Orca Captivity at Sea World: April 2014

Monday, April 21, 2014

It Will Happen Again

It Will Happen Again
by Sarah Thompson

Orlando, FL--"Free Tilly", "Boycott SeaWorld", and "It Will Happen Again" read the signs held up by PETA members in front of the infamous aquarium. "Free Tilly", a play on words from the 1993 film Free Willy, was adopted by picketers protesting orca captivity at SeaWorld. The issue was brought to global attention when an experienced trainer by the name of Dawn Brancheau, was killed during a routine "Shamu" performance at SeaWorld Orlando. Tilikum, the orca responsible for her death, is the largest orca in captivity at 22.5 feet long and 12,000 pounds. This seemingly unpredictable display of aggression was just the most recent tragedy resulting from the practice of orca captivity. When in captivity, these mammals are negatively affected in numerous physical and psychological ways. Their trainers are put in danger as well, as they deal with wild and unpredictable creatures unfit for captivity.

Free Tilly!

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For decades experts have argued that it is "entirely inhumane to keep these animals in captivity"(Ketler). However, there are forty-six of these mammals living in this 'entirely inhumane' environment. Major physical and psychological traumas occur as a result of this captive lifestyle. "Life in a shallow concrete tank is greatly impoverished compared to the lives of their free-ranging counterparts" (Jett and Ventre). "Captivity deprives them of those essential elements, leading to chronic stresses that appear as immunodeficiency, ulcers, and hostility," says Howard Garrett of The Orca Network. In a display of aggression, orcas also bite metal grates causing dental damage which can lead to "a host of diseases including valvular heart disease, gingivitis, pneumonia, stroke, and heart attack" (Jeff and Ventre), difficulty eating and often fatal septic infections.

Dental issues as a result of captivity

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"At least forty-four orcas have died at SeaWorld parks, including four within four months in 2010," says Cathy Williamson, the Captivity Program Manager of the Whale and Dolphin Conservation. Dorsal collapse is another indication of their health distress. In the wild, these mammals swim hundreds of miles every day, the force of the water keeping their dorsal fin strong. In captivity, they are forced to remain virtually stagnant with no support on their dorsal fin, it collapses. In the wild, this collapse only occurs to 1% of the orca population, while in captivity 100% succumb to this depressing fate (Jett and Ventre). The diet of the captive orca is substantially lacking in quality and nutritional value. "It is not known how refrigeration and freezing of these fish impact the nutritional quality, nor is it known what long-term health consequences arise from feeding captive orcas food inconsistent with their culture" (Jett and Ventre).

Dorsal collapse

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The 2013 CNN documentary Blackfish proposed that the 2010 tragedy of Dawn Brancheau was a result of Tilikum's years of captivity. According to SeaWorld of Hurt, a PETA organization, this was not the first death that Tilikum had been responsible for: in 1991 while in captivity at SeaLand in British Columbia, trainer Keltie Byrne fell into the water with Tilikum and was dragged to the bottom of the tank repeatedly until she drowned. In 1999, Daniel P. Dukes was found dead in Tilikum's tank at SeaWorld Orlando. Blackfish presents a convincing argument that "Tilikum’s actions were deliberate and that his behavior was a result of the psychological damage of captivity" (Gorman), while SeaWorld argued that the death was an accident. It is important to note that as SeaWorld's 2014 appeal revealed, "a substantial portion of SeaWorld’s killer whale population had at least one reported incident" (SeaWorld of Florida, LLC v. Thomas E. Perez, 2014).

CNN's Blackfish

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Blackfish had a profound impact on its viewers. Saint Michael's College student, Mayrose Gravalec-Pannone reacts by saying the film allowed a "wide range of the public to see the deep psychological damage that humans do to animals in zoos and aquariums for their own enjoyment." Similarly, Danika Gallup, another student at Saint Michael's College agrees that the documentary shows a side of captivity that was previously hidden from the public eye. She recognizes the use of studying these creatures in a rehabilitation setting, but wishes it occurred "in a setting like Yellowstone, where the public can see [orcas] as they exist naturally." Nathaniel Quealy reflects on his time visiting SeaWorld as a child, "the entire time I felt that we were being pushed through a facade. Everything seemed okay on the surface, but I feel like everything behind the scenes was garbage. Every single animal at SeaWorld was putting on an act purely for the people. It just wasn't natural."

Dolphins are Cetaceans

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Weighing in as one of the planet's top three most social and intelligent animals along with the great ape and the elephant, orcas are simply not supported psychologically by the aquariums they inhabit. These three groups of animals also all passed the self-recognition mirror test, indicating a much higher intelligence level than much of the animal kingdom. "The fact is we don't have the facilities to adequately accommodate not only the physical needs, the psychological and social needs of these animals," said Fred Felleman, one of CNN's marine consultants. "Keeping the social animals in what amounts to isolation is bound to cause problems...we respect lions and wolves and wild dogs as fantastic things, but we don't go run into the Serengeti and try to jump on their back"(Couwels and Todd). The incredible intelligence of the orca is precisely why in 2011, the American Association for the Advancement of Science got together as a team of philosophers, conservationists, animal behaviorists, and environmentalists to collectively write the Declaration of Rights for Cetaceans, a call to action asserting their rights and recognition.

The Order, Cetacean

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On May 17th, 2013 the Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests passed legislation that declared all cetaceans (whales, dolphins, porpoises) as non-human persons. A blog titled "Grey Matters" describes orca whales as possessing "human-like qualities including intelligence, language, and an exquisite sense of emotional capability" (Crawford) so it is no wonder India has come to this decision. Although Costa Rica, Croatia, Hungary, and Chile have already banned the general exploitation of these mammals, India is the first country to lawfully recognize their sentience and basic rights. Following India's lead, California put forward the Orca Welfare and Safety Act, a law to ban all performances involving orcas, both public and private. The ten orcas that are currently held captive in the state would be transferred to sanctuaries for rehabilitation so that they may live peacefully in a natural setting.

@phoebedykstra Instagram upload on @OrcaUnited Twitter account

https://twitter.com/OrcaUnited

Captivity keeps orcas from living the life they are meant to live in nature. "We have a responsibility to recognize and respond to these behavioral needs in captive animals," says Steve Smith, director of animal care and facilities at the ECHO Center in Vermont. "Many zoos have opted out of keeping elephants because they cannot commit to the resources that are necessary to maintain elephants properly. Perhaps it's time to think about killer whales in the same light". The question remains, in an age where more and more people acknowledge the standing of cetaceans in society as sentient beings, why do we as a people tolerate the antiquated and slave-like conditions of popular aquariums such as SeaWorld? In order to assure a better quality of life for these unique creatures, their captivity must end.

Works Cited

"30 Years and Three Deaths: Tilikum's Tragic Story - SeaWorld of Hurt."SeaWorld of Hurt. PETA, n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.

Cieply, Michael. "SeaWorld’s Unusual Retort to a Critical Documentary." The New York Times. The New York Times, 18 July 2013. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.

Couwels, John, and Brian Todd. "SeaWorld Trainer Killed by Killer Whale."CNN. Cable News Network, 25 Feb. 2010. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.

Crawford, Lars. "Killer Whales Are Non-Human Persons." Grey Matters. N.p., 7 Dec. 2013. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.

"Declaration of Rights for Cetaceans: Whales and Dolphins." CetaceanRights.org. Whale and Dolphin Conservation, 22 May 2010. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.

Fielding, James. "SeaWorld Whale That 'killed' Three Still Being Used to Breed, Former Worker Claims." Daily Express World RSS. N.p., 17 Nov. 2013. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.

Gallup, Danika. "Interview with Danika Gallup." Personal interview. 13 Apr. 2014.

Garrett, Howard. "Interview with Howard Garrett." E-mail interview. 17 Feb. 2014.

Gorman, James. "Smart, Social and Erratic in Captivity." The New York Times. The New York Times, 29 July 2013. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.

Gravalec-Pannone, Mayrose. "Interview with Mayrose Gravalec-Pannone." Online interview. 15 Apr. 2014.

Smith, Steve. "Interview with Steve Smith." Telephone interview. 15 Apr. 2014.

Ketler, Alanna. "India Declares Dolphins & Whales As ‘Non-Human Persons,’ Dolphin Shows Banned." CollectiveEvolution RSS. N.p., 17 Sept. 2013. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.

Kuo, Vivian. "Orca Trainer Saw Best of Keiko, Worst of Tilikum." CNN. Cable News Network, 01 Jan. 1970. Web. 19 Apr. 2014.

Kuo, Vivian. "SeaWorld Appeal of OSHA Citations Denied." CNN. Cable News Network, 01 Jan. 1970. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.

Quealy, Nathaniel. "Interview with Nathaniel Quealy." Personal interview. 21 Apr. 2014.

SeaWorld of Florida, LLC v. Thomas E. Perez. United States Court of Appeals. 11 Apr. 2014. The American Lawyer.

"SeaWorld Responds to Questions about Captive Orcas, 'Blackfish' Film." CNN. Cable News Network, 01 Jan. 1970. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.

Ventre, Jeffrey, M.D., and John Jett, Ph.D. "Keto and Tilikum Express the Stress of Orca Captivity." The Orca Project. N.p., 20 Jan. 2011. Web. 19 Apr. 2014.

Whitehead, Hal, Lori Marino, Richard C. Connor, R. Ewan Fordyce, Estel Van Der Gucht, Mark D. Uhen, Diana Reiss, Joy S. Reidenberg, Louis M. Herman, Patrick R. Hof, Louis Lefebvre, David Lusseau, Brenda McCowan, Esther A. Nimchinsky, Adam A. Pack, and Luke Rendell. "Cetaceans Have Complex Brains for Complex Cognition." PLOS Biology:. N.p., 15 May 2007. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.

Williamson, Cathy. "Interview with Cathy Williamson." E-mail interview. 18 Feb. 2014.

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

NYT Video

A Complicated Cetacean

Mayrose Gravalec-Pannone- Junior at Saint Michael's College- Reaction to "Blackfish"

How do you think CNN's "Blackfish" has influenced the public opinion of SeaWorld?

I think that the fact that Blackfish was screened at the Sundance Film Festival and that it was made available on Netflix allowed it to have a wider viewership, so I think that the film has been able to get a wide range of the public to see the deep psychological damage that humans do to animals in zoos and aquariums for their own enjoyment.

SeaWorld recently filed an appeal against the new ruling that trainers must be behind a barrier while interacting with the orcas- how do you feel about this law and what do you think the chances of SeaWorld winning the appeal are?

I think that this law is the first step in eventually getting the public to see the inherent dangers to both animals and humans that amusement parks like Sea World pose. However, I think given Sea World's enormous monetary resources it will be able to hire lawyers and lobbyists that will most likely succeed in appealing the law.

What social effects can you imagine the public experiencing if animal captivity ceased to exist? In your opinion, would this be a negative or positive change and why?

I think humans would be forced to take a more active role in experiencing nature and wild animals in their natural habitat. At the end of the film, former Sea World trainers are shown going on a whale watching boat and viewing orcas in their natural habitat, and they were able to derive as much or more enjoyment than guests at Sea World. I definitely think this would be a positive change, since humans are already so far removed from nature and thinking about where animals come from, particularly in the context of farms and meat production.

SeaWorld Responds to Blackfish in NYT

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Interview With Steve Smith-Director of Animal Care & Facilities at ECHO Center, VT

Interview with Steve Smith- Director of Animal Care and Facilities at ECHO Lake Aquarium & Science Center, Vermont

How did you get into your job as director of animal care?

I've been in this field since 1980. I graduated from Purdue University with a degree in Animal Behavior. I volunteered at a zoo in Indiana and saw many things I felt I could improve upon. I've worked with every animal from insects to elephants, at seven different institutions. I've worked with seals, sea lions, dolphins, and beluga whales, but I have never worked with killer whales.

How do you think CNN's "Blackfish" has influenced the public opinion of SeaWorld?

"Blackfish" in general has affected the general public by bring it to the attention of those who might not have been aware of what goes on in captive care.

Do you think "Blackfish"s portrayal was accurate? Why or why not?

I've been in the captive care world all of my life. It's always impacted me to see how animals are affected, if they're adversely affected. I worked in an elephant sanctuary where we let them choose whether or not they wanted to work with us, and rewarded with positive reinforcement. You have to look at the continuum that exists in captivity- there's a way to care for animals that's respectful of each species needs. At the extreme of the continuum, some animals can't be suitably housed and cared for in captivity. In our interactions with the animals, we have a responsibility to sometimes train them to do things to maintain their heath in captive care. Sometimes the training leans more towards entertainment. I question the benefit of training and interactions that are more for entertainment. Some institutions try to justify training for entertainment by coupling it with educational or conservation messages. In spite of those messages, I have to wonder what guests come away with; do they respect the animal and the educational message or do they just remember the dancing animal.

In what physical and/or psychological ways are animals affected by captivity?

Animals outside of their natural environments, sometimes show repeated, stereotypical behaviors when unable to do what they want to do. We have a responsibility to provide suitable quality and quantity of space. Also, the spatial restrictions of captivity can lead to aggression when animals are unable to put distance between other animals in the same captive habitat. We have a responsibility to recognize and respond to these behavioral needs in captive animals. With some animals, that is more easily accomplished. With some animals, it may be impossible. For example, when ECHO first opened, one of the first animals we brought in was the pike. They never settled down, they never acclimated to the captive condition, so we phased them out of our collection plan. Many zoos have opted out of keeping elephants because they cannot commit to the resources that are necessary to maintain elephants properly. Perhaps it's time to think about killer whales in the same light.

What social effects can you imagine the public experiencing if animal captivity ceased to exist? Would this be a positive or negative change?

Animals serve as ambassadors for their species and their environment. This is very important in urban environments. Urban environments serve as leaders for our culture, but they are often the most detached from the natural world. Captivity maintains this important link. If captivity were to disappear, this would have an adverse impact on our understanding of wildlife and therefore diminish the beneficial effect of conservation efforts. When visitors ask questions and want to know more about the species, you can see that you've planted a seed and made a change in a family's mindset.

What are some positive steps that zoos and aquariums could take to improve the quality of life of the captive animals?

It is important to create a an appropriate habitat for the animal in captivity in order to create appreciation for the animal and its environment. Saving a species is almost pointless if we don't have a habitat to put them in. And again, back to that continuum, it's easier to create an appropriate habitat for a tiny frog like a spring peeper than it is for something huge and highly social like an elephant or a killer whale. If an institution doesn't have or want to commit the appropriate resources to support a specific species in captivity, then they need to think about phasing out that species. It is a tough decision, but it may become easier as films like Blackfish are produced and make their impact on zoo and aquarium guests and supporters.

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Danika Gallup- Junior at Saint Michael's College- Reaction to "Blackfish"

Danika Gallup- Junior at Saint Michael's College- Reaction to "Blackfish"

How do you think CNN's "Blackfish" has influenced the public opinion of SeaWorld?

I think it caused a knee-jerk reaction to SeaWorld. Everyone who's seen or heard of "Blackfish" is very against them, but I'm not sure how lasting this change will be.

I think it's a fan-freaking-tastic idea, I don't see any reason whatsoever for trainers to be doing flips off whales, it's just pure fireworks and showing off for the sake of showing off. There's no educational value coming from it, and it can result in really bad things, like death. I don't think their appeal will be successful.

What social effects can you imagine the public experiencing if animal captivity ceased to exist? In your opinion, would this be a negative or positive change and why?

With our educational tools today, from a social aspect, I don't think it would be a problem if animal captivity ceased to exist because you can get information other ways. After "Blackfish", I realized captivity for the sake of captivity is disgusting, and I'd never thought about it that way. I think the captivity for injured or for rehabilitating animals isn't bad, but it should be in a setting like Yellowstone, where the public can see them as they exist naturally.

And Here's Their Official Appeal...

SeaWorld Appeal

SeaWorld's Appeal is Denied

SeaWorld Denial of Appeal

Interview with Cathy Williamson, Captivity Program Manager of WDC

1. How do you think CNN's "Blackfish" has influenced the public opinion of SeaWorld?

It has brought to the attention of millions of people the fact that a household name such as SeaWorld may have significant problems with one of the things it is renowned for doing - display of orcas for public entertainment

2. Do you think "Blackfish"'s portrayal of SeaWorld was accurate? Why or why not?

Yes. It talked about a lot of things groups like WDC have been trying to raise awareness of for many years and it's based on trainer testimony and footage of events

3. SeaWorld recently filed an appeal against the new ruling that trainers must be behind a barrier while interacting with the orcas- how do you feel about this law and what do you think the chances of SeaWorld winning the appeal are?

We support what OSHA is trying to do - address safety concerns for trainers interacting with captive orcas. It's difficult to say whether SeaWorld will win its appeal or not. OSHA has a very good case.

4. In what physical and/or psychological ways are orcas affected by captivity?

Orcas fare particularly poorly in captivity. Captive orcas suffer much lower survival rates than their wild counterparts, with an annual mortality rate which is more than two and half times higher in captivity than in the wild. Furthermore, captive orca survivorship has actually grown worse in the last decade, in spite of any improvements that might have been made in terms of husbandry and veterinary care. Even captive-born orcas have only reached a maximum age of 25 years. In the wild, male orcas live to an average of 30 years (maximum 50-60 years) and females, 46 years (maximum 80-90 years). At least forty-four orcas have died at SeaWorld parks, including four within four months in 2010.

The most common causes of death among orcas in captivity are pneumonia, septicemia and other types of infection. Information is now coming to light about how these lethal infections may be a result of poor dental health caused by gnawing on concrete walls or steel gates due to aggression towards other animals or boredom. These kinds of problem are not seen in wild orcas, nor is another cause of death of some captive orcas which is now being revealed - mosquito borne viruses from mosquito bites suffered as the captive orcas "log" at the pool surface.

Orcas cause physical harm to one another and to their trainers, they live shorter lives than their wild counterparts and they are subject to mental and physical illness and disease not seen in the wild.

5. What social effects can you imagine the public experiencing if animal captivity ceased to exist? In your opinion, would this be a negative or positive change and why?

Zoos and aquaria are popular family activities and without them families would have to seek other forms of entertainment such as responsible wildlife viewing or artificial animal displays such as IMAX, animatronics, dry dive experiences and others. With these kind of displays educating people about whales and dolphins, for example, there may actually be more of an opportunity to educate people about wild whales and dolphins versus seeing a captive whale or dolphin who is a very poor portrayal of their counterparts in the wild. So I think this would be a positive change. And there is so much that can be done with all the fantastic footage and other technologies we have available to us, without the need for live whale and dolphin displays.

6. What are some positive steps SeaWorld could take to improve the quality of life of the captive mammals?

Commit to ending its displays of whales and dolphins and instead investing in sanctuaries that would see them retired from performance and entertainment in a more natural environment or even rehabilitated for release into the wild.
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Cathy Williamson
Captivity programme manager

Interview with Howard of The Orca Network

1. How do you think CNN's "Blackfish" has influenced the public opinion of SeaWorld?

The entire past years exponential increases in viewers of Blackfish, from January 2013 when it was given ecstatic reviews starting with Sundance, to the theatrical runs starting in July, to the airing on CNN in the fall and again in January, and the streaming on Netflix that showed to another 20 million viewers, and now to be shown across western and eastern Europe, Asia and Africa, this film is shifting public perception of the business of holding orcas for display in a circus. SeaWorld is the big leader in that business, and their credibility and authority are rapidly eroding.

2. Do you think "Blackfish"'s portrayal of SeaWorld was accurate? Why or why not?

It did accurately show the sides of the business very few people were aware of, and it amply gave the industry’s self-image as well, although without the self-serving but irrelevant rationalizations.

3. SeaWorld recently filed an appeal against the new ruling that trainers must be behind a barrier while interacting with the orcas- how do you feel about this law and what do you think the chances of SeaWorld winning the appeal are?

For the safety of the trainers it’s a good regulation, but the whales would be better off if trainers could go in the water with them. I don’t think SeaWorld will win the appeal.

4. In what physical and/or psychological ways are orcas affected by captivity?
Orcas are highly evolved to travel great distances every day. Their immune systems, cardiovascular and metabolic systems need that constant exertion to function properly. Their brains are also evolved for membership in large extended families as extensions of themselves. Captivity deprives them of those essential elements, leading to chronic stresses that appear as immunodeficiency, ulcers and hostility.

5. What social effects can you imagine the public experiencing if animal captivity ceased to exist? In your opinion, would this be a negative or positive change and why?

It would be a great enhancement to our social identity to remove this ongoing travesty from our economy. We will soon look back on captive orca and dolphin displays as much like slavery or the Roman Circus.

6. What are some positive steps SeaWorld could take to improve the quality of life of the captive mammals?

Relocate them to natural sea pens to be cared for indefinitely. Thanks. Howard

Orca Captivity at Sea World