Captive Whales

Captive Whales
By:Coley Davis
Abstract
Capturing Methods
Many of us have had the priceless privilege of attending what are know as oceanic
theme parks. Through propaganda and customer satisfaction, these parks have
ingrained themselves into our minds as locations of splashes, sun, and family fun.
Along with these thoughts comes the common misconception that these corporations
are taking the needs of their animals into account as well. These aquatic metropolises
house numerous species of magnificent marine mammals and more; however, one
mammal has attracted the attention of an extensive audience. The Orca, also known as
“The Killer Whale,” is beautiful, powerful, eight-thousand pound creature. These
whales draw viewers from near and far through their great entertainment value.
Additionally, they are one of the main sources of income for marine parks. What
audience members fail to realize when they purchase that $80 ticket is the everyday
abuse, pain, and suffering these magnificent creatures face. Although Sea World and
other sea parks appear to be wonderful homes for killer whales, the cold, hard truth of
what occurs after ‘Shamu’s’ performance is anything but magical.
A beautiful rare glimpse at an orca underwater. (Courtesy of www.Divencounters.com)
History on Whaling
The first killer whale capture occurred in 1961 by Marine-land of the Pacific,
located in California. The female killer whale was described as “sick” and “disoriented”.
After coming to that conclusion, the whalers corralled the whale onto a flatbed . Two
days after towing the whale to captivity, she was transitioned into a tank. The whale was
traumatized and frightened, she repeatedly smashed her head into the walls of the tanks
and eventually died from acute gastroenteritis and pneumonia. Three years later in 1964
Samuel Burich a sculptor was offered commission by the Vancouver Aquarium to kill a
killer whale and then create a life sized model of it for the museums attraction. Burich
took on the mission and harpooned a fifteen foot long, one ton whale. Surprisingly, after
one viscous strike the whale did not die; moreover, it retained consciousness after a
bullet from Burich. At wits end, the aquarium director assigned the whale to be brought
back to Vancouver. Using the harpoon line that was attached to the whales dorsal fin,
they began a 20 mile journey back (“A Whale Of A Business" Historical Chronology,
2012). Upon reaching the aquarium in Vancouver, the whale was christened Moby Doll.
Ironically, it was later discovered that Moby Doll was male. Moby was only kept alive
for 87 days. Newspapers, and magazines began reporting positive feedback about killer
whale capture. Moby Dolls aquarium stay was a historical event that catalyzed the
commencement of a new dawn for killer whales.
During the year of 1965, in the Northwest, the capture of killer whales for
exhibitional purposes set sail. The second recorded capture was no more than an
accidental catch. Two Fishermen caught a twenty-four foot long killer whale in Namu,
British Columbia. The fishermen put the whale up for auction. Seattle Public Aquarium
owner, Ted Griffin, took advantage of this rare opportunity and offered eight thousand
dollars for the whale. Griffin knew that killer whales were intelligent mammals, and he
could possibly build a relationship with such a creature. After the fishermen agreed to
the offer, Griffin named his newest treasure Namu. The only problem was transportation
for Namu, across the four hundred and fifty miles from British Columbia to Seattle. The
problem was solved by the creation of sixty x forty x sixteen foot deep aquatic pen
(Center for Whale Research, 2013). The expedition was towed southward by boat;
Namu’s high pitched screeching sounds resounded through the whole journey. On the
fourth day of the journey, thirty to forty killer whales came to Namu’s rescue. They
rammed into the floating pen numerous times in an attempt to free their companion.
Hours passed, and all but three killer whales abandoned the scene: one female and two
calves. Many believed these whales were Namu’s mother and siblings. After one
hundred and fifty miles of continuous efforts to free their loved one, they gave up.
Namu arrived in Rich Cove on July 27, 1965, and was a smashing success. The first
Sunday Namu was displayed, he drew five-thousand visitors. By September over
120,000 people came to visit Namu. Griffin decided to introduce Namu to human
interaction. Slowly introducing himself, he began to build a bond with Namu. Not only
did he train the whale to perform specific tricks, but they also performed as a duo.
Eleven months passed, and Namu’s life came to an end, due to a bacterial infection that
affected his nervous system. After this occurred, Griffin partnered with Dans Goldsberry
to capture more killer whales. Griffin marked the first instance of recreational whaling,
and paved the way for future marine abuse.
Namu, in floating pen, arrives at
pier 56 Seattle Marine Aquarium,
July 27 1965. (Courtesy of
National Geographic Society;
www.historylink.org).
RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION DESIGN © 2012
www.PosterPresentations.com
Aquarium owner Ted Griffin feeding
Namu in his Pier 56 pen, Seattle.
(Courtesy of National Geographic
Society; www.Historylink.org).
Effects on Humans
But not only has the orcas population began to decline since captivity for these amazing
creatures, incidents of the past have led to human deaths as well. Captive whales lives consist of
the training and performing of tricks in a show pool, day in and day out. The show pool is a
vast sized concrete structure filled with water; allowing the orca to perform and swim around at
ease. When not performing the animals are kept in what are known as “Holding tanks”. Holding
tanks are a great amount smaller than show pools. An orca would have to swim around the rim
of the pool more than 1,400 times to match the same distance orcas travel in the wild; about 100
miles a day. The confinement and acts of training has lead to aggressive executions many killer
whales have portrayed during shows. Many have believed that the whales that have attacked
trainers during a performance are due to emotional, physical, and mental stress. Studying the
videos that display the act of aggression, many have concluded that the animals are trying to
express what is being done to them.
One of the killer whales named Kasatka had attacked her trainer Ken Peters back in the
year of 2006. When the trainer had entered the water to perform a trick with her, she grabbed
onto his foot and dragged him underneath the water. Finally rising back to the surface the trainer
did his best to comfort Kasatka. She still had a hold of Ken Peters foot, he remained trapped.
For a second time the whale had unleashed its powerful strength and took the trainer underneath
the water for a second time. Finally surfacing once again, the trainer kept calm and did his best
to ensure the killer whale would not lash out once again. Finally the whale had released the
trainers foot allowing him to swim away. Ken Peters was able to evacuate the scene with only a
broken foot. Lucky for him, he was one of the trainers that survived his killer whale attack.
Many people who watched this video stated that the killer whale expressed “The feeling of
being trapped”. If the whale wanted to cause more damage to the trainer, there would not have
been any hesitance to do so. There has been over one hundred aggressive acts recorded by killer
whales in captivity, and four deaths that have occurred. Since these incidents, safety precautions
have been taken into account; trainers and professionals that interact with these beasts are no
longer allowed to get in the water with them. Not only does captivity for whales take a toll on
their species as a whole, but also affects the human race as well.
There are two methods to catch whales: catching to preserve, and whaling
(Peta, 2013). Killer whales are found in all of the world’s oceans. They are most
common in the Arctic and Antarctic oceans, and are occasionally spotted off the
West Coast of the United States.
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Catching to preserve: Fishermen set out on the rough and dangerous seas, and
travel far distances until they spot a group of wild orcas. Once identifying their
target, they lock in and began the hunt. They keep the group of wild orca in view
by either a built in programed sonar system, or by following the herd and waiting
for one of the many whales to rise for a fresh breath of air. They then deploy
smaller speed boats from the vessel and use them to corral the pack. If necessary,
air support could be called in to help track down and keep the killer whales insight.
A three acre net is released around the herd to maximize the capture rate. Once the
net is securely knotted and attached to the back of the boat, slings are used to
guarantee the captives will not escape. The whales are dragged behind the boat all
the way back to land. Upon reaching a dock, the whales are untied and loaded into
flat bed trucks. They are then transported to marine parks, where they will spend
the remainder of their lives performing in small, cement pools. This capture process
is designed for the safety of the animals but is unreliable at best. The objective is to
catch these animals without harming them; the purpose is to display these
fascinating creatures to audiences across the world and entertain humans.
Unfortunately, the mortality rate is high and with whaling in the picture, we face a
dwindling supply of killer whales.
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A killer whale named, Lolita, was
violently captured during a round
up of the now endangered
southern resident killer whales;
she now awaits the flatbeds after
being dragged to a dock.
(Courtesy of Terrell C. Newby;
www.peta.org)
Whaling: Fishermen leave shore and set off into the oceans dangerous and
wild seas in what is referred to as a “Factory Ship”. A Factory Ship is a massive
and powerful ship that does not only catch whales but also loads them onto the
vessel from the back. This ship has numerous ropes, nets and weapons such as
harpoon gun. The ship travels great distances until spotting one or more whales.
They keep the animal in sight by using the same methods as mentioned before. The
ship has workers on deck waiting to fire their harpoons when given the chance.
When the whale rises, the harpoon gunner carefully aims and fires at the whales
body. After striking the whale, another shot is fired to ensure connection with the
whale. Whalers let down ropes, tying the tail of the whale to the boat. The whale is
then dragged from the front to the back of the boat where the Factory Ship lifts up a
wall opening dragging the whale onto an angled platform of the ship. The Japanese
are specifically known for this way of capturing whales. This capture process is
brutal and incredibly violent. The objective is to attack, strike, and kill these
animals by any means necessary. The purpose is to cut up, ship, and process these
animals’ precious meat as food and other uses.
Japanese whaling ship Yushin Maru
with harpooned whale. (Courtesy of
Jeremy Sutton Hibbert;
www.advocacy.britannica.com)
Effects on the Species
Keeping killer whales in confinement has an immense negative impact on the
species. In the year of 1992, The Humane Society of The United States revealed
evidence proving that orcas in captivity have a greater mortality rate. Although keeping
orcas in captivity does decrease natural harms such as predators, chronic stress is a
factor that many incarcerated orcas obtain. This weakens the animal’s immune system,
leaving a greater risk of infection. “92% of SeaWorlds orcas have not survived past the
age of 25. The average life span of a wild orca is 30 for males and 50 for females, which
both normally could live up to 80-90 years old” (THSUS, 2013). When capturing orcas
for the use of the publics entertainment, catchers focus their attention toward the young
and fit. This damages the orcas division group because the future generations that are
supposed to reproduce aren't able to successfully give birth in the wild; enabling their
species to continue to spread and grow. Orcas in the Pacific North-West are classified as
an endangered species due to excessive capture. The National Marine Fisheries Service
have come to a conclusion stating “The Capture of Killer Whales for public display has
depressed their population size and altered the population characteristics sufficiently to
severely affect their reproduction and persistence” (Wuff Ryan, 2010).
Many shocking but true
interesting facts about orcas in
captivity. (Courtesy by
us.whales.org)
Solving the Problem
Killer whales are beautiful 8,000 pound creatures of the sea. They belong in the ocean
and deserve to be free in their natural habitats. A Sea Park could never replace the
comfort, space, and joy this marine mammal has out in the wild. These animals cannot
speak for themselves, they expect someone to help in doing so (Soboroff Jacob, 2011).
This is where we the public come into play. There are many things we as citizens can do
today in helping bring captive whaling to an end; the four most effective strategies in
doing so are listed below. !
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1.) Self educate others about this topic and discuss the cold truth behind captive
whales !
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2.) Connect with anti-captivity groups!
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3.) Don’t support Sea Parks and Oceanariums such as SeaWorld!
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4.) Make your voice heard and take a stand for these magnificent creatures
A herd of wild orca swimming freely in
their natural habitat rises for a gasp of
fresh air before continuing their journey.
(Courtesy of www.CoveBlueJiyu.com)
Kasatka clenching onto Ken Peters foot dragging
him beneath the surface during a SeaWorld
performance. (Courtesy of Lori Weisberg;
www.utsandiego.com)
Reasons for Capture
It is not unreasonable for humans to have an interest in orcas and other marine animals;
however, when it places the animals in harm’s way we must draw the line. Humans do not
extract these animals from their habitats just for pure curiosity. These intelligent vertebrates are
stolen from the ocean for four primary uses; Entertainment, Economical use, Rescue, and
Cultural Myths.
There are numerous organizations and
opportunities that are out there in helping bring
an end to captive whaling. Your small and
generous effort could have a huge impact a for
these animals.(Courtesy of David Kirby;
www.takepart.com)
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Entertainment: Sea World Aquariums and other global attractions contain many diverse
species of ocean life. They employ professional fisheries to go out into the ocean, locate, and
extract unique creatures of the sea. The public is able to closely interact with the marine
kingdom by confining it into a minuscule tank. People pay theme parks to view creatures that
they otherwise would never have the opportunity to see up close. The public is provided
entertainment by being introduced to the exclusive world of whales, dolphins, and other
creatures that perform tricks (WDC, 2012). This offers an unforgettable experience and endless
entertainment value.
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Economical use: Although Sea Parks claim their goal is to entertain, and educate the
public, the true objective is to generate income and turn profits (WDC, 2012). By being the
only global locations to allow close encounters with marine animals, Sea Parks have a
monopoly on the market. This is the closest people will ever come to experiencing marine life.
But just like everything else in this world, nothing comes free. In order to get into one of these
oceanariums, you must pay a pricy fee. Once you are in the park, the attractions and rides are
all complimentary; however, many other services in the park such as photographs, food, stuffed
animals, etc… are not complimentary. Many would agree that attending a Sea Park is an
enjoyable experience, but comes at an expensive cost.
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Rescue: Many of the animals in marine mammal parks are classified as an “Endangered
Species,” (WDC, 2012) and pose a serious risk of becoming extinct. Sea Parks and Aquariums
use this to their advantage. It is stated that the capture of these animals brings them into a safe,
enclosed reservation. This prompts the reproduction rate to increase by keeping the animals
away from natural sources of danger. When we look at the facts, these animals are made to live
in complex, webbed social groups. Being separated and confined in a small concrete pool
doesn't allow the animals to naturally interact. Many animals are subjected to mental,
emotional, and physical stress while confined in captivity. Though Parks express the message
of helping rather than harming, it seems the roles are reversed.
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Cultural Myth: Ever since the 1900’s, Japan has been capturing whales as a food source.
During WWII, Japan was economically unstable. Being unable to provide for the many
starving citizens was a problem, so the Japanese turned to a unique food supply: Whale.
Desperate times call for desperate measures. With limited supplies and inability to support
expenses, the Japanese turned to Whaling as an economical means of support (Journal of
History, 2011). After the war had come to an end, Japan was devastated but once again able to
support itself. Even after Japan had risen from a money crisis, they still pursued Whaling as an
affordable, simple way of food procurement. They continue this form of hunting, and still
practice it. Many disagree with the killing of whales as a delicacy. In fact, ninety-five percent
of Japanese people do not agree with it either; the popularity of whale meat has declined
significantly. This is a hot button topic and is heavily debated through out the world, yet still no
conclusion has been made.
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A Great Whale catch; providing food for
the numerous starving citizens of Japan.
(Courtesy of Baido Masanobu;
www.armstrong.edu).
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