In January 2019, Kayla died. She was a 30-year-old killer whale living at SeaWorld Orlando. If she’d been living in the wild, she’d likely have lived into her 50s, and possibly as old as 80. Still, Kayla lived longer than any captive-born orca in history.
Seventy orcas have been born in captivity around the world since 1977 Thirty-seven of them, including Kayla, are now dead.
Orcas in captivity is a huge problem. They are highly intelligent, social animals that are genetically built to live, migrate, and feed over great distances in the ocean. And while we may be able to create a Savannah for them, we cannot recreate the ocean. Not a single marine mammal is adapted to thrive in a concrete box that we enclose them in.
You want proof of their suffering? Here’s proof. An orcas most vital body part, their teeth. Full of cavities because they grind their teeth on the tank walls to the point where their nerves are exposed.
there’s the remaining issue of what to do with the 22 orcas in captivity in the U.S. and Canada if captive facilities like SeaWorld agree to retire their current orcas altogether. None of these animals could be released into the wild—they have become dependent on being fed by humans.
The Whale sanctuary project, led by scientists, veterinarians, policy experts, and engineers aims to establish large seaside sanctuaries for retired animals. Please visit their website at TheWhaleSanctuaryProject.org to find out how you can help.
Seventy orcas have been born in captivity around the world since 1977 Thirty-seven of them, including Kayla, are now dead.
Orcas in captivity is a huge problem. They are highly intelligent, social animals that are genetically built to live, migrate, and feed over great distances in the ocean. And while we may be able to create a Savannah for them, we cannot recreate the ocean. Not a single marine mammal is adapted to thrive in a concrete box that we enclose them in.
You want proof of their suffering? Here’s proof. An orcas most vital body part, their teeth. Full of cavities because they grind their teeth on the tank walls to the point where their nerves are exposed.
there’s the remaining issue of what to do with the 22 orcas in captivity in the U.S. and Canada if captive facilities like SeaWorld agree to retire their current orcas altogether. None of these animals could be released into the wild—they have become dependent on being fed by humans.
The Whale sanctuary project, led by scientists, veterinarians, policy experts, and engineers aims to establish large seaside sanctuaries for retired animals. Please visit their website at TheWhaleSanctuaryProject.org to find out how you can help.
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