Should Orcas (Killer Whales) be kept Captive?

[MyOwnDrum]

I'm sure you all heard of the trainer killed by the Orca at Sea World in Florida.

What do you think? Is it okay to capture and keep these animals captive to entertain people? They live over 60 years in the wild, but they do poorly in captivity, rarely making it to 20.

I argue that no Orca should ever be captured again. Ever since I went to Sea World in 6th grade, I've always been opposed to keeping these huge, intelligent animals in small tanks. It's inhumane and cruel. I hated the Killer Whale show because it was cruel.

 

[CrusaderRabbit08]

No, they shouldn't be held captive like that. It's speaks poorly to the humanity of mankind.

 

[Middleground]

I agree. Let me add wild animals in circuses, too.

 

[apdst]

Looks like that killer whale got tired of being a trick pony. Go figger.

 

[MyOwnDrum]

Looks like that killer whale got tired of being a trick pony. Go figger.

He behaved like a wild orca would. They grab penguins and seals off the ice and dispatch them. Those are their instincts.

Who wouldn't go crazy when cooped up like that, anyways? The whole thing is horrible and incredibly cruel.

 

[LaMidRighter]

I think for educational purposes or the scientific. Maybe even entertainment as long as the creature has sufficient allocations to be itself. Sea World pens these animals up with little room, If they could do a man-made lagoon where the creature could be more in line with it's instincts I think it's a good compromise.

 

[Scarecrow Akhbar]

Yes, of course. Trained sea skunks are huge money makers.

 

[MyOwnDrum]

I think for educational purposes or the scientific. Maybe even entertainment as long as the creature has sufficient allocations to be itself. Sea World pens these animals up with little room, If they could do a man-made lagoon where the creature could be more in line with it's instincts I think it's a good compromise.

What are they educating children about, cruelty to animals? After the Orca show they can take them on a tour of a pig farm and a slaughterhouse, just to round out their educational experience. :doh

 

[Scarecrow Akhbar]

I'm sure you all heard of the trainer killed by the Orca at Sea World in Florida.

What do you think? Is it okay to capture and keep these animals captive to entertain people? They live over 60 years in the wild, but they do poorly in captivity, rarely making it to 20.

I argue that no Orca should ever be captured again. Ever since I went to Sea World in 6th grade, I've always been opposed to keeping these huge, intelligent animals in small tanks. It's inhumane and cruel. I hated the Killer Whale show because it was cruel.

You should have seen the tank they kept them in before San Diego Sea World opened it's "Shamu Stadium". If you're familiar with the set up, they used to be kept in what is now the Dolphin Show tank.

Hey, the whales are fed, pampered, and we even throw them the occasional trainer to play with.

 

[Middleground]

Yes, of course. Trained sea skunks are huge money makers.

How much do they pay the star of the show, I wonder? If Sea World gets say $5 million for their Orca shows, how much do the Orcas make? :2wave:

 

[The Mark]

How much do they pay the star of the show, I wonder? If Sea World gets say $5 million for their Orca shows, how much do the Orcas make? :2wave:

5-10 5-day-old fish...

 

[MyOwnDrum]

How much do they pay the star of the show, I wonder? If Sea World gets say $5 million for their Orca shows, how much do the Orcas make? :2wave:

They get their term of imprisonment cut short by an early death.

 

[Scarecrow Akhbar]

How much do they pay the star of the show, I wonder? If Sea World gets say $5 million for their Orca shows, how much do the Orcas make? :2wave:

Hey, a hundred pounds of fish each day isn't peanuts.


It's fish.

 

[Scarecrow Akhbar]

The United States Congress should shelve all discussion of Messiah Care until the Shamu-Crisis is over!

 

[Ikari]

What are they educating children about, cruelty to animals? After the Orca show they can take them on a tour of a pig farm and a slaughterhouse, just to round out their educational experience. :doh

pfft. Make them do it themselves! When I was a kid, I had to spend the summers on my grandma's farm in WI. While it was mostly a dairy farm, she raised other animals as well, mostly for meat. One such animal was the pig. When male pigs reach a certain age, they have to be castrated; and I got the job of doing it sometimes. And when they were ready for eating, well had to put them down and slaughter the carcass. And save the blood...for some of the more disgusting menu items (like blood pudding, which believe me is nothing close to pudding!). They had chickens which we would use for eggs/meat and had to slaughter/pluck them ourselves. Nothing wrong with learning where your food comes from.

 

[LaMidRighter]

What are they educating children about, cruelty to animals? After the Orca show they can take them on a tour of a pig farm and a slaughterhouse, just to round out their educational experience. :doh

The last part I conceded that the area should be as natural as possible, including roaming room and resembling a inlet or lagoon, can be manmade or natural. Orcas have a massive educational value, the idea is to take the inhumane elements out of it.

 

[Middleground]

The last part I conceded that the area should be as natural as possible, including roaming room and resembling a inlet or lagoon, can be manmade or natural. Orcas have a massive educational value, the idea is to take the inhumane elements out of it.

What is the education value to a child watching a whale do tricks?

 

[Scarecrow Akhbar]

What is the education value to a child watching a whale do tricks?

Their fascination with the animal the encourages to learn more about not only sea skunks but other aspects of the marine environment.

 

[LaMidRighter]

What is the education value to a child watching a whale do tricks?

Not tricks, their particular habits. I'm not saying just flips and tailstands, I mean how they hunt, their behaviors, interactions, etc. etc.

 

[Middleground]

Not tricks, their particular habits. I'm not saying just flips and tailstands, I mean how they hunt, their behaviors, interactions, etc. etc.

So how can that be accomplish in an unnatural habitat??? The way whales do things and interract in captivity is completely different than in the wild.

 

[Vader]

I'm sure you all heard of the trainer killed by the Orca at Sea World in Florida.

What do you think? Is it okay to capture and keep these animals captive to entertain people? They live over 60 years in the wild, but they do poorly in captivity, rarely making it to 20.

I argue that no Orca should ever be captured again. Ever since I went to Sea World in 6th grade, I've always been opposed to keeping these huge, intelligent animals in small tanks. It's inhumane and cruel. I hated the Killer Whale show because it was cruel.

The people that work with these animals know the risks. Orcas are dangerous and those who work with them should be aware of it.

 

[Scarecrow Akhbar]

Not tricks, their particular habits. I'm not saying just flips and tailstands, I mean how they hunt, their behaviors, interactions, etc. etc.

Oh.

You mean we should feed Shamu more trainers when the audience is watching.

 

[LaMidRighter]

Oh.

You mean we should feed Shamu more trainers when the audience is watching.

You roll the dice you take your chances. Certain creatures natures can be dangerous for humans, much like Russian Roulette.

 

[Scarecrow Akhbar]

So how can that be accomplish in an unnatural habitat??? The way whales do things and interract in captivity is completely different than in the wild.

So you're saying we should ban zoos.

Nice.

Or...what's the expense of maintaining the breeding population of zebras, using natural grazing, to feed a pride of lions?

 

[Scarecrow Akhbar]

You roll the dice you take your chances. Certain creatures natures can be dangerous for humans, much like Russian Roulette.

I'm not the one calling for the end of the Shamu Show. Those trainers view their job as the best damn thing that ever happened to them. They know the risks, they know they're not in true control when they get in the water with those animals, and they're not going to give up on their chance to ride a whale tomorrow because of one cranky whale ate a co-worker a few days ago.

So if they're willing to take the risk for the sake of the rush, who am I to tell them no? The whales are just animals, chattel property, to be done with as the owner wishes, no different than cows, except there's no market for Orca Cheese.