Free Post #8

     For todays free post I thought I would look into a little more about what my last post was about.  I wanted to look into the lives and stories of orca whales in captivity.  These huge creatures are often used in exhibits like SeaWorld for entertainment purposes.  In the documentary that I found, called Blackfish, it brings attention to some of the negatives of keeping animals like orcas in captivity.  The documentary stressed the idea that keeping animals like this in captivity can lead to serious frustration and aggressiveness from these creatures, leading to all of the attacks on trainers that were highlighted in the film.  This documentary shows many of the previously unclear orca attacks on humans.  It also features many interviews from people who were previously whale trainers, and scientists who have opinions on the reasons behind the attacks and emotions of these whales.  Below is the trailer to the documentary film:
 

     After watching this film, I was in a bit of shock.  I had always heard that keeping animals in captivity was a bad thing, but this documentary really opened my eyes to how bad it truly is.  It is important to keep in mind that this is a movie most likely overdramatized for viewer purposes.  however, these events and attacks told in the documentary did actually happen and there was a reason for them.  This is a very complicated and intense subject with many different sides and opinions to it.  When all the evidence is put together, it is easy to see why many think programs such as SeaWorld should be discontinues.  A topic with evidence and stories like this really makes you think about the morals of actions like these, and what the human race is really capable of doing to other living species.  I know I am putting some serious thought into this topic after seeing a documentary like this one.

     I did also want to make it clear that by going into the field of Zoology, this is not the kind of thing I condone.  Even though this is the kind of things that got me interested in marine mammals as a child ( I mean who didn't love Shamu as a kid), now I am more interested in the rescue and rehabilitation, along with the release, of these types of animals.  I do not believe it is right to keep a wild animal that is otherwise perfectly healthy, in captivity for its entire lifespan.  I believe that everything on the earth has the right to a free life.

Work Cited:

Magnolia Pictures, prod. Blackfish Official Trailer. YouTube, Jul. 2013. Web. 27 Oct. 2013.