Animal Cruelty and Captivity
Zoos, aquariums, and circuses do not treat animals with respect and kindness. They inevitably suffer from disease, pain, starvation, and fear so they will perform seamlessly for the public. Owners force their pets to carry out pointless tricks and performances and are almost always deprived of their normal behavior (Aquariums and Marine Parks).Workers within the facilities that the animals occupy rip them from their natural habitat. The wild animals will not live their full lifespan due to the mental and physical abuse that comes from the captive place they reside in (Aquariums and Marine Parks). Before performing, show masters inject their animals with various drugs because their natural behavior interferes with
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The two mammals communicate and navigate with one another by echolocation. When placed in an arena with restricted walls the vibrations from their calls bounce off the pool’s glass and drive the sea animal insane (Aquariums and Marine Parks). Being in a small pool or tank impairs the animal’s mental and physical health. Some orcas break their teeth on the metal bars containing them in hopes of chewing their way to freedom (Aquariums and Marine Parks). This often leads to oral hygiene issues and can end in the death or serious illness. Deaths and sickness in marine parks and aquariums are common occurrences that are frequently neglected and overlooked. Orcas that usually live for hundreds of years only live a few due to the consequences of the tight spaces, synthetic food, and punishments. Animals endure severe trauma from the confined spaces which drive them insane, gruesome attempts at escaping, and harsh punishments that make them fearful (Aquariums and Marine …show more content…
The fin is necessary for keeping the whale upright and stable. It will fold over and unusable for the whale if it suffers from this condition. Dehydration, lack of exercise, and unnatural diets cause this condition and is extremely painful for the whale (Killer Whale Dorsal Fin Collapse). Collapse may also be caused by the lack of swimming. Killer whales are known to swim vast distances every day and are constantly in motion. The water in the ocean provides pressure and keeps the tissues inside the fin healthy and upright. Dorsal fins may collapse due to the orca spending most of its time on the surface of the water. The whale is not able to swim far distances or dive too deep, therefore there is no pressure or water support on the fin (Killer Whale Dorsal Fin Collapse). The results of the collapsed fin are deadly to the fish if not treated with immediate care (Killer Whale Dorsal Fin Collapse). Zoos destroy natural life for animals. (Smith 1). Zoo animals become lonely with their surroundings because they are kept within certain boundaries their whole life. Animals that naturally walk vast miles every day are not able to. For example, elephants walk up to thirty miles in a day, bears are active for nearly eighteen hours, and lions love to explore and hunt. In the subsumed area, the animals are not able to freely live as if they would in their natural habitat. The animals
Out of the 156 whales they have taken into captivity from the wild, 129 are dead. Including orcas bred within SeaWorld, at least 165 have died in their facilities (Schelling). Another falsehood SeaWorld claims is that collapsed dorsal fins are completely normal and common of all male orcas. It is actually quite rare to find in the wild, while every single one of their male whales has a collapsed dorsal fin (“8 Shocking Facts…”). SeaWorld also guarantees that they never separate a calf from its mother and even have posted a picture of a baby and its mother as proof. What they didn’t tell the public was that soon after that picture was posted they shipped the calf off to Spain alone to a different park. A past trainer even said that there had been at least 19 separations of mother and calf that he knew of at his location. All of these factors previously stated added up have a large influence on the whales mentally. Many whales are afflicted by psychosis and anxiety and in turn are given drugs such as Valium to keep them performing in shows. There have been various occasions, often swept under the rug by SeaWorld and away from the public eye, where the drugs didn’t work enough (Schelling). There
The mental and physical stress affects the whale’s bodies, which leads them to lash out in different ways. Expressed in the “Blackfish” documentary, Tilikum shows his stress in different ways, from breaking teeth to three deaths of trainers. Tilikum, in attempt to manage stress, chewed on the concrete and metal walls of his tank, shattering his teeth. Many of the Orca’s teeth end up being drilled, hollow, or fractured. Tilikum eventually turned to a different way of relieving stress. The first occurrence happened in February 21st, 1991 where Sealand trainer and marine biologist student Keltie Byrne fell into a pool with the holding of three orcas, one including Tikilium. Keltie’s autopsy read that she was drowned by being tossed among the three orcas like a playtoy (“Orca”). The second occurrence happened on July 6th, 1999, a man trespassing through the park named Daniel P. Dukes was found dead across the back of Tilikum one morning when the park was being opened. He was found with many wounds and punctures to his body, his autopsy showed he had a profound death of drowning. The last occurrence happened February 24th, 2010 when Dawn Brancheau, a SeaWorld trainer was pulled into the water by Tilikum, who had her ponytail in his mouth. The death of Dawn Brancheau concluded that she was killed by blunt force trauma and being drowned. “Tilikum (orca)”. By levels of stress being strained, different animals take out stress
Sea World has been known to lie to the public when it comes to giving facts about these killer whales they have captive. One of the things this company claims is that the killer whales actually live longer in their care. According to the website (Sea World of Hurt) this is completely false, killer whales in the wild have a similar life span to humans, they can live from anywhere to 50-100 years. Held captive, these animals hardly live past twenty-five years. In the wild, an orcas dorsal fin is straight which is the way it should be. In captivity, you will mostly see their dorsal fins flopped over or completely collapsed. The reasons as to why their fins become this way is because they simply do not have enough s...
For 50 years SeaWorld has entertained park guests with numerous stunts involving the majestic sea creature, the orca, also referred to as the killer whale, and their human trainers. What the on-lookers don’t see at these shows is what goes on behind the scenes: how the whales got there in the first place, and the conditions in which they are housed.
The orcas’ aggressive tendencies have led to many injuries and even deaths of trainers. SeaWorld’s trainers were trained to perform with and feed the killer whales. The whales are rewarded for each “behavior” they do correctly (Kirby 9). When the amount of fish they are receiving starts to dwindle and they hear the trainers’ hands hitting the bottom of the bucket...
...own to circle its dead for hours until dying itself. It puts its own life on the line when the others in its group is in trouble. The diverse diet also makes it an interesting marine mammal to know about because different types of marine life have a food staple consisting of two or three species. The orcas distinctive white spot above the eye make for good diversion and the conical teeth make for excellent hunting. And although they range in size depending on sex, the fascination with this fair sized marine mammal is immeasurable in size.
Whales living in captivity become aggravated and have been known to take out anger on themselves by self harming. In the pools they live in, metal bars are placed in between the pools to prevent the killer whales from swimming to another pool. On several occurrences, the whales have attempted to bite and break the metal bars. This leaves the whales with broken teeth and a risk of infection. Infections in killer whales can lead to death in many cases. If a whale gets an infection, they have to be taken out of the pool and placed into another pool by themselves to prevent any problems with other killer whales they live with. In many cases, whales with infections need serious care from whale specialists.
Some facts that they tell are: a collapsed dorsal fin is natural, a life span of around thirty to forty years, and that they are getting better health care here. On average, orcas have a lifespan of sixty to seventy years for males and eighty to one hundred years for females. Also, a collapsed dorsal fin is not natural or healthy in the wild. As for health care, because of the shallow pools the orcas get sunburns that the trainers cover up with black zinc oxide which matches their skin tone and hides the burns. For someone who knows the real facts, its easy to see that the animals are suffering more and more everyday.
If you have ever been to Sea World, you may have noticed the orcas’ collapsed dorsal fins. The trainers will tell you that this is normal. While it’s true that all captive adult male orcas have collapsed dorsal fins, in the wild, less than five percent of adult males have this condition. It is caused by their unnatural environment and is the sign of poor health (Rose). In the wild, orcas dive to depths of nearly 200 feet; however, their deepest tank at Sea World is only 40 feet deep. Spending so much time near the water’s surface causes the orcas to have constant sunburn (8 Reasons). Incompatibility among captive orcas leads to bullying and aggressive behavior. Aggressive orcas are known to “rake” their teeth down the side of other orcas causing open wounds. Captive females have been known to act aggressively or even reject their newborns. This behavior is not common in the wild. It may be caused by poor psychological development due to unnatural social grouping
Orcas, or killer whales are majestic giants of the sea. They are actually the largest type of dolphin. They have long black bodies with distinct white patches near their eyes. A killer whale can be up to 32 feet or more in length, and weigh up to 12,000 pounds. Females are a bit smaller, but live longer (Gorman). The name “killer whale” apparently came not because it is a vicious whale, but because it preys on whales. They do not have any natural predators, and they are considered the “top dog” of the ocean. Not even the great white shark stands a chance against these superb killers. “Unlike sharks, killer whales are cautious hunters, sometimes spending hours harassing a 1,000-pound sea lion so it can easily be drowned” (Francis). Orcas use many hunting tactics that are unique to their species, which is what makes them invincible.
Could you imagine being torn apart from your family and stuck in a concrete cage for the rest of your life? Research has shown that orca whales are among the most intelligent creatures on this earth. Many believe orcas to be part of the whale family, however orcas are actually part of the dolphin family. This species differs from any other whale species, as they have large, complex brains, and navigate by using a melon (a structure in their foreheads) to create clicking sounds, otherwise known as sonar. It is believed that these creatures are also among the most social animals, as they travel in large groups of families called pods. Pods can travel hundreds of miles per day, and sometimes dive as deep as 866 ft. Killer whales can be found
...st of these orcas have died of diseases that are not natural to them, these diseases include: chronic kidney disease, chroniccardiovascular failure, septicemia, and intestinal gangrene.
Zoos are an unsuitable environment for wild animals and should, therefore, be abolished. Firstly, zoo animals are kept in a very confined area compared to their vast natural habitat. Secondly, breeding programmes are far less successful than zoos claim. Thirdly, zoo animals are exposed to many diseases and other dangers. Zoo animals are usually kept in very cramped enclosures and do not behave like their wild counterparts.
Health issues occur in these animals and they suffer from inadequate living conditions causing them to live less than they normally would. Orcas suffer from malnutrition, depression, or even develop mental illness. The behavior of these whales are not domesticated and once one becomes irritated or irrational, they will harm nearly anything. Wild animals should stay in the wild, not be kept in a confined
Throughout history, man has captured hundreds of different species of animals. These animals are mostly used for entertainment purposes. Wild animals do not belong in captivity where they are stuck in cages for people to see, and for the companies holding them to make money. They are wild for a reason, because that is where they belong, in the wild where they can be free to do what nature intended.