Orca Behavior and Subsequent Aggression Associated with Oceanarium Confinement
Based on neuroanatomical indices such as brain size and encephalization quotient, orcas are among the most intelligent animals on Earth. They display a range of complex behaviors indicative of social intelligence, but these are difficult to study in the open ocean where protective laws may apply, or...
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ftwellbeing:oai:www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org:themin-1000 2023-05-15T17:53:21+02:00 Orca Behavior and Subsequent Aggression Associated with Oceanarium Confinement Anderson, Robert Waayers, Robyn Knight, Andrew 2016-08-18T07:00:00Z application/pdf https://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/themin/1 https://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=themin unknown WBI Studies Repository https://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/themin/1 https://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=themin Theory of Mind Collection orca Orcinus orca cognition Theory of Mind (ToM) emotion aggression animal ethics Animal Studies Comparative Psychology Other Animal Sciences text 2016 ftwellbeing 2022-07-11T18:36:46Z Based on neuroanatomical indices such as brain size and encephalization quotient, orcas are among the most intelligent animals on Earth. They display a range of complex behaviors indicative of social intelligence, but these are difficult to study in the open ocean where protective laws may apply, or in captivity, where access is constrained for commercial and safety reasons. From 1979 to 1980, however, we were able to interact with juvenile orcas in an unstructured way at San Diego’s SeaWorld facility. We observed in the animals what appeared to be pranks, tests of trust, limited use of tactical deception, emotional self-control, and empathetic behaviors. Our observations were consistent with those of a former Seaworld trainer, and provide important insights into orca cognition, communication, and social intelligence. However, after being trained as performers within Seaworld’s commercial entertainment program, a number of orcas began to exhibit aggressive behaviors. The orcas who previously established apparent friendships with humans were most affected, although significant aggression also occurred in some of their descendants, and among the orcas they lived with. Such oceanaria confinement and commercial use can no longer be considered ethically defensible, given the current understanding of orcas’ advanced cognitive, social, and communicative capacities, and of their behavioral needs. Text Orca Orcinus orca WBI Studies Repository (WellBeing International) |
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orca Orcinus orca cognition Theory of Mind (ToM) emotion aggression animal ethics Animal Studies Comparative Psychology Other Animal Sciences |
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orca Orcinus orca cognition Theory of Mind (ToM) emotion aggression animal ethics Animal Studies Comparative Psychology Other Animal Sciences Anderson, Robert Waayers, Robyn Knight, Andrew Orca Behavior and Subsequent Aggression Associated with Oceanarium Confinement |
topic_facet |
orca Orcinus orca cognition Theory of Mind (ToM) emotion aggression animal ethics Animal Studies Comparative Psychology Other Animal Sciences |
description |
Based on neuroanatomical indices such as brain size and encephalization quotient, orcas are among the most intelligent animals on Earth. They display a range of complex behaviors indicative of social intelligence, but these are difficult to study in the open ocean where protective laws may apply, or in captivity, where access is constrained for commercial and safety reasons. From 1979 to 1980, however, we were able to interact with juvenile orcas in an unstructured way at San Diego’s SeaWorld facility. We observed in the animals what appeared to be pranks, tests of trust, limited use of tactical deception, emotional self-control, and empathetic behaviors. Our observations were consistent with those of a former Seaworld trainer, and provide important insights into orca cognition, communication, and social intelligence. However, after being trained as performers within Seaworld’s commercial entertainment program, a number of orcas began to exhibit aggressive behaviors. The orcas who previously established apparent friendships with humans were most affected, although significant aggression also occurred in some of their descendants, and among the orcas they lived with. Such oceanaria confinement and commercial use can no longer be considered ethically defensible, given the current understanding of orcas’ advanced cognitive, social, and communicative capacities, and of their behavioral needs. |
format |
Text |
author |
Anderson, Robert Waayers, Robyn Knight, Andrew |
author_facet |
Anderson, Robert Waayers, Robyn Knight, Andrew |
author_sort |
Anderson, Robert |
title |
Orca Behavior and Subsequent Aggression Associated with Oceanarium Confinement |
title_short |
Orca Behavior and Subsequent Aggression Associated with Oceanarium Confinement |
title_full |
Orca Behavior and Subsequent Aggression Associated with Oceanarium Confinement |
title_fullStr |
Orca Behavior and Subsequent Aggression Associated with Oceanarium Confinement |
title_full_unstemmed |
Orca Behavior and Subsequent Aggression Associated with Oceanarium Confinement |
title_sort |
orca behavior and subsequent aggression associated with oceanarium confinement |
publisher |
WBI Studies Repository |
publishDate |
2016 |
url |
https://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/themin/1 https://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=themin |
genre |
Orca Orcinus orca |
genre_facet |
Orca Orcinus orca |
op_source |
Theory of Mind Collection |
op_relation |
https://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/themin/1 https://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=themin |
_version_ |
1766161046605660160 |