SeaWorld's Predator Mammal: The Killer Whale

Coming from someone who truly loves going to SeaWorld, especially to see the incredible Orcas, has been questioning the proper care of these beautiful mammals. I love all animals and want to see and know they are being treated, cared for and loved, in more than the best way possible. Today I want to specifically chat about the care of orcas, commonly known as, killer whales. Now with that said, I do believe the trainers of these mammals truly care for them overall. What bothers me personally, is the unknown behind the scenes procedure. What happens if the orcas "don't perform" as instructed during showtime? Do they let the orcas "do their thing", or do the trainers reinforce "bad" behavior with negative treatment? For example, maybe the trainers say they respond with positive reinforcement, yet won't feed them since they did not "perform well" during the show, behind the scenes. What if we're not told the full story on what really happens behind the scenes of any and all situations, good or bad. It's a little bit of a scary thought...

Also, what about the tank size they live in? Have you ever wondered why some orcas have a bent dorsal fins? Some scientists believe that their dorsal fins can collapse due to unidirectional swimming in small shallow circles. Which makes sense due to their limited space in the tanks. Evidence also shows that keeping orcas in captivity shortens their life span compared to living in the wild. Wild male orcas are believed to live from 50 to 60 years or more, and 80 to over 100 for females.

These are all questions and concerns I cant help but wonder.

However, there is good news. Seaworld is taking notice of some concerns and has made action plans towards bettering the lives of their orcas, dolphins and more. They are no longer breeding orcas or taking wild ones. Therefore, orcas will remain safely (overall) in their natural habitat. What I do like about Seaworld, which is a positive we can all learn from, is that they are bringing awareness (along with other organizations) to do our part in keeping these amazing and beautiful mammals safe.

So my purpose of this story, is to open up a friendly conversation about this topic. If you are interested and/or passionate about this, I invite you to start up a conversation. I would like to learn more as well, so please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and ideas.