| Summary: | Orcas, aka killer whales, are the largest of the ocean dolphins. These large, predatory marine mammals were first captured from the wild and displayed in public exhibitions in the early 1960s; they quickly became popular attractions due to their capacity for training, and striking size and appearance. Presently there are around 45 orcas in captivity worldwide, most of which are now captive-born. Orcas are extremely intelligent, social animals with a highly evolved brain. Neurological imaging studies show that orcas possess an extensive para-limbic system suggestive of an elaborate emotional life. In the wild, orcas live in close family groups, swim up to 160kms a day at speeds of up to 50kms an hour, and typically dive 30-60m below the surface. The practice of keeping orcas in captivity is controversial. The captive environment bears little resemblance to their wild habitat, and the social groups they are put into are foreign to those found in the wild. Additionally, there have been numerous reports of injury and death caused by captive orcas to other animals in the environment including humans. This presentation will discuss the moral and ethical issues that surround the acceptability of keeping large marine mammals such as orca in captivity for human entertainment.
|
|---|