Orcas In Captivity Essay

In the past fifty years or so orcas have been taken from the wild and kept in captivity to breed, perform, and entertain the public. Despite the increased popularity of captive killer whales, there are very few laws set in place to protect these large, intelligent creatures. Society as a whole needs to decide the level of responsibility and consideration we owe orcas that we keep captive. The decision whether to continue to capture wild orcas and contain them for our benefits lies with the public. The argument of keeping killer whales in captivity has two well-supported sides will valid cases. Public opinion on the captivity of orcas has shifted, especially in the last five years. Recently, many new modifications and changes have been made

Traditional use of killer whales was purely for entertainment and money making and now they are used for research, education, and gathering support for conservation. The claim that killer whales are useful in conservation methods is not always true. Orcas are believed to have various populations or subspecies. In the United States, there is only one orca population, Southern Resident orca, that is endangered. (Banse T) Aquariums and marine parks that claim they are aiding conservation efforts need to focus on developing more explicit reintroduction plans for the species they house. (Minteer BA) The programs should help maintain wild populations that are endangered or threatened. The major issue with keeping orcas in captivity is their apparent intelligence and social cognition. After considering all of the research and behavioral observation conducted with orca’s, captivity is not a morally correct practice. It is unethical to keep intelligent, complex social beings such as orcas in

The capturing of wild orcas to fill aquariums and marine parks began in the early 1960’s. The methods and equipment used to capture these large creatures varied greatly and it wasn’t until the end of the 1960’s that whale collectors perfected their seizure methods. (Henn C) Concern from the public didn’t make waves until the mid-1970s when people really started to see how complex orcas really are. (Henn C) Killer whales have the second largest marine mammal brain, weighing around fifteen pounds. (Spear K) Orcas large brain size and diverse behavior and vocal capabilities all indicate a high level of intelligence. (Anderson R) Killer whales have passed the mirror test signifying they have some level of self-awareness. (Anderson R) The killer whale’s ability to develop friendships and possible empathize also indicates a certain level of social cognition. (Anderson R) Additionally, orcas have diversified hunting methods and “cultures” that can be passed on to new generations. (Spear K) Recently, a female captive orca in France named Wikie was taught to mimic human speech. (Kantor A) This groundbreaking discovery indicates that orcas have the ability to vocally imitate sounds and may explain the different dialects found across killer whale subspecies. (Kantor A) (ADD detail as to why orcas are complex). (complicated communication between their species, learned