Killer Whales In Captivity

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Killer Whales, at Sea World in particular, have gained a lot of attention in the eyes of the public. Over the years, Sea World’s interaction with Orcas have made headlines for both positive and negative events. The overall well-being of the animals held in captivity is not only an issue for the ones used for entertainment purposes. The environment’s conditions takes a major toll on the animals’ well-being as well. These conditions include, concrete tanks, artificially salinated and chlorinated water, and often times, the Orcas are kept in solidary tanks. “It is an inherent characteristic of wild things to be free. . . In almost all cases, the denial of this inherent characteristic involves stress, frustration, anxiety and even aggression.” (Smith) This talked about frustration, anxiety and aggression is apparent in the vast majority of Sea World’s animals. …show more content…
(Smith) These changes affect the whale’s overall well-being because they cause the animals to act in an obscure manner. Whales in captivity have been known to try and beach themselves, throw their bodies into the tanks walls until injury and cause injuries to other animals creating the need for isolation in solidary tanks. The behaviors often derive from the fact that the whales in captivity are from different pod and different areas of the ocean. Each whale has different genes and ways in which they