The Fate of Captive Orcas

[damnedifIknow]

Killer whales, more properly known as orcas, have been kept in captivity since 1961, helpless victims of a blatantly commercial experiment which has seen dozens of wild orcas plucked from their families and forced to live in artificial social groupings which bear scant resemblance to their natural order."

There are currently (June 2015) a total of 56 orcas held in captivity (21 wild-captured plus 35 captive-born) in at least 14 marine parks in 8 different countries."

At least 148 orcas have been taken into captivity from the wild since 1961 (including Pascuala and Morgan).

127 of these orcas are now dead.
In the wild, male orcas live to an average of 30 years (maximum 50-60 years) and 46 years for females (maximum 80-90 years).
At least 161 orcas have died in captivity, not including 30 miscarried or still-born calves.
SeaWorld holds 24 orcas in its three parks in the United States and owns (at least) a further four at Loro Parque in Spain (ownership of Adan and Morgan not verified). At least forty-four orcas have died at SeaWorld."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=UUzPEqF9aNNrZ14oqbQmstVg&t=30&v=2-dEC3p4xDw

http://us.whales.org/wdc-in-action/fate-of-captive-orcas

[PatrickforO]

1. Yeah I watched that documentary. I will tell you this:

I will never visit Sea World or any park like it again.

[damnedifIknow]

2. The collapsed dorsal fin is what really got to me

Most captive whales have this type of fin but in the wild it is rare for this to occur. Stress from being held captive? They should all be released.

[TDale313]

3. Those Seaworld "We love our whales" PR commercials make me ill.

This is not a healthy or happy situation for these incredible creatures.

[SusanCalvin]

4. Activates my middle-finger reflex

every time I see it.

[HassleCat]

5. Dolphins, too

Dolphins and pilot whales are also held captive to entertain the tourists. They look bored as hell. Stick to fish, Sea World. They don't get bored and restless in captivity.