Is keeping Whales and Dolphins captive e.g. Seaworld cruel?

Question

Many whales species like cute Shamu surely would migrate vast distances in the ocean in nature. Surely they are intelligent enough to realise they are being held captive. The same goes for dolphins, who must have been conditioned to perform tricks.

On this basis, would people consider this captivity and entertainment cruel, or do they believe that the animals are truly happy?

Thanks in advance for all opinions.

Answer 1

Yes that is so friggen Evil!!!!

Poor whales and Dolphins!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 2

i say it's captivity and animal cruelty for only those who weren't born in that sort of sitiuation.

Answer 3

Yes, it is.

Almost all of my experience has been with cetaceans in the wild, and the few captive cetaceans I've seen seemed almost comatose by comparison.  These are gregarious social creatures, highly intelligent and posessing a culture that may be tens of millions of years old, and we're holding them incommunicado in a most sterile and non-stimulating environment.  They've been captured by creatures too stupid to have even the slightest idea what they're dealing with, and too arrogant to even consider the concept that they might be imprisoning their betters, and for what?

How would you like to be a prisoner doing tricks for morsels of food for the entertainment of your captors?

Answer 4

I can't speak for others but I think it is cruel.  The Orca is kept in a very small holding tank when it isn't performing.  It only gets into the larger tank when it must perform tricks.  All of the time it isn't performing, it is in that tiny (for its size) tank.  Same thing goes for the other performing animals there.  Rumor has it that there have actually been several Shamus because they keep dying and new ones are easy to train.  I don't know if that is true or not.  You know how the animals are fed, right?  They get food for performing tricks.  I went once and enjoyed the show but never went again because I couldn't get those tiny holding tanks, without even enough room for the animal to turn around in, out of my mind.

Answer 5

of course there is educational value in keeping these animals captive but the question here was the happiness animals. animals kept captive are not happy anywhere regardless of their species.but to look at it in another prospective there are far more worse things that people do to dolphins compared to keeping them captive . check what the japanese r doing to them  

Answer 6

I don't think they are unhappy but I do think they should be free.

Answer 7

I'm not saying its a good thing, but its not that far away from say keeping a dog confined to a backyard, sure these animals would be out in the wild, but i think if held captive from brith, they adapt to the world they are in, idk i luv seaworld, i go like once a month, but it is in many way cruel

Answer 8

I'd say it's cruel- they're evolved for oceans.

Keeping one in a tank is like keeping a cat in one room where it can never go outside.

Answer 9

I think it is.  My husband and I both grew up in Central Florida.  He knows alot about fishing and scuba diving.  His father even owns a dive shop.  Whenever, we would go to Seaworld he would always complain to me that they mixed native Florida fish with those from South America.  Natural habitat ha.  Try for profit habitat.  I do not think what they are providing is even close.

Answer 10

At the moment I consider it cruelty. There are so many things that can be done to improve lives of captive animals. Although they aren't in immediate danger of illness or death, it's so much better to be free.

Answer 11

God gave humans ability to rule over animals. That doesn't give us the right to be blatantly cruel. At sea world, they get a lifetime supply of fish, how sad could they be? The whole reason for their migration is to find fish....

Answer 12

no it isnt they have fun and get fed wat else could the possibly want

Answer 13

i d know but i know i would rather be out in the wild instead of in ne place doing the same thing till i die so i am guessing they might be happy but would be happier in the wild where they do whatevever

Answer 14

It is a violation of Nature to keep any animal from living the life it has evolved to live.

However, human curiosity will always keep some sort of animal captive.  Even when we know it is wrong.  

There has been some good.  Science has learned more things about animals than it could have otherwise.  Some species have adapted to living in aquatic captivity.  And much like zoos the aquariums are breeding and raising their own stock.  

Answer 15

It's is better for animals to be in the wild, but there are some good things about animals in captivity.

I agree that their living condition, mainly the size of their tank, can be and need to be improved, but I don't think that is necessarily cruel to keep them captive.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeactio...

If the animals were born there, they don't know the difference between being free and being captive. They don't know that there could be a better life in the wild.

Yes, they are condition to do tricks, but many animals in captivity are conditioned/trained to do certain tasks. Some are tricks others are so they can be examined/handled with out causing harm to the animal, trainer, or vet. Also, the tricks they preform are not beyond the animal's physical capability and many of the tricks relate to a behavior they do in the wild.

The animal trainers are not cruel to the animals. Many of them become trainers becuase they love the animal and are glad they have the opportunity to work with them. And they try to care for the animals as well as they can.

The animals are given health care, they wouldn't have that in the wild.

The animals are also not just fed during the show or just for doing tricks.

http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info...

FOOD INTAKE

1. At SeaWorld parks, adult killer whales eat approximately 2 percent to 4 percent of their body weight in food per day.

Though it is best for animals to live in the wild; zoos, aquariums, and marine parks provided many benefits.

http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info...

EDUCATIONAL VALUE

1. Over the years, millions of people have visited zoological parks such as the SeaWorld and Busch Gardens parks to see animals. Most people do not have the opportunity to observe these animals in the wild. Visitors are not only entertained, but also educated. The unique ability to observe and learn directly from live animals increases public awareness and appreciation of wildlife.

  

2. Zoological parks teach the public about animals, their ecosystems, and conservation measures. A 2005 Harris Interactive poll released by the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums found 97percent of respondents agreed that marine life parks, aquariums, and zoos "play an important role in educating the public about marine mammals they might not otherwise have the chance to see". Furthermore, 96 percent believe "marine life parks, zoos, and aquariums provide people with valuable information about the importance of oceans, waters, and the animals that live there". In addition, 93 percent agree that visiting a marine zoological park or aquarium "can inspire conservation action…and that people are more likely to be concerned about animals if they learn about them at marine life parks, aquariums, and zoos".

  

3. Through SeaWorld and Busch Gardens education programs and adventure camps, millions of students have been given the opportunity to experience many kinds of animals up close.

HUSBANDRY AND CARE OF ANIMALS

BREEDING PROGRAMS

RESEARCH

Some even help wild animals through conservation programs/fundraiser, breeding programs, and helping care for and rehabilitate injured or orphaned animals.

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/media/...

Thanks for the question. I enjoyed answering it. Here are a couple more links:

http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info...

http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info...

http://www.seaworld.org/infobooks/Traini...

http://www.acsonline.org/issues/killerWh...

http://www.helpinganimals.com/travel_fea...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keiko_(orca...

Answer 16

I can't answer for whales but as far as dolphins go; no it is not (usually)because the instinct to bound with other pack or in this case pod mates is there.  If they are around people then just like dogs they will bond with them.  I don't think they really care were they are as long as they are around beings that they like.  Given of corse that they are properly taking care of.  And as far as doing tricks do you really think that seaworld can legally force them to do it?  they get a reword for it and it gives them something to do.

Also remember that what you would want and what they want are two different things.  And if they are born into captivity then it would be all they know right?  

whales are for the most part the same but they do need space and that is hard to find.