Orca Captivity Research Paper
Orca Whales:
Captive or Free?
Sheena Anderson
ENC1101-09
Professor Cooper
7 November 2011
Anderson 1
Orca Whales: Captive or Free? For many years, people have gone to places like SeaWorld in either Orlando, California, or Texas to marvel at and to be entertained by the creatures known as Orcinus orca. For those people not familiar with the scientific term, they are also called Orca whales. These powerful, magnificent, intelligent creatures have become the trademarks of the parks where they entertain, and they have also made a lasting impression on the children and adults who come to see any of their shows. “More than 13 million people flock to the company’s three parks in Orlando, San Diego, and San Antonio to see Shamu every year (Vary, linccweb.org)”. But while it is true that people greatly enjoy these shows, there is a growing controversy regarding the argument about whether these animals should be caged or free. This paper is going to explore both sides of this argument, while …show more content…
Orca Whales in the wild hunt a variety of food including salmon, tuna, stingray, seals, sea lions, otters, and even the occasional shark. Orcas in captivity do not have that luxury. They are fed a combination of mostly frozen whitefish, salmon, mackerel, and herring. Veterinarians working for parks like SeaWorld also slip vitamins, supplements, antibiotics, and some steroids into the Orca’s food in order to keep their diet balanced. Orcas in captivity are also controlled by food, and so is their training. Orca trainers are taught to reinforce the animals’ good behavior with food. When you look at this behavior through the eyes of an Orca, it turns into food deprivation. The Orca learns that if it does a certain maneuver correctly, a whistle will blow, and it will receive a fish. If the Orca does not do the maneuver correctly, no whistle and no fish (slave to entertainment,
Captive or Free?
Sheena Anderson
ENC1101-09
Professor Cooper
7 November 2011
Anderson 1
Orca Whales: Captive or Free? For many years, people have gone to places like SeaWorld in either Orlando, California, or Texas to marvel at and to be entertained by the creatures known as Orcinus orca. For those people not familiar with the scientific term, they are also called Orca whales. These powerful, magnificent, intelligent creatures have become the trademarks of the parks where they entertain, and they have also made a lasting impression on the children and adults who come to see any of their shows. “More than 13 million people flock to the company’s three parks in Orlando, San Diego, and San Antonio to see Shamu every year (Vary, linccweb.org)”. But while it is true that people greatly enjoy these shows, there is a growing controversy regarding the argument about whether these animals should be caged or free. This paper is going to explore both sides of this argument, while …show more content…
Orca Whales in the wild hunt a variety of food including salmon, tuna, stingray, seals, sea lions, otters, and even the occasional shark. Orcas in captivity do not have that luxury. They are fed a combination of mostly frozen whitefish, salmon, mackerel, and herring. Veterinarians working for parks like SeaWorld also slip vitamins, supplements, antibiotics, and some steroids into the Orca’s food in order to keep their diet balanced. Orcas in captivity are also controlled by food, and so is their training. Orca trainers are taught to reinforce the animals’ good behavior with food. When you look at this behavior through the eyes of an Orca, it turns into food deprivation. The Orca learns that if it does a certain maneuver correctly, a whistle will blow, and it will receive a fish. If the Orca does not do the maneuver correctly, no whistle and no fish (slave to entertainment,