Unfortunately though, not all our Christmas wishes came true- Tilly, Lolita and the countless other poor souls are still stuck in their tanks performing demeaning festive- themed shows. So Tilikum, Lolita, Kohana, Trua, Lovey, and the countless other captive dolphins, false killer whales and orcas who are alive today- I hope that 2011 brings you the peace and freedom you so much deserve.
Poor Morgan has had her fate decided by the powers that be, i.e the profit- driven captivity industry. Her life is now set to be a life of captivity. All she has ever known, the ocean, the fresh fish, the waves, are no more. Her freedom has gone, and being so young she could have easily been rehabilitated and set free. She knows freedom, she knows what it is to be wild. It wouldn't be like trying to rehab and retrain an orca that had been performing tricks for 20 years. But no, as usual profit margins come first. Read the whole story here at the Orca Project. And sign the petitions if you haven't already done so please.
Lets help free Morgan in 2011.
Another sad story- Misty the dolphin who has been left alone in what seems to be a 'death-pool' for the last few days. Misty, a young male, is being held at a captive facility called Dolphin Base in Taiji, and is likely to be very ill. His pool is thick with algae and bacteria and it appears to have no circulation. So please sign this petition and ask for Dolphin Base to consider setting him free, as they have no chance of selling him in the state he is in. Petition can be found here. Please sign!
We are all in this together- in the words of Ric O'Barry: 'We are their only hope'.
This next essay is going to explore the phenomena that plagues the cetaceans in captivity-- vast mortality rates. There are numerous reasons and theories, and to be honest it would take me till about 2014 to really get to the bottom of it, so I have decided to do this topic in a bit of a different format. I am going to go through the main factors that cause such huge numbers of premature deaths within the captive cetacean industry, and I shall also be looking at a few important case studies such as key individual incidents. However, the way I am going to present this information will be using bullet-points for a change, as a lot of what I will be writing about has already been touched on in previous essays, so I shall just be reiterating it and condensing it all down for this post and will just see how it goes!
Factors that have contributed to the mortality rates of captive cetaceans
- Dental problems
The results from dental problems, as discussed in the previous essay, are very diverse and often very serious. It can cause illnesses such as pneumonia and infection, feeding problems and behavioural problems. It is difficult to determine just how many deaths have been directly caused by poor dental health, but it is clear to see there being a huge link between poor dental health and the countless premature deaths of orcas in captivity. The drilling-away of teeth (without anaesthesia may I add) leaves large holes or mere stumps of teeth, which despite making the cleaning-out of remnants of dead fish much easier, does in fact leave the mouth more prone to infection and attacks from various bacteria. The gums, as with human mouths, as very thin and easily susceptible to infection if not fully cleaned, and of course if you are feeding an orca pre-killed, sloppy and day-old fish, there are bound to be some bacteria in it that will have the potential to infect. So, while it is kind of possible (at a push) to 'understand' their logic of drilling the teeth, it in fact just makes matters worse for the orcas in question. There gums and sensitive root canals are left exposed and the holes left by the teeth make it harder for all the food debris to be flushed out, leaving plenty of room for bacteria to grow and enter into the blood stream. It is argued that the poor dental care shown on captive orcas may be what causes such sudden, random and supposedly 'without a cause' deaths. Organ failure, blood poisoning etc etc can all hit suddenly and pose no real direct cause- but if you look at it closely, it is plain to see that the bad dentition practised on captive adult orcas have had an influence on their deaths- be in directly or indirectly.
However despite the horror of the captive orca dentition, the dental problems faced by all captive cetaceans are totally caused by the people working for the captivity industry and the industry itself. It is not just 'one of those things' that occurs when in captivity, like the collapse of the dorsal fin for instance. It is not just a mere result or 'by-product' of captivity, but it is in fact 100% directly caused by the industry itself. The industry that so wants us to think it has the welfare of the whales and dolphins it keeps at heart. If that is true, why do they insist on drilling out the teeth of their captive orcas?There is nothing that could ever justify such a practice, and now finally they are catching on- I believe they do not use this practice to the extent it was once used, certainly not on their most valuable younger orcas anyway. After all, if they did drill their teeth away, they would have no healthy-toothed orcas left for the photo shoots, then everyone would start asking questions no doubt: 'Hey mummy...how come Shamu has no teeth?'
- Vices
The vices and behavioural problems caused by captivity are endless: self harm, suicide, the eating of non-food items, aggression, attacks on tank mates, failing to know how to care for their own calves, etc etc. The list could go on and on and it is such a shame, a tragedy, how these problems are just accepted within the industry. It is as if the cetaceans are just left to get on with it themselves, with no psychological help or support, or even recognition of their acute and sensitive problems that are so bad they often result in death. The vices they get are a result of boredom, which is obviously due to their pitiful tank size and the fact they are forced to perform the same demeaning shows day after day. Their tanks, as I have discussed before, have no stimulation, there is no attempt at all to even try and make it resemble their natural habitat. So really, it is no wonder they will do anything to keep themselves amused and take their minds off things for a while.
I guess its like an extreme version of equine vices (weaving and crib-biting etc), which the horse develops in order to relieve itself of stress, boredom and anxiety, which of course is amplified ten-fold when considering the plight of captive cetaceans compared to most domestic equines. At least they get some sort of normality- fields full of their natural food, in which they have the freedom to run, albeit for only a part of the day in some cases. A captive cetacean gets no such things, no freedom to swim and no natural food stuffs. So it is understandable why they would develop such severe and often strange habits and behaviours in order to deal with their situation and survive.
Such behavioural problems have very negative affects and implications on everyone around- the individual, its tank mates and the people involved with it, which makes it difficult to understand why they are often left untreated and unmanaged. As more often than not these vices and problems result in death.
- Accidents
Accidents within the captivity industry usually occur either during performances or behind the scenes, but either way they could have almost always been prevented. The shows that marine parks put on for the paying public involve cetaceans performing very unnatural sequences of behaviours in very unnatural and small tanks, so it is not surprising that fatal accidents happen. The cetaceans involved in the shows are often performing together and in very close proximity, which of course will result in collisions at some point. It is inevitable when considering the size of the tank and the scope of some of the tricks they are made to do.
Accidents have also happened when the orcas are not performing, which has often been due to the fact they are left in an environment that is unsafe for them to be kept in. Problems with tank mates and the safety of the actual tank have accounted for a few 'accidental' deaths of captive cetaceans, but we all know these 'accidents' could and should have been prevented. As after all, it is the park's responsibility to ensure that the cetacean who are living together in the same pool get on and are not a risk to themselves or others- and we all know how often they fail at this basic requirement.
- Problems with breeding
As I have discussed in detail in an earlier essay, the problems with the captive breeding programs are appalling and numerous. This is because the marine parks do not take into account the basic factors of cetacean (especially orca) breeding. They mix Transient and Icelandic, they inbreed, they allow females to breed too young, they inject females with hormones to prevent pregnancy, they perform intrusive AI, they try to play God. And trying to play God has resulted in them being responsible for countless still-births and birthing complications,which over the years has amounted in a large death toll. As if captive cetaceans don't die quick enough in captivity anyway! Isn't that a sign? Captivity doesn't work, so leave it. Stop trying to make it work, and stop creating more and more lives to be cut short, just to try and restock the dwindling supplies of live caprive cetaceans. SeaWorld is the worst culprit here as obviously it is the largest establishment, so it has the power to create and ultimately be accountable for, more deaths during breeding. Since 1985, SW alone has produced 27 captive births, 8 of which died (not including miscarriages). So it seems that despite being able to produce fresh baby orcas at the rate of ten to the dozen, they are also killing them off at a similarly fast rate. The mothers are not safe from birthing complications either, as death during birth is a common occurrence in the industry too. It is a sad fact that captive cetaceans are being brought into this world by the industry and at the same time being forced to leave it by exactly the same people. The people who claim they are doing what's best.
- Illnesses
The illnesses suffered by captive cetaceans are some that they would never encounter in the wild. It is often down to a poor diet, stress, anxiety and a poor environment that they develop such illnesses. Things like pnemonia, organ failure and immune deficiencies are very rare occurrences in the wild. It is hardly unknown that the life expectancy of a captive cetacean is basically half of that of a wild cetacean, and in some cases can even be shorter. However, parks like SeaWorld are constantly bombarding us with the message that they provide the 'best medical care available' and have the best 'veterinarians and experts' etc etc. However, when it comes to actually keeping their cetacean stock alive for the normal number of years, they fail miserably, and what makes it worse is, they know it. That is why they fail to release causes of death- take the four, yes FOUR orcas that died in 2010 alone. The causes of death were not released for a long time or still have not been released. They are still struggling to come up with a believable story as to why such young orcas were dropping like flies. Could it be that their top vets and advanced medical care is not enough? Well yes it does look that way, especially when you consider the fact that some of these causes of death, like the random illnesses, would never happen in the wild.
- Injuries
As for the injuries sustained in captivity by cetaceans, it is a wonder the industry is still afloat. The injuries suffered by these cetaceans are caused by the industry alone, so surely that would warrant its downfall? Yet somehow it manages to survive- it must be the good PR and spokesmen they hire, as otherwise the marine parks would have a hard job trying to explain and justify some of the injuries and fatalities happening in their establishments. Injuries that could have been prevented, injuries that should never have been allowed to happen, and have ultimately resulted in the premature deaths of countless captive cetaceans. Be they self-inflicted, accidental, whatever, they are still the establishment's responsibility, which is what is hard to fathom at times. If these parks are responsible and accountable for these horrific injuries sustained to the animals in their care, which are effectively their property too, how come they never see any consequences? If you owned a dog and let it injure itself due to mental problems, or let it hurt itself and kill itself on your property due to negligence, then you would have to deal with the legal and social consequences. yet for some reason these establishments that are responsible for the deaths of countless cetaceans are just left to it, with no consequences or punishment.
Case studies and individual incidents
- Dental Problems- Taku was a young male orca who died in 2007 in SW San Antonio, at the very young age of 14. He died of interstitial pneumonia, which is pneumonia characterised by the scarring of the lungs, which may have been down to some sort of infection. His teeth are well known to have been in an absolutely appalling state, and it is argued that this may have had an indirect causal link to the pneumonia.
Taku's teeth were practically non-existent on the lower jaw. (Photo from Facebook)
- Vices- Poncho was a bottlenose dolphin at Miami Seaquarium who died in 1982. He died of intestinal failure, which was a direct result of the non-food items he used to eat out of severe boredom. Dolphins are not stupid, and in the wild they eat nothing but fish, however it seems that Poncho would have done anything to take his mind off the numbing boredom he had to endure day after day, so that's why he took to eating various non-food items. Found in his stomach after death were, among other things, 2 footballs (deflated of course), 31 coins, 1 trainers whistle and 2 screws. It would be hard for anyone to deny that eating and ingesting these objects did not cause his intestines to fail, and thus directly cause his death.
It is no wonder he died of digestive problems with what he was eating on a daily basis. Surely MSQ trainers would have known? And therefore should have addressed it and prevented it? (Photo from MiamiSeaPrison)
Winnie the orca also suffered a similar fate, as during her stay at Windsor Safari Park in the UK (which I ashamedly visited as a very young child) she ate many non-food items, presumably out of stress as she was a live-caught orca. In 2002 at SW San Antonio, aged 26, she died of a blocked intestine. After her death, 12lbs of debris were found at the blockage, which is proof that it was her habit of eating non-food items which led to her death, albeit two decades later.
Winnie performing before her untimely death, at age 26. (Photo from Google images)
- Accidents- Due to the vast dangers present in the captive industry, accidents happen all too often. One of the more tragic accidents that I have written about before would be the death of Kandu V, who in 1989 died of a massive hemorrhage as a result of the negligence shown by SeaWorld. Their 'leave them to it' attitude was what directly caused Kandu V's death, it was known that their were tensions between her and Corky, as Kandu detested the fact that she was showing interest in her new baby Orkid. So really at that point, SW should have shown the initiative and moved either Corky or Kandu and her calf, but instead they chose to make Corky and Orkid perform together, which obviously left Kandu seething, which led to her attacking Corky. Therefore, when she broke her jaw due to the impact, and was left slowly bleeding to death in the back pool, it was all down to the lack of planning and consideration on SeaWorld's part. Another more recent but by no means less tragic accident is the death of Sharky at Discovery Cove earlier in 2010. During a performance, the 30 year old female bottlenose collided with Tyler, another bottlenose, in mid-air. She then died soon after. Obviously, Discovery Cove's statement proclaimed it was a unfortunate and random incident, which in a way is true, as it isn't every day that you hear of performing cetaceans colliding during shows. Yet in a way it highlights the true dangers that are present when making cetaceans, particularly dolphins, perform such agile and athletic tricks in such close proximity of other dolphins. The training they receive can only account for so much- as despite being trained to within an inch of their lives to ensure precision in performances, it is inevitable that each dolphin cannot always be guaranteed to be completely accurate. Therefore, as for who is responsible for her death, Discovery Cove should hold their hands up in shame. Sharky would never be dead now if it wasn't for being coerced into performing unnatural and downright dangerous tricks in an unsafe environment. I know some people will come up with the resolution that Sharky performed in hundreds of performances and made it to a relatively good age, but that logic aside, it was DC's responsibility to ensure his safety. Sharky wouldn't be dead if she was not forced to perform tricks, and she wouldn't need to do that if people didn't pay for a ticket to the show, and they wouldn't be put on if DC wasn't so profit-driven and tried to put on educational shows like it promises to do instead.
Sharky and trainer before her death at DC. (Photo from Google images)
- Breeding problems- here the two most infamous incidents would be the deaths of mother and daughter Gudrun and Taima, who both died in very similar circumstances. In 1996, Gudrun passed away due to difficulties during the birth of her stillborn calf, and in June of 2010, her daughter Taima died during the delivery of a stillborn calf also. Both deaths are tragic, as not only did these poor would-be new mothers die, so did their babies. It is obviously questionable here as to where the blame lies- SW had a duty to ensure the safety of both mothers and their babies during the delivery, and it is a known fact how unsuccessful captive cetacean breeding can be, so obviously the blame lies within the ethics of captive breeding. However, on these particular occasions, I would say the blame still does lie directly with SW, as Gudrun and Taima had known issues with motherhood, for instance, both Gudrun and Taima showed severe aggression to their previous calves, and even more worryingly Gudrun had produced a very poorly and unstable calf called Nyar prior to the pregnancy that caused her death. So ere the question lies- if SW knew that both orcas had such problems with their calves and with being a mother, why did they let them get impregnated again? It was their responsibility to realise that making both Gudrun and Taima a mother again was bound to cause problems- who knows what they would have done to their new calves had they survived. Yet here, once again, profit comes first and they obviously had the intention of replenishing their orca stock with no consideration or second-thoughts as to what would happen to the calves once they came out. So here the blame lies- if SW had been less negligent and realised that Taima and Gudrun should never have been made pregnant again in the first place, then they would never have died through birthing complications.
The late Gudrun during a performance. (Photo from Google images)
- Illnesses- Here are just a few examples of random illnesses encountered within the captive cetacean industry that have led to deaths. Kanduke, a young female who was wild-caught in B.C. in the 70's, died suddenly of bacterial pneumonia in 1990, at SeaWorld Orlando. Bacterial pneumonia is caused by bacteria entering the lungs, either by inhalation or through the bloodstream from other parts of the body. It was likely she had a cut or something, or even poor dentition, which caused the infection to start. Kenau, a young female who was wild-caught in the 70's, died at SW Orlando in 1991 of bacterial pneumonia too, which leads me to think that there was something in the water there- perhaps poor water circulation or something. Winston, another wild caught orca who was a tank mate of Kenau, died suddenly of heart failure, at the young age of 19 in 1986. Kona II died at Orlando too, in 1987 aged just 12 years old. She died of a lung abscess. Bjossa, a wild-caught female who was kept at SW San Diego, died of bronochopneumonia in 2001. She also suffered three tragic losses- all three of her calves did not make it, one of whom, Kyosha, died at just 3 months due to a brain infection. It seems as though the captivity industry is having a hard time of keeping these illnesses and ailments under control despite, as they keep insisting, having the best medical experts in the world to prevent such random and untimely deaths.
The late Bjossa. (Photo from Google images)
- Injuries- Here the most important incidents to address would obviously be the deaths of Hugo and Kotar, both of which were caused by the captivity industry. Hugo, the male orca who kept Lolita company for a while at MSQ, died due to the indirect effects of captivity- the boredom and immense lack of space and enrichment, and of course the stress of being live caught, led to him developing sever mental problems which then led him to start slamming his head into the wall on several occasions. After the first incidents nothing was done (well apart from sewing his rostrum back on), and so poor Hugo was left to deal with his traumas and stresses alone, which got so bad he ended up injuring himself so severely that he killed himself. This, as I have discussed many a time, was all down to MSQ and their lack of support and recognition for poor Hugo's problems. Obviously he should never had been captured and transferred to MSQ in the first place, but while he was under their duty of care, it was up to them to provide him with a stable and safe environment, psychological stimulation and support, and ultimately the mental health care he so desperately needed. His mental distress was caused by the captivity industry, and that led him to injuring himself and killing himself, so therefore the captivity industry is to blame, 100%.
Hugo in his tiny tank before his death. (Photo from Google images)
And as for poor Kotar, his fate was directly caused by SeaWorld's negligence. He was so bored in his tank that he developed a very dangerous habit- lifting up the gate that separated each pool. SeaWorld knew of this habit, yet it was just brushed of as tomfoolery, a harmless and humorous habit. However, due to their naive and somewhat ignorant view of Kotar's destructive habit, he sadly passed away in 1995 with severe head injuries caused by the gate falling down and crushing his skull. He was only 17 years old at the time, and had been in captivity since being wild-caught in Iceland in 1978. It seems as though his habit was a way of dealing with the boredom and repetition of captive life in SW San Antonio, and some may even speculate that he was imagining how to escape his pool. However Kotar merely ended up being another sad statistic in the records of captivity-caused deaths. If it wasn't for SeaWorld's utter incapability throughout Kotar's stay at one of their facilities, he would have (hopefully) been able to live for a much longer time. They should have looked at the situation and seen the possible risk factors, instead they just viewed it as a humorous habit that, so I have read, showed intelligence! What a painful irony. Kotar's death was due to the fact the 'experts' in the orca-captivity field looked at his destructive and dangerous habit and viewed it as 'inteligent'. It is such a painful degradation and misunderstanding of Kotar's intelligence, as he was trying to express his discontentment and boredom, not trying to 'play around'. So therefore SW is completely responsible for his death and should have been given a severe punishment, just like any pet owner or animal owner would if they were responsible for the death of an animal in their care. But, as usual, an orca is just seen as a commodity- a bit of property- whose death is undeserved of the justice it so needs.
So as you can see, the appalling and often alarming rate of cetacean deaths seen in captivity is not a mere coincidence. Each and every death had its own particular circumstances, and each and every aspect of each and every death is down to captivity. From the mental health issues, danger during performances, and breeding problems that come from being in captivity, to the illnesses and health ailments caused directly by the captivity industry. Each death could and should have been prevented- and are totally and completely the responsibility of the parks that still insist on keeping these delicate and sensitive creatures captive.
A great list of dead, born and transferred captive cetaceans in 2010 can be seen at Cetabase here.
Thanks you very much for reading, I hope everyone has had a good Christmas and New Year. Here is to a good, freedom-filled 2011! :)
Oh and hello to my eighth follower! Welcome :)
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