Captured from the wild:
Many captive orcas were born and bred in captivity, but this was not always the case. Beginning the in the 1960s, orcas have been caught for entertainment display. One of the most infamous was the mass capture in Penn Cove, Washington. On August 8, 1970, a total of seven whales were taken from L pod (one of the resident orca pods), while 5 died in the process. Among the captures, Lolita (Tokitae) is the last remaining survivor.
The Icelandic coast has also been the site of orca captures in the 1970s and 1980s, with Tilikum and Keiko (of Free Willy fame) being some of the more notable captives. Even today, orcas are still being wild-caught in Russian waters for sale to marine parks in Russia and China as their captive markets continue to grow in popularity.
Aggressive Behavior:
While there are virtually no documented attacks of humans by orcas in the wild, in captivity there have been four deaths and numerous other “incidents”. Tilikum, of Blackfish fame, was deemed responsible for three of those deaths. While it is impossible to say why these acts take place, the stress of captivity is thought to play a significant role.
Captive orcas also display aggression towards each other, as well as self-destructive behavior. Rake marks and injuries inflicted are often observed on captive orcas, while it is also well-documented that captive marine mammals engage in harmful stereotypic behaviors such as gnawing on tank walls or gates.
Health Concerns:
At least 160 orcas have died in captivity, even more if stillbirths are counted. However even among the survivors, health issues are abound. Most notably are the dorsal fin collapse in male orcas, as well as tooth damage in captive orcas. It is thought that male dorsal fin collapse is the result of the orcas’ inability to swim in straight lines and develop musculature that would be common when swimming in the open ocean.
Severe dental issues present themselves in almost all captive orcas, who often chew on bars or walls out of frustration. To prevent infection, their teeth are drilled and left unfilled, requiring daily flushing and sometimes antibiotic treatment. When those orcas become ill, they may be resistant to antibiotics due to those regular treatments. Resistant strains of pneumonia and other infections have been the cause of death for numerous captive orcas.
Breeding for Profit:
Orcas do not thrive in captive conditions, yet there are at least 60 orcas in captivity around the world today. The majority are the product of captive breeding, which marine parks actively pursue in order to increase their supply of entertainers. Female orcas in captivity have been impregnated at ages as young as 8, while in the wild the average age for reproduction is 15. Females are impregnated repeatedly, not allowing for a normal period after giving birth to raise their calf. Calves and mothers are separated, with calves being transported to other facilities, even though in the wild they may have remained together for life. As inbreeding among remaining captive orcas becomes more common (Tilikum fathered at least 21 orcas in captivity), orcas suffer from stillbirth or miscarriage. One orca was mated with her own son, which would not take place in the wild. Captive mothers have been documented rejecting or even attacking their own calf.
With 🐾
Charlie
Source: www.dolphinproject.com
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