Orcas In Captivity
SeaWorld keeps orcas in captivity in small tanks. However, this allows children to be inspired by the amazing orcas.
So, should orcas be rehabilitated to a sanctuary or taken back to the wild? Or should they stay in captivity?
Orcas should be released
Side Score: 12
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Should Stay in Captivity
Side Score: 8
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Orcas don't do well in captivity and it tremendously impacts their health negatively. http://www.seaworldofhurt.com/features/ I suppose if it was a rehabed animal that, due to injury or other problem, wouldn't survive in the wild, that would be acceptable. But fully hale adults should not be held just for our entertainment. Side: Orcas should be released
Do some research first. Orcas are held in tanks smaller than they are long, which disables their ability to dive. At SeaWorld, orcas have drooped over dorsal fins, signifying an unhealthy whale. "Life is harsh, get over it". Okay, after you are locked up in a cage the size of a bathroom for 30 years, tell me about it. Side: Orcas should be released
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What awful thing did they do to us to cause them to be in jail their whole life? I have the answer! Nothing. Nothing at all. However, I don't think we should just drop them off and wish them the best of luck. Seaworld or whatever is going to have to take time to get them use have they will live. Side: Orcas should be released
Killer whales are smart enough that they know they are in captivity. Reasons to agree: 1. Killer whales, or orcas, have the second-biggest brains among all ocean mammals, weighing as much as 15 pounds. 2. Killer whales are able to learn local dialects. 3. Killer whales are able to teach one another specialized methods of hunting and pass on behaviors that can persist for generations -- longer possibly than seen with any other species except humans. Side: Orcas should be released
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Why should Orcas (in captivity) be released back into the wild? They have better lives in captivity. Think about it; no predators, a steady food source, a simulated environment which is exactly like the animal's natural environment, and other members of the animal's species with it for "socialization". Animals in captivity such as orcas, have a good life. As a comparison, think about chickens. Chickens are bred to die. During their short life, they are pumped full of stimulants, vitamins, and nutrients to get them ready for slaughter and consumption. But nobody cares when they're enjoying a delicious chicken burger do they? Life is harsh, get over it. (WARNING: LINK LEADS TO GRAPHIC DOCUMENTARY ON ANIMAL-SLAUGHTER HOUSES) Side: Should Stay in Captivity
Do some research first. Orcas are held in tanks smaller than they are long, which disables their ability to dive. At SeaWorld, orcas have drooped over dorsal fins, signifying an unhealthy whale. "Life is harsh, get over it". Okay, after you are locked up in a cage the size of a bathroom for 30 years, tell me about it. Side: Orcas should be released
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Think about this: they are held in cages that are too small for what they need to survive. They will have to perform for many people, which I'm betting they don't want to do. And you are wrong about socialization. Most zoos are only going to have 1 whale, were in the ocean they travel in groups of 20 to 100 other whales. A long life for a whale in captivity is 4.5 five years. Read this article and see if you still feel the same way: Side: Orcas should be released
We can't stop all cruelty to animals. But their is a linkage problem. Just because we can't stop animals from being cruel to each other, doesn't mean that we shouldn't stop being cruel to them. For instances Killer Whales and cats torture their food, before they kill it. This is just the same argument all over again: two wrongs don't make a right. We have books. We can read Plato. We should do better. Side: Orcas should be released
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I also think that ocras should remain captivated. It's a much safer environment. I'm not exactly sure how large the tanks are but I imagine seaworld has provided them enough space to live in. They are an important part of the ocean but Seaworld is only taking a few. Side: Should Stay in Captivity
Orcas in the wild have an average life expectancy of 30 to 50 years. The average age of death for orcas who have died at SeaWorld is 13 years old. The fact that orcas have killed 3 people since 1991 in captivity, and never been known to kill anyone in the wild is good evidence to support the belief that Orcas are stressed and “unhappy”. All captive adult male orcas have collapsed dorsal fins—however, in the wild, it rarely ever happens and is a sign of an injured or unhealthy orca. SeaWorld confines orcas, who could swim up to 100 miles a day in the wild, to small tanks. Whales can’t swim away from a fight in captivity because of the small quarters. Orcas are bored in captivity and gnaw on their iron bars and concrete walls. Side: Orcas should be released
So long as their confinement doesn't effect the Orca's natural ecosystem, isn't exorbitantly expensive, and they aren't caused unnecessary suffering, I'm not aware of any reason to not keep a low percentage of the population of Orcas in captivity. Side: Should Stay in Captivity
There have been records in the past of SeaWorld not providing the orcas ample amount of food, and being in a tank thousands of times smaller than the ocean to me qualifies as effecting "the orca's natural ecosystem". The tanks often have chipped paint which the orcas eat. Side: Orcas should be released
There have been records in the past of SeaWorld not providing the orcas ample amount of food, If this is true, my position is that should be corrected, and those responsible punished. being in a tank thousands of times smaller than the ocean If this in some way causes harm, it should be corrected. to me qualifies as effecting "the orca's natural ecosystem". Sorry, I wasn't clear. I was referencing the natural ecosystem of wild Orcas. For example, if there aren't enough of them to keep their population healthy, I would be apposed to taking any more from the wild, and would encourage those holding any Orcas in captivity to release them until the population is healthy. The tanks often have chipped paint which the orcas eat. Again, if this is true it should be corrected. The current conditions of their captivity is irrelevant to whether they should be held in captivity at all, I am only addressing the latter. Side: Should Stay in Captivity
In conflict resolution classes, leaders are taught to not just focus on the arguments that they give but that you have to understand the hidden motivation of both sides. That is why I think we should have a separate debate for "Likely motivation of those who agree" and "Likely motivation of those who disagree". We should also brainstorm likely "Shared interest between those who disagree" and "opposing interest" of those who agree and disagree. Then, when you click on an interest you would be taken to a new webpage that lets you debate about the interest validity. You would post reasons to strengthen or weaken the belief that the interest is valid or is not. To that end I suggest the following interest: Likely motivation of those who agree that it is wrong to captivate Killer Whales: 1. The desire to live morally consistent life: if it is wrong to imprison innocent human lives, it is wrong to imprison other animals that desire freedom. Likely motivation of those who disagree: 1. The desire to expose their kids to animal experiences. 2. The desire to take their kids to see animals do tricks. It is important to brainstorm likely shared interest, in order to come up with elegant solutions that meet the valid interest of both sides. I would say: 1. The desire to improve biodiversity. You also have to brainstorm "Opposing interest of those who agree & disagree" so you can know what you really need to address in order to stop the debate. This is what I come up with: 1. Concern for animal freedom 2. Concern for or belief that animals can hold complex: concepts, emotions, or desires like the desire for self determination outside of the desire to compete for dominance, food, or territory. 3. Willingness to extend ethics to sub creatures. To get back to the real debate I would say that I believe the desire to expose their kids to animal experiences is a valid desire. The only thing is if we want to be ethical more than we want to have those experiences. I also think that we can use a website similar to this one to run governments. In order to do that we would have to brainstorm the likely cost and benefits of each action. I guess a "happiness benefit" of releasing the killer whales would be: The whales will be happier in the wild. On the other hand if we let them go: Fewer people will be exposed to killer whales, and benefit from the happiness of exploring different species. Also, I think: There is a benefit of humans being able to maintain relationships, like pets, to other animals. The original dogs and cats might not have made good pets, but more interspecies relationships are good. As you can see I take these debates very seriously, and think we could actually make public policy with a website like this, if we made some minor tweaks. Side: Should Stay in Captivity
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