teeth with exposed gums. This largely contrasts with orcas in the wild, who show little to no tooth wear.3

The extreme tooth damage leads to many other health issues that orcas in captivity regularly face. Due to the exposed gums, infectious diseases have a direct entry to the bloodstream and can reach vital organs such as the kidneys and heart. Heart disease and pneumonia are common diseases that are contracted via the tooth canals. Veterinarians routinely drill and work to combat these dental issues, yet little literature has been published by these medical experts on the topic. International researchers examined 29 captive orcas, all of which suffered from dental damage. They later learned that over 50% of them had undergone the painful modified pulpotomy procedure. This lack of veterinary transparency contradicts their claims that promote education and conservation for these wild animals.4

Another negative physical trend seen in captive orcas is the collapsed dorsal fins. Recreational parks such as Sea World depict orcas with healthy, natural looking dorsal fins; however, this is not a true representation of the orcas within the park walls. All captive adult male orcas suffer from collapsed dorsal fins, which is likely caused by the lack of space they have within their enclosures. It is said that less than 1 percent of orcas suffer from dorsal fin collapse in the wild. These statistics, looked at side by side, further the popular claim that captivity is detrimental to orcas.5

Orca showcasing collapsed Dorsal fin while in containment | Courtesy of USA TODAY

Being such social creatures, orcas travel in large groups called pods. They are acoustically oriented, using clicks, whistles, and echolocation to navigate their surroundings and communicate with one another. However, when in captivity there is no opportunity for them to take advantage of this natural behavior. Different whales from different pods use different types of clicks and sounds to communicate. Therefore, when whales from different parts of the world are thrown together in tanks, they are unable to communicate and often turn violent towards one another.6

The only recorded fatal attack by one orca on another occurred in captivity. Just as personalities clash, orcas can be incompatible with other orcas. Because orcas in confinement cannot choose their companions, we often see more dominant whales bullying the younger small whales in the enclosures. The lack of communication also adds to many of the issues among orcas in captivity. In severe cases, this dangerous behavior can lead to deep wounds and lacerations resulting in the animals having to be separated. This separation furthers the isolation these whales in captivity must face on a day to day basis. In the wild, aggression has been rarely observed, as the ocean is a huge habitat allowing the subordinate animal room to escape any aggression that may be present.7

Injured Orca at SeaWorld | Courtesy of Emaze

However, the aggression exhibited by captive orcas is not only limited to other orcas, but to humans as well. While there have been no reported fatal attacks in the wild, hundreds of incidents have been recorded involving orcas in captivity. Perhaps the most famous incident was the death of veteran trainer Dawn Brancheau after being attacked by the infamous Tilikum. This incident showed that no matter the experience of trainers, these animals will always be in control. Former Sea World trainer Jeffrey Ventre explained how Tilikum “knew exactly what he was doing” when he killed the experienced trainer. Many trainers believed Tilikum’s troubled past is what led to his aggressive behavior.8

In 1983, near Iceland, 2-year-old Tilikum was torn away from his mother and ocean home. Taken to rundown marine park Sealand of the Pacific, Tilikum was forced into very unnatural conditions. Food was withheld from him and he often endured attacks from the two dominant females in the park. He was forced to perform eight shows a day, seven days a week. For Tilikum, being such a highly intelligent, emotional, and socially complex animal, captivity was devastating physically and mentally early on in his life. After much frustration, Tilikum acted out again, and killed trainer Keltie Byrne. In all, Tilikum was involved in the deaths of three different trainers. The staggering difference between the number of fatal attacks in the wild compared to those of this one whale show the dangerous effects captivity has on these ocean giants. Not only is captivity dangerous for these creatures, but also for those who are in charge of their so called well-being.9

Many often argue that whales in captivity are pivotal for research and breeding programs. However, the positives don’t outweigh the negatives when it comes to orcas and captivity. Whales in captivity are often impregnated at a young age. A Sea World orca was pregnant and gave birth at the young age of eight. There is also a lot of controversy surrounding Tilikum and his twenty-one offspring. Many believe, given his infamous violent behavior, that his genetics should not be passed down to other orcas intended for captivity and human entertainment.10

Orcas also are cared for by their mothers up until about two years. After this, they become part of the pod and travel with their native group. In a study of almost 600 orcas, data show that having a mom nearby significantly increased the survival rate of the calf. It was also found that female killer whales have strong motherly instincts and an urge to care for their young. In captivity, we often see calves being taken from their mothers at very young ages. This separation at such a young age can cause depression for the calves and mothers. John Hargrove, a former senior killer whale trainer at Sea World described his first-hand account of the separation of a mother and calf: “In fact, [when Takara was taken from Kasatka], she was emitting vocalizations that had never been heard before ever by anyone … obviously Takara was gone and [Kasatka] was trying anything she could to try to locate and communicate with Takara, which is absolutely heartbreaking.” 11 Hargrove alone can recall nineteen instances where a mother and a calf were separated. Seventeen were for management purposes while only two were for medical reasons. Separating a mother from her young is a traumatic experience that never happens in the wild.12

Diagram depicting the harsh effects of captivity | Courtesy of Ocean Futures Society

Leading orca researchers agree that captivity is devastating to these marine mammals, who in the wild, engage in tight knit relationships with one another, travel over 100 miles daily, and work in pods to hunt and find food suited for their large diets. Many orcas have been captured and forced into captivity, which has denied them the opportunity to engage in their natural genetic behaviors. The constant factors that push them to be everything that they’re not causes them stress, anxiety, and depression that is not seen in wild orcas. These unnatural feelings cause them to exhibit unnatural behaviors never seen in the wild, such as extreme tooth damage from gnawing on cages, floating lifelessly in pools, and in some cases extreme aggression towards other orcas and humans.13

The limited dangers orcas face in the wild are often brought on by human activities such as overfishing and boating accidents. However, despite these dangers, orcas in the wild live more purposeful and meaningful lives, where they are free to live life as it comes; on its most natural course.14

  1. “The Fate of Captive Orcas,” WDC, Whale and Dolphin Conservation. Accessed November 05, 2018. https://us.whales.org/wdc-in-action/fate-of-captive-orcas.
  2. “The Fate of Captive Orcas,” WDC, Whale and Dolphin Conservation. Accessed November 05, 2018. https://us.whales.org/wdc-in-action/fate-of-captive-orcas.
  3. Sam Lipman, “The Orca of Marineland Antibes.” Orca Aware, (1970), http://bdmlr-orcaaware.blogspot.com/2016/04/the-orca-of-marineland-antibes.html.
  4. Emma Foster et al., “Adaptive Prolonged Postreproductive Life Span in Killer Whales,” American Association for the Advancement of Science, (2014), science.sciencemag.org/content/337/6100/1313.
  5. Cara Meyers, “SeaWorld’s Lies Sink To New Low,” Digital Journal,(2014);1-3. http://www.digitaljournal.com/news/environment/seaworld-put-on-notice-by-orca-scientist/article/384814#ixzz32wcTf3Qh.
  6. Andre Chwalibog, “Orcas are Social Mammals,” MedCrave, (2018); 22-24. https://medcraveonline.com/IJAWB/IJAWB-03-00101.
  7. Andre Chalibog, “Orcas are Social Mammals,” MedCrave, (2018); 22-24. https://medcraveonline.com/IJAWB/IJAWB-03-00101.
  8. Caitlyn Burford and Julie Kalil Schutten, “Internatural Activists and the ‘Blackfish Effect’: Contemplating Captive Orcas’ Protest Rhetoric through a Coherence Frame,” Frontiers (2016), www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2016.00016/full.
  9. Caitlyn Burford and Julie Kalil Schutten, “Internatural Activists and the ‘Blackfish Effect’: Contemplating Captive Orcas’ Protest Rhetoric through a Coherence Frame,” Frontiers (2016), www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2016.00016/full.
  10. Melissa Cronin, “5 Reasons Why SeaWorld’s Orca Breeding Program Is Seriously Bad News,” Thedodo (2014), https://www.thedodo.com/5-reasons-why-seaworlds-orca-b-531056663.html.
  11. “Former Orca Trainer For SeaWorld Condemns Its Practices,” (2015), https://www.npr.org/2015/03/23/394730076/former-orca-trainer-for-seaworld-condemns-its-practices.
  12. Melissa Cornin, “5 Reasons Why SeaWorld’s Orca Breeding Program Is Seriously Bad News,” Thedodo (2014), https://www.thedodo.com/5-reasons-why-seaworlds-orca-b-531056663.html.
  13. Vanessa Williams, “Dying to Entertain You,” WDCS, (2001); 3-5. http://www.wdcs.org/submissions_bin/orcareport.pdf.
  14. Vanessa Williams, “Dying to Entertain You,” WDCS, (2001); 3-5. http://www.wdcs.org/submissions_bin/orcareport.pdf.

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107 comments

  • Eloy Cruz

    I have read and watched multiple documentaries about this issue concerning the way that killer whales are kept in captivity. Learned a lot about the way that killer whales are treated and how they act when in captivity, I was most surprised about the way that the killer whales harm themselves when in captivity and I think that people who are against big companies mistreating the animals can further use this as a point in their argument to shut down these big companies. Great read!

  • Mara Martinez

    This article breaks my heart really. I have never really enjoyed Sea World due to the effects it has on the animals. I truly support the fact that they try to help some of the animals that have been harmed, turtles, dolphins, etc. But removing them from captivity and making them live in a tiny tank without any sight of being let free again just isn’t fair. These orcas are so beautiful, one time on my trip to Boston I went whale watching and it was literally the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life and I wish I could go back and do it again. The poor orcas in captivity are living the worst life possible and deserve better.

  • Cassandra Sanchez

    Orcas are beautiful creatures that should be left in their natural habitat. In a way I am surprised yet not surprised at the fact that after all this aggression caused by captivity and all these incidents that have occurred why haven’t humans left them alone and avoided this conflict? It bothers me how humans care more about money rather than taking care of the environment around us and preserving the beauty nature has to offer.

  • Jose Maria Llano Aranalde

    This article does a great job explaining the difference in behavior and health of a captive orca and wild orcas. It’s sad to see this animals suffer like this. I understand that Sea World and other theme parks have orcas to teach us and to show us this great animals. However I don’t think that its natural the way they treat them like puppets. Making them do tricks and that sort of thing. Studies show that orcas don’t respond well to this type of environment. I doing think that they should be allowed to hold orcas captive in this way anymore.

  • Jake Mares

    Like many other comments, this article takes me back to when I visited Sea World with my grandma many years ago. Watching Shammoo hit people in the splash zone is one of my fondest childhood memories. If I had only known the issues appearing behind the scenes. Through the well-laid points in this article, I feel that Sea World should definitely reform their security of these animals to provide a more natural environment.

  • Brianna Trevino

    Orcas are beautiful creatures and were not meant to be locked away in a cage for the public view and gratification. We have been given signs of what they were doing was not a good idea after successfully capturing the first orca Wanda which leads to her committing suicide in less than two days. Studies have also shown that orcas out in the wild show no tooth wear, no unhealthy fin collapse, and no communication which leads to dangerous behavior. Even after all of these results why are orcas still being showed cases like it’s a circus.

  • Margaret Maguire

    I think marine life is so cool, I took a marine biology class in high school and I loved it. This article is really intriguing to me. I had no idea that the first orca captured killed themselves in less than two days, that is so sad. I knew that whales and dolphins from different areas had different ways of communicating but I didn’t know that the language barrier could turn them violent. I also had no idea that the orcas in captive had dental problems which is interesting and terrible.

  • Roberto Rodriguez

    This article was great and very powerful especially the story of Wanda, that was something that really stuck with me. Some of the statistics that were presented were awfully eye-opening, specifically the statistic of the percentage of orcas in the wild that suffer from dorsal fin collapse in the wild. There is a lot to debate when we as humans try to admire the beauty of other life on this planet. It is a really difficult thing that I have thought about a lot. While reading this article, part of me said they need to be free, but another part of me said that having a video/picture of a lion is not the same as seeing one with your own eyes. I remember the first time that I ever saw a sting ray at the aquarium, it was just awe-inspiring and it really sparked my love for animals. I would not want any kid in the future to be robbed from that special feeling someone gets by just seeing their favorite animal in real life, right in front of them. After reading this article and reading about how intelligent they are, it makes me wonder why I do not see as much outrage over the captivation of dolphins? They live in pods like orcas, are free-spirited, exhibit emotions and are arguably smarter than orcas. Dolphins have a brain to body mass ratio that is only second to humans, so why does it seem like we only talk about orcas? Is it because orcas have killed people and dolphins haven’t? we should not wait for something tragic to happen and there is no excuse to hold such an incredible creature hostage.

  • Isabella Torres

    When I was young, I distinctly remember going to SeaWorld and being so excited to see the show put on by the Orcas and their trainers. At this point in my life, I was obviously oblivious to the fact that these creatures were suffering and that they definitely did not belong in captivity. It is so sad to know that despite how horrible it is for these whales to be forced into captivity, humans care more about entertainment than allowing them to happily live their natural lives in the ocean. This article was very informative, especially when it came to the negative physical and mental effects the Orcas experience as well as how distinctly different life in captivity is from the ocean. There is no way to justify keeping killer whales locked up like this.

  • Emmanuel Diaz

    This is one of many articles speaking upon animal captivity and quite frankly the cons of animal captivity outweigh what we as humans see as pros. Yes we see these animals and how beautiful they are, but who are we to take them away from their homes and try to bend their nature for our own selfishness. Instead of capturing these animals and bring them to us, why don’t we take ourselves to them. We have technology that isn’t costly, to achieve this and instead of keeping the animals after rehabilitation we send them home and keep a watch to make sure they are healthy. for examples like submarines or boat rides, and safaris and explorations. There are many substitutes to see the natural world without taking it away from where it belongs. This change effects the animals such as the emotions, feelings, and mental states such as the orcas in the article above. They cause damage to themselves because of the stress they feel and the depression that occurs. Just as we experience home sickness, and low points in our health, these animals also feel the same.

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