Reflection 04: Boxed In—Cetaceans in Captivity

Recently, marine parks and resorts in the United Stats, and around the world, have come under increased pressure to release their captive marine mammals, particularly those that participate in "swim with dolphins" programs or aquatic shows. Proponents argue that the presence of ceaceans in these parks and resorts is integral, and serves not only as entertainment, but raises public awareness and encourages oceanic conservation. Indeed, orca and dolphin shows have been a mainstay of the these parks and resorts for decades, often reaping great profits. Animal rights activists argue that these are not only highly intelligent animals, sometimes surprisingly so, but very often dangerous predators. Thus, their captivity sets the stage for potentially perilous situations—for both the humans and the animals. Sadly, we were reminded of this in 2010 when, as chronicled in the recent Blackfish, a SeaWorld orca killed its trainer. Is the captivity of these animals for primarily entertainment purposes appropriate? What is our responsibility as consumers? Does our participation in these shows or programs signify our approval?

Include at least two of the following in your discussion:

• "SeaWorld Condemns 'Blackfish' Documentary's Critical Take on Captivity" (Rolling Stone)
• "So Wrong, But Thanks for All the Fish" (San Antonio Current)
• "Captivity Drives Killer Whales Crazy: SeaWorld Fights Fines For Placing Profit Over Safety" (PsychologyToday)
• "Activist Sursara Sends Message to SeaWorld: Captivity is Not Conservation" (Examiner.com)
• "Report Outlines Why Orcas Shouldn’t be Captive" (Orlando Sentinel)
• "In Defense of SeaWorld" (Pressruns)

Required:

• MLA Style
• Must be exactly two-full pages in length
• Include a Works Cited page

Due: Tu 10.15