We believe the key to ending the unethical and archaic captive cetacean industry lies in our hands. It's our generation that is keeping this outdated practice alive by attending amusement parks, aquariums, resorts and other facilities that hold whales, dolphins and porpoises captive. Since our creation in early 2012, our all-teen and young adult team has been working relentlessly to help get the word out about the abuse involved with captivity. We're here to tell you that, yes, there is something YOU can do to help create a better world for cetaceans, and all the resources you need? Are right here within the Hub. We're here to help you start your own movement at your school or campus. Check out our student and teacher resources, (downloadable/ printable fact sheets, presentations, project suggestions, call-to-action connect and more.) Because we believe that one person can make a huge impact. By raising awareness for this cause among your friends, family, and fellow classmates, you're bringing us one big step closer to a world where cetaceans are living free and respected in their natural ocean habitat-- and not in chemical-filled cement pools. So, jump right in and get started.
Although unreported in wild orca populations,
mosquito-transmitted diseases have killed at least two captive orcas
(Orcinus orca) in U.S. theme parks. St. Louis Encephalitis Virus
(SLEV) was implicated in the 1990 death of the male orca Kanduke,
held at SeaWorld of Florida. In the second case, West Nile Virus
(WNV) killed male orca Taku at SeaWorld of Texas in 2007.
Captive environments increase vulnerability to mosquitotransmitted
diseases in a variety of ways. Unlike their wild counterparts
who are rarely stationary, captive orcas typically spend hours
each day (mostly at night) floating motionless (logging) during
which time biting mosquitoes access their exposed dorsal surfaces.
Mosquitoes are attracted to exhaled carbon dioxide, heat and dark
surfaces, all of which are present during logging behavior. Further,
captive orcas are often housed in geographic locations receiving
high ultraviolet radiation, which acts as an immunosuppressant.
Unfortunately, many of these facilities offer the animals little shade
protection. Additionally, many captive orcas have broken, ground
and bored teeth through which bacteria may enter the bloodstream,
thus further compromising their ability to fight various pathogens.
Given the often compromised health of captive orcas, and given that
mosquito-transmitted viral outbreaks are likely to occur in the future,
mosquito-transmitted diseases such as SLEV and WNV remain
persistent health risks for captive orcas held in the U.S.
In a new study, nearly a year in the making, former SeaWorld trainers Jeffrey Ventre, MD and John Jett, Ph.D, take us deep behind the scenes of Marine parks and their ability to provide environments adequate for keeping killer whales alive in captivity. Drs Ventre and Jett introduce us to detailed observations and strong statistical calculations that add up to an abundance of evidence that captivity kills orcas, usually at a young age… and that stresses, social tensions and poor health are chronic issues in marine park facilities. Born from this report, a new statistic called “Mean Duration of Captivity” (MDC), drawn from diverse credible sources, allows overall comparisons with free-ranging orcas and reveals a shockingly low average longevity in captivity. In this research paper, which can be viewed and downloaded in its’ entirety HERE, you’ll see the precursors and symptoms of stresses in orcas in captivity, illustrated with powerful photos. The authors invite students, teachers and the public to share this report and use in their reports and projects. As former orca trainers, and now a medical doctor and biology professor respectively, Drs Ventre and Jett have a perspective that has not been heard in the intensifying debate about captivity for orcas.
what you should know
before you buy the ticket
(the hard facts about cetaceans in captivity)
• In the wild, male Orca whales can live to be 50-60+ and wild female Orcas have lived to be over 90. In captivity, most whales and dolphins do not live to adulthood, many die in their teens.
• Whales and Dolphins use echolocation, a sonar-like system used to detect and locate objectsby emitting usually high-pitched sounds that ricochet off the object and return to the animal'sears or other sensory receptors.In captivity, Orcas cannot use their echolocation, as the sound waves will actually bounce off thetank's concrete sides and literally deafen the animal. (In some cases the animal has literally gone insane)
• Tanks are sanitized with chlorine, copper sulfate, and other harsh chemicals that irritate the dolphins and whales’ eyes, causing many to swim with their eyes closed .Former dolphin trainer Ric O'Barry, who trained dolphins for the television show "Flipper,"believes excessive chlorine has caused some dolphins to go blind. The U.S. Department of Agriculture closed Florida's Ocean World after determining that over-chlorinated water was causing dolphins' skin to peel off.
• According to Ric O'Barry, "positive reward" training is a euphemism for food deprivation. Marine parks may withhold up to 60 percent of food before shows so that the animals will be "sharp" for performances. Former dolphin trainer Doug Cartlidge maintains that highly social dolphins arepunished by being isolated from other animals: "You put them in a pen and ignore them. It's like psychological torture."
• To reduce the risk of stomach ulcers from the stress in captivity, whales and dolphins are force-fed numerous medications and antibiotics on a daily bases.
• Whales like Tilikum are literally used as breeding machines for SeaWorld’s profit; Tilikum hassired 13 calves for SeaWorld, (10 are still living) and he is used in their artificial inseminationbreeding program, which has allowed SeaWorld to easily interbreed the captive orcas in their facilities. In fact, Fourteen out of twenty-five whales living in SeaWorld’s collection (56%) arecarrying Tilikum’s genes. Globally, marine parks have enjoyed 60 live births since 1977.However, 32 of those animals (53%) are already deceased. SeaWorld alone has had 28 live births, with nine deceased (32%), as are ten of the mothers.
• Taima, an Orca at SeaWorld Orlando died from a prolapsed uterus while giving birth to her fourth calf on June 6 2010, at the age of 20. Female killer whales mature at around age 15 and will usually have only 1 offspring every 5 years. Taima was only 20 years of age and died giving birth to her 4th calf
• Nalani, a young female orca at SeaWorld Orlando is the first orca in captivity to be born through ‘Mother and Son’ breeding. Her father, Taku (now deceased) was also her brother, uncle, cousin and nephew.
• Captive Whales and Dolphins have even committed suicide in aftermath of the daily stress andliteral heartache; These animals are conscious breathers and have to make a noticeable effort tosurface for air. Kathy, the main dolphin used in the hit 60’s series “Flipper” sank to the bottom of her tank and simply did not take the next necessary breath. In 1980 Hugo the Orca whale at Miami Seaquarium repeatedly bashed his head against the concrete sides and viewing windows in his tank, nearly severing his rostrum (which had to be sewn back onto his face) and several windows had to be replaced. He died in March of 1980 from, according the National Marine Fisheries Service Marine Mammal Inventory Report, of a brain aneurysm, very likely in result of the many intentional blows to his skull.
• Did you notice that Tilikum’s dorsal fin is flopped over? This is called a collapsed dorsal fin and it is nearly exclusive in captive Orcas. Scientists do not know exactly why this happens, but there are a few existing theories: (1) alterations in water balance caused by the stresses of captivity,(2) dietary changes, (3) lowered blood pressure due to reduced activity patterns, or (4)overheating of the collagen brought on by greater exposure of the fin to the ambient air. A small pool is simply inadequate to Orca’s health, happiness and natural living.
• There are currently 45 orcas living in captivity and 159 Orcas that have died in captivity.• The captive Whale and Dolphin industry supports the annual dolphin and porpoise slaughter inTaiji Japan, where cetaceans are driven into a hidden cove; the most attractive are sold tomarine parks around the globe and the rest are brutally slaughtered and their meat is sold asfood. (See: www.takepart.com/thecove for more information.)
• Supporting Marine Parks that hold cetaceans captive for entertainment purposes, is supporting the captive Dolphin and Whale slave trade, which has, and continues to abuse marine mammals in the name of entertainment and conservation
T H R E E T H I N G S
y o u c a n d o t o h e l p
E N D C A P T I V I T Y
(above all) #1 DON’T buy the ticket to a marine park, dolphin show, or dolphin swim program. It’s all about supply and demand. Our job is to take away the demand for captive cetacean exhibits. If tickets stop selling? Marine parks will cease to exist- and the cetaceans will once again be free. The demand needs to disappear- starting with YOU.
#2 Spread the word. In order for this archaic industry to actually change,everybody-- and we mean absolutely everyone --needs to know about it-- especially students (young people are the biggest supporters of marine parks). So,
• share Blue Freedom on your social media pages,
• connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, Pinterest, etc.to stay informed on calls-to-action.
• Use the hash tag #GenerationBF if you’re in on this movement.
#3 Start a Blue Freedom group at your school or college (generationbluefreedom.tumblr.com) and start raising awareness among your classmates. Our generation is holding the key to ending this cruel and outdated industry. We’ll help you get started, send you stuff, help set up fun and interesting teaching sessions, etc.
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