Opinion: SeaWorld Death Sparks Orca-Sized Debate

(Feb. 25) -- The death of a SeaWorld trainer by a killer whale has sparked a debate not only about what do with Tilikum, but about captive whales generally -- with most weighing in in favor of freedom.

A BBC dispatch, for example, quotes two experts arguing for freedom:

"They are highly social animals that tend to live in cohesive groups, so it's quite an artificial environment to capture them and put them in a small area," says Dr. Andrew Foote, an expert on wild orcas from the University of Aberdeen, U.K.

"The tragic events are a reminder that orcas are wild, strong and often unpredictable animals," says Danny Groves, of the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society.

A sampling of other views:

Built for the Open Water

Michael Yaki, writing for SF Gate:

Does a species that research shows has its own unique language and dialects, ... that has documented teaching behavior passed between generations, whose brain is complex enough to process multiple dimensions of sound and sight, and who is built for the open water, deserve to be subject to the bounds of concrete tanks? Is there something inherent in their conditions that, for lack of a better word, drive some of them crazy? ... Let's not just free Willy. Let's free them all.

People Don't Know the Facts

Wildlife expert Jack Hanna, on Fox News:

I have [to] take my hat off to SeaWorld for taking this animal to SeaWorld where this animal has produced many babies. That is so valuable to the killer whale population. One last thing, most all animals, most all the whales at SeaWorld, were born at SeaWorld, not in the wild. Ninety-nine percent of our animals born at zoos are born at zoological parks, not the wild. People don't know these facts.

Show Some Respect

Marc Bekoff, in Psychology Today:

Unfortunately, killer whales and other highly sentient beings are shipped here and there from one zoo or aquarium to another to be used in shows that generate a lot of money. We need to respect these beings for who they are and not put them on display as if they're some sort of commodity or object who live for our own entertainment, because they're not. Indeed, many whales possess spindle cells that are important in processing various emotions and anyone who's been around orcas and other cetaceans know that they are extremely emotional beings. Some people argue that cetaceans may fulfill the criteria for being called "persons."

Wild Animals Belong in the Wild

David Petzal in Field & Stream:

An orca -- a killer whale, if you will -- is an apex predator that slaughters ocean mammals for a living. It is not a black and white version of Flipper. It is also highly intelligent, and an orca that has been confined to an enlarged swimming pool, as Tilikum was, is probably as well-balanced and happy as a human being who has been confined to a prison cell. ... The proper place for wild animals is in the wild. They are not exhibits, or amusements, or our friends. Until we get that through our heads, more people will be attacked and killed by "tame" creatures. My sympathies lie entirely with the animals. What did they do to merit life behind bars?

But as the BBC story also notes, releasing captive whales isn't really a viable solution, citing a study published by U.S. and Danish researchers about the release of "Free Willy" Keiko, who "despite the best efforts of his trainers ... could not break his need for human contact, and kept following or returning to the trainers' boat" and "eventually died, still semi-captive, in 2003."

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