Orcas in Captivity

As I set my hand on the thick glass wall of an aquarium, I saw a glorious creature masked in black and white swimming toward me, gliding delicately through the water. Though my thoughts brimmed with awe, a part of me recognized the wild beast hidden underneath its charming looks.

According to National Geographic, orcas, also known as killer whales, are toothed whales in the oceanic dolphin family and the largest yet to exist. Since 1965, an ongoing dispute over the ethical considerations of orcas in captivity has continued, and the world split into two sides — those who supported the idea and those against it.

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has reported that placing orcas in aquariums deprives them of their right to live freely in their natural habitats, arguing that aquariums do not replicate the vast ocean they deserve to live in. Additionally, this robs them of exhibiting their natural behaviors, such as hunting, traveling long distances, and socializing in pods.

National Geographic has also expressed disapproval of orcas in captivity, noting the conservation issues caused by the treatment of orcas in marine parks. One such issue is the declining health of orcas caused by the stress of being confined, placing the lives of each and every one of them constantly at risk.

Nonetheless, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) promotes alternatives to educate people about orcas and marine life, encouraging marine parks to endorse accountable eco-tourism and research to promote education about marine life to the public. These are only a few alternatives that would be more effective, as creatures as brilliant as orcas should not merely entertain the public for profit..

On the other hand, despite the many accusations, SeaWorld, a company retaining the most orcas, defended its name when inquired about the lifespan of orcas in their captivity, reasoning that the lifespan of orcas under their care would be identical to those in the wild. Furthermore, SeaWorld has stated that the orcas in their care have been an approach to conserving them, asserting that they have spent an additional $10 million on research regarding orcas. Regardless of the 110 press releases from PETA regarding their criticism of the company keeping orcas in captivity, Joel Manby, the CEO of SeaWorld, stated that they have positively changed the public's view on orcas.

As marine parks greatly enhance the world economy, numerous argue that releasing all orcas from captivity would harshly impact all marine park trainers no matter where they are, as well as a country's tourism due to many tourists traveling all across the globe to see an orca up close. A marine park acquires revenue from tickets, booths, merchandise, and many others, utilizing the money to support fundraisers that assist the marine ecosystem and, therefore, aid the orcas in the wild.

The feud over whether or not it is ethical to keep orcas in captivity has multiple factors and reasonings from different sides, each having its evidence and discouraging us from overshadowing any explanation. Organizations like PETA stress ethical and conservation concerns, emphasizing the deprivation of natural behaviors and the risk to orcas' lives in marine parks, and National Geographic showcases the conservation challenges caused by captivity. Concurrently, the HSUS stimulates alternative education approaches, and SeaWorld claims that its procedures contribute to orca preservation and studies. This matter has divided the public, with economic benefits against ethical concerns, creating an argument about the balance between entertainment and education against the health of these orcas.