by B. Stone

Created on: July 09, 2009

Imagine being captured by strange creatures from another world, taken from your life, your family, all that you have ever known. Then, being placed in a life-size dollhouse, with fake furniture, fake food, fake air; and, being on display. You then are taught how to perform for audiences of these strange creatures, who cheer and shout with delight so loudly that you can barely hear the low, constant drum of the air filters. How would you feel? Perhaps you would consider ramming your head against a wall, just like whales in captivity.

We as humans cannot fully understand the conscious awareness of marine mammals. We do have the ability to study orcas and other captive cetaceans, such as dolphins and beluga whales, while they are in their natural habitat. We have the opportunity to understand a little about them through their way of living in the wild. Scientists have learned that they typically swim from twenty to one hundred miles every day, foraging for food. They travel in the open sea at speeds up to thirty miles per hour, sometimes diving hundreds of feet beneath the surface. They communicate with one another through a unique and dynamic form of vocalization, using sounds and echos. Orcas demonstrate highly socialized behavior, practicing almost ceremonial behavior, with traditions in how they interact with one another, feeding habits, even play. Young whales learn from the rest of the pod, all of whom contribute to the well-being of the young. Calves remain with their mothers throughout their lifetime.

Whales in captivity are deprived of this entire existence. Aquarium tanks cannot simulate the wild. The effect of captivity on whales is profound, and sometimes fatal. From the experience of capture, they are extremely stressed. The first sixty days in captivity are the most dangerous. Many orca perish within this time; it is believed because of the intense stress put on them, which lowers their immune system's ability to ward off disease. Upon analysis, the cause of death is usually a bacterial infection.

Beyond the first two months, the lives of captive whales are diminished at best. Being used to endless space, even large aquarium tanks are constricting, leaving the whales to swim in circles for any movement. The water itself is altered and unhealthy for wild marine mammals. It is taken directly from the ocean, and then filtered, to take out all of the natural bacteria which the orca are accustomed to. Chlorine is also

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